The Blob Is Back: Massive Pacific Marine Heatwave
A vast marine heatwave off the US West Coast is strengthening instead of fading. Here is what it means for fisheries, wildfires, and the developing El Niño.
Wild Places
Nature and environment stories — how the natural world shapes lives, communities, and the planet.
California’s Solar Canals Save Water and Generate Power
California is piloting solar panels over irrigation canals to reduce evaporation and generate clean electricity. The project could save billions of gallons of w
Scotland’s Rewilding Experiment Just Proved Nature Can Bounce Back — Here Are the Numbers
A landmark study from Scotland’s Northwoods Rewilding Network found bird species jumped 261% and pollinator abundance increased tenfold on rewilded land compared to traditionally managed sites nearby.
Beavers Are Fighting Wildfires: How These Rodents Help the Drought-Stricken West
Beavers are being deployed across the American West to fight wildfires and drought. Their dams create natural firebreaks and store water when it is needed most.
Hope Beneath the Waves: Scientists Find Triple the Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs
Scientists have mapped three times more climate-resilient coral reefs than previously known, finding 165,922 square kilometers of reefs across 71 countries with the strongest potential to survive warming oceans. The discovery offers a rare dose of hope in the story of coral conservation. In simple terms: Coral reefs are dying from heat-driven bleaching, but new … Read more
How Coral Bleaching Events Are Accelerating in 2026 and Why It Matters for Everyone
Coral bleaching is accelerating faster than almost anyone predicted in 2026, and the consequences reach far beyond the ocean. Reefs that took millennia to build are dying in weeks, and a newly declared Super El Nino threatens to make the crisis worse before any recovery can begin. In simple terms: When oceans get too warm, … Read more
Fire Season Is Over: Welcome to the Fire Year
The old “fire season” is dead. In 2026, wildfire has become a year-round threat across the American West, with 30,000 fires burning 2.4 million acres before summer even started. The National Interagency Fire Center reports fire counts running 140% above the 10-year average, and agencies no longer use the phrase “fire season” they publish monthly … Read more
Why Oceans Matter for Weather: The Hidden Engine of Our Climate
Oceans are the hidden engine of Earth’s weather and climate, absorbing over 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. Covering 71% of the planet’s surface, the ocean acts as a giant heat battery, drives the global conveyor belt of currents, and powers phenomena like El Nino that reshape weather patterns worldwide. In simple … Read more
Thousands of Fireflies Flash in Perfect Unison Every June, Here’s the Science Behind It
Every June, the forests of the Great Smoky Mountains come alive with one of nature’s most extraordinary light shows: thousands of fireflies flashing in perfect unison. Unlike most firefly species that blink randomly, Photinus carolinus synchronizes its flashes, creating waves of light that ripple through the darkness. Here is the science behind this remarkable phenomenon, … Read more