The Los Angeles area is battling major wildfires that have destroyed thousands of buildings, forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and led to at least 24 deaths. The situation could get worse this week, as strong winds return to the area.
Published in “Environment”
Scientists in California have created a new material that can remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. The fluffy yellow powder works faster than other materials and can be used over and over again. The new material could play an important part in the fight against climate change.
Scientists in Tanzania have trained rats to help detect illegal wildlife products being smuggled out of the country. The rats have learned to recognize the smell of these items, and can alert their handlers when they find them. The program is still being tested, but the method could help protect some endangered animals.
Scientists on a National Geographic research trip to the Solomon Islands have discovered the world's largest coral. The single coral colony, made up of around one billion tiny creatures, is so large that it can be seen from space.
Early Sunday morning, nearly 200 countries from around the world reached an agreement to help poorer countries deal with the climate crisis. The agreement came at COP29, a United Nations climate meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. Many people think the deal doesn't do enough to help poorer countries.
Over the last month, the Philippines has been hit by six major storms, including five typhoons. The latest storm, Super Typhoon Man-yi, struck on Saturday night, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and causing serious damage.
Eastern Pakistan and Northern India are dealing with an extreme air pollution problem this year. In Pakistan, the air is so dangerous to breathe that the government has closed schools and parks until the air quality improves.
In 2013, a group of researchers wanted to see if they could keep wood from breaking down by burying it underground. They thought it might help keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. As they started to dig, they discovered a 3,775-year-old log that proved their idea was a good one.
A new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says that the sizes of animal populations around the world have dropped by an average of 73% since 1970. The WWF says that humans are the main cause of these drops, and that we must act quickly to protect Earth's plants and animals.
The Natural History Museum in London holds a yearly contest for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. There's a separate contest for people under 18, known as the "Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year". Here are some of this year's best pictures and the stories behind them.
The United Kingdom said goodbye to coal-powered electricity on Monday when the last coal-fired power plant in the country closed down. The closing of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station marks the end of a 142-year history of coal-powered electricity in Great Britain.