Four threats to global food security and what we can do about them
Feeding nine billion people by 2050 is possible – if we start applying some science.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Analysis and Comment
HMS Terror wreck found – but what happened to her doomed crew? Here’s the science
168 years on, experts are finally uncovering the secrets of the Royal Navy's tragic expedition to the Northwest Passage.
Sorry David Attenborough, we didn’t evolve from ‘aquatic apes’ – here’s why
David Attenborough's latest BBC documentary indulges wishful thinking over evidence.
Why zebra refused to be saddled with domesticity
They look like stripey horses – so why don't we ride them?
Nature is being renamed ‘natural capital’ – but is it really the planet that will profit?
Nature conservation is becoming another way to make money.
Why you can expect a spectacular autumn
Here's the science behind the amazing colours we should see on British trees this year.
What to do about Liberia’s island colony of abandoned lab chimps?
A small but dedicated team is offering these abandoned apes a brighter future.
Brazil’s new government needs economic growth and may sacrifice the Amazon to get it
With the economy in its worst slump for decades, environmental protection may be on the chopping block.
Is Katla crying wolf? Icelandic volcano’s rumblings don’t mean airspace chaos is imminent
One of Iceland's most active volcanoes is showing signs of waking up after nearly 100 years.
Filthy rich? Insects prefer to live in wealthier houses research says
Bigger gardens and more greenery encourages insect diversity, some of which finds its way indoors.
The race for vast remote ‘marine protected areas’ may be a diversion
Huge reserves in the middle of the Pacific are fine, but what about conservation closer to home?
Save the elephant: what we can learn from failures of the war on drugs
There are many similarities between wildlife poaching and the cultivation of drug plants like the coca bush or the opium poppy.
What should we do about the 15,000 Asian elephants still in captivity?
Keeping such large, intelligent and endangered animals in captivity poses a number of ethical and practical challenges.
Is it really best for the environment to remove all traces of oil and gas production in the North Sea?
Restoring the North Sea to a 'pristine' state isn't necessarily the best thing for its eco-systems.
How three-day weekends can help save the world (and us too)
Reducing the work week is one of the easiest steps we could take to radically reduce our environmental impact.
Three ways zoos can deal with extreme food shortages and starving animals
More than 50 animals in a Venezuelan zoo have reportedly died from starvation in the past few months.
Britain’s recent wet summers can be blamed on the Atlantic jet stream, says new study
Will 2017 be a 'bbq summer'? It depends on changes in the jet stream.
The Industrial Revolution kick-started global warming much earlier than we realised
The first signs that humans were warming the climate appeared much earlier in the northern hemisphere - way back in the 1830s. But now the trend is emerging all over the globe.
Italy’s deadly earthquake is the latest in a history of destruction
Central Italy has been hit by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, only seven years after a similar devastating quake in the region.
Time for degrowth: to save the planet, we must shrink the economy
Increased development is always unsustainable, so let's stop kidding ourselves.
Three of Namibia’s most famous lion family were poisoned – why?
Ongoing drought means increased encounters between people and lions in north-west Namibia.
‘Canary species’ can sing songs that warn of ecosystem collapse
Populations of certain species collapse long before a wider ecological disaster, says new research.
How we’re saving the mountain chicken frog from one of the world’s worst wildlife diseases
A nasty fungus killed 85% of Dominica's mountain chicken frogs in just 18 months – but the species lives on.
Britain is only just beginning to exploit its vast resources of offshore wind
Plans to build the world's largest offshore windfarm show projects are getting bigger and bigger, and moving ever further from land.
Stop freaking out about sharks in British waters – let’s welcome them
If you do see a shark this summer, don't panic – you just got lucky.
Sloths aren’t lazy – their slowness is a survival skill
Sloths have been moving slowly for 64m years.
It will take more than giving people a share in shale gas profits to sway public opinion on fracking
The government promises cash for communities that accept fracking, but cannot know whether it can keep that promise or not.
Green beans: why pulses are the eco-friendly option for feeding – and saving – the world
Packed with protein, cheaper than meat, and with minimal effect on the climate...what's not to like?
What would happen if we abandoned Britain’s farms and left them to nature?
Depends on whether or not we reintroduce 'rewilded' animals such as bison or wolves.
A 400-year-old shark is the latest animal discovery to reveal the secrets of long life
What are the oldest living animals on the planet?
Brexit
After Paris, UK’s latest ‘carbon budget’ just isn’t ambitious enough
British people will still be able to emit 60% more than their fair share.
How the UK can still lead on climate change – even after Brexit
The new 'carbon budget' has eased fears of a post-Brexit 'coup' by Tory climate sceptics.
Does Brexit mean plain sailing for UK fishermen … or stormy waters?
Exiting the EU does not mean closing off British seas.
Brexit could leave the European Union struggling with its climate targets
Britain was among Europe's most progressive voices on climate policy. Its imminent withdrawal leaves the European Union grappling with voices of dissent from member states such as Poland.
Climate change
Four little-known EU rules which help protect Britain’s environment
From recycling to air pollution, eco-friendly European laws have a big impact.
We just had the hottest year on record – where does that leave climate denial?
Prepare for misinformation and grand talk of scientific conspiracies.
The ‘necessity defence'– should climate activists be allowed to break the law?
Explainer: how scientists know climate change is happening
How the media spun the Paris climate agreement
Beyond Paris: what was really achieved at the COP21 climate summit, and what next?
What climate ‘tipping points’ are – and how they could suddenly change our planet
Mary Robinson: climate change ‘very likely’ to increase radicalisation
Global warming ‘pause’ was a myth all along, says new study
Can eating less meat really tackle climate change?
If we burned all fossil fuels, would any of Antartica’s ice survive?
Can the Paris climate talks prevent a planetary strike-out?
Podcast: The Anthill
Columnists
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Parakeets are the new pigeons – and they’re on course for global domination
Perfectly adapted for European life, these bright green birds will soon become part of the scenery.
Vast wildfires are burning in remote Siberia, far from humans – here’s why we should care
Satellite images show smoke covering Russia for thousands of kilometres.
Hinkley Point C delay: how to exploit this attack of common sense in energy policy
For years UK energy policy has been focused on creating a perfect environment for a new nuclear plant. Now things just got exciting.
A Philippines island has the world’s greatest concentration of unique mammals – here’s why
Islands are very special when it comes to quirks of evolution.
Good riddance to Thailand’s infamous ‘tiger temple’
A police raid on the popular tourist attraction has found 40 frozen tiger carcasses.
Lord Krebs: scientists must challenge poor media reporting on climate change
Yes, editors have the right to search out diverging views. But readers also have the right to object to distorted or biased coverage.
Events
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Most Read past week
- Why zebra refused to be saddled with domesticity
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- HMS Terror wreck found – but what happened to her doomed crew? Here’s the science
- Welcome to Masdar City: the ultimate experiment in sustainable urban living
- How outdated scientific names could help Chinese poachers kill with impunity
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