Under US President Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a plan that would remove a 2009 decision that says climate change is dangerous. If the plan goes through, it will make it extremely hard for the US government to limit pollution that causes global warming.
Published in “Environment”
The world's smallest snake - the Barbados threadsnake - hadn't been seen in almost 20 years. Scientists were beginning to think that the tiny snake might be extinct. But in March, researchers searching a forest in Barbados found one of the snakes under a rock.
Last Wednesday, the United Nations' highest court ruled that countries must protect people from the "urgent" threat of the climate crisis. The court said countries which don't take steps to fight global warming might have to pay for the damage they've done. The court's opinion could lead to more lawsuits over the climate crisis.
Scott Shaffer is a biologist who studies birds. In 2018, he was studying data from a tracking device he had placed on a gull. He was surprised to find that the bird had gone for an 80-mile (129-kilometer) ride on a truck carrying food scraps. And the bird had done it twice in just one week.
On Saturday, China began building what is expected to be the world's largest dam. The dam, which is in Tibet, will produce massive amounts of electricity. But it has upset people in India and Bangladesh, who are worried about how the dam will affect them.
On Tuesday, a volcano in Indonesia called Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, erupted. The eruption sent a huge cloud of ash and smoke 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) into the sky, causing serious problems with air travel to and from popular tourist sites in Indonesia. No injuries have been reported.
Scientists have been studying a group of cockatoos in Sydney, Australia that have a clever trick: they've figured out how to drink from water fountains. The birds use one foot to turn the fountain's handle and then lower their head to the spout, allowing them to drink.
On Monday, scientists and government leaders came together in Nice, France for the third United Nations Ocean Conference. The meeting is focused on the many challenges facing the world's oceans, and what can be done to help. The event comes as the US has suddenly taken a step back from protecting the oceans.
Scientists have long known that chimpanzees sometimes use leaves or insects as medicine. Now, researchers studying chimpanzees in Uganda have discovered that the animals will sometimes provide "first aid" to each other. This suggests that chimpanzees may be able to think about how to help others, as well as themselves.
Last year, the world lost more forests than ever before. The biggest cause of this loss was fires. Land clearing for farming and other human activities was also a major cause. The results are very worrying for the planet, which relies on forests to help fight climate change.
On Earth Day - April 22 - the XPrize announced the winners of its Carbon Removal contest. A company called Mati Carbon won the $50 million prize. Their method is simple, but it could remove huge amounts of carbon dioxide and also help farmers grow more food.