The new refuges aim to protect sea ice, wildlife and the economic stability of indigenous people.

The Endangered Species Act is popular with voters, so why are politicians changing it?

Two new studies map out the potential revival of Earth's lost forests.

Lucy's 3 million-year-old bones were found in 1974, but they're still yielding new clues about human evolution.

One of eastern North America's most iconic animals vanished forever on Sept. 1, 1914. Now, 97 years later, the passenger pigeon has become an icon for something

The Kirtland's warbler was nearly extinct in the 1970s, but now the bird has recovered and is coming off the endangered species list.

Known as the 'crown jewel' of U.S. national forests, this ancient ecosystem is at a crossroads.

A renowned biologist wants us to set aside half the planet for wildlife, part of a growing effort to avert the first man-made mass extinction.

The endangered ghost orchid lives up to its name in several ways.

The U.S. retreat from the Paris Agreement is bad news for the world, but it could be even worse for the U.S. itself.

Multilevel societies had only been found in big-brained mammals. Then researchers studied the vulturine guineafowl.

The 'subtly stunning' songbird needs attention like this to save it from habitat loss, conservationists say.

CO2 levels are now the highest they've been since long before modern humans existed.

The behavior has never been documented in other insects, researchers say.

Rescuers are racing to save koalas as a barrage of bushfires roar across the country.

Unlike most candy canes, however, this one is 190 light-years long and made of ionized gas.

Even after nurturing and enchanting humans for thousands of years, this iconic river is still full of surprises.

The 2020 Great Backyard Bird Count is a 4-day event when "citizen scientists" can enjoy nature while keeping tabs on local bird populations.

Extra food seems especially helpful early in the breeding season, according to a new study.

The ancient holiday has become like a 'Jewish Arbor Day' in modern times, bringing religious and secular observers together for ecological reflection.

Alder Creek is home to hundreds of giant sequoias, from seedlings to millennia-old Methuselahs.

It's unclear exactly how many polar bears are left in the wild, but several populations likely face grave danger from climate change.

Isolating ourselves during the coronavirus pandemic isn't as unnatural as it feels.

Bats don't pose an unusual risk among mammals, research suggests, and bat viruses we do get often rely far more on us than bats.

Think you know about these mysterious creatures of the deep? Think again. Take our shark quiz and test your knowledge.

Chuck Leavell and his famous friends Mike Mills, John Bell and Paul Riddle play a rollicking set at the White House Correspondents' Jam.

A couple of dogs snuffling through the backyard brush find a really big surprise: A bear!

The 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest focuses on nature, cities and people. Here are the stunning winners.

El Paso and Dayton are in the news this week for all the wrong reasons. If you're wondering what you can do as individual, here are steps you can take.

The U.K.'s push to create new marine reserves in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans represents a victory for biodiversity campaigners. (And fish.)

Inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, kids and teens around the world are protesting to get adults to act on climate change.

Prepare to be a little freaked out and then rush to your refrigerator to try this method of eating an apple for yourself.

There's processed food and then there's ultra-processed food. One of them adds a lot more sugar to our diets than we realize.

Mooncakes are a traditional part of the Mid-Autumn Chinese festival. But there's more to the legend of this pricey pastry.

Spotted lanternflies are hitching a ride on everything from camping gear to Christmas trees.

You probably have several of these items that contain plastic in your home right now. Here's how to avoid them.

If you're looking to improve your outlook, the produce bin is a good place to start.

This interactive map reveals the top three Halloween treats in each state.

Activated charcoal foods may be Instagram-worthy, but are they good for you?

If a Waffle House is closed, that's a good indication that things are not normal in the area.

Passover moves around our modern calendar, but it always falls on the same day on the Jewish calendar.

Why gas is so cheap -- and why it won't stay that way.

The U.S. and China are forming an uneasy alliance as the world warms and a U.N. climate conference looms.

With renewed momentum but no plans to store its waste, American nuclear energy sits in limbo.

The subtropical swamp fights for survival in an environmental quagmire.

It can be better for the climate than gasoline, but this colorless liquid isn't always as green as it seems.

Fish are one of the healthiest foods on Earth, but many are brimming with toxic mercury.

Overfishing sent many U.S. fisheries into free fall last century. Can a new focus on sustainability save fish and fishermen from going extinct?

The U.S. endangered species list isn't all gloom and doom: Just ask a bald eagle. Nonetheless, 93 species have joined the list for every one it's saved.

U.S. organic farming has grown wildly in the last two decades, but with food demand rising and many cash-strapped shoppers pinching pennies, are greener acres s