Butterfly numbers have fallen by nearly a quarter since 2000
Butterflies of all kinds of species, in all parts of the country, have declined by one to two percent per year since 2000.
climate change
Layoffs and potential closures of key facilities raise worries about NOAA's future
The Trump administration may end leases for some of NOAA's offices while the agency terminates several advisory committees at the important weather and climate agency.
Read NPR's annotated fact check of President Trump's address to Congress
As President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, reporters from across NPR's newsroom fact-checked his speech and offered context.
This Colombian 'hotel for cows' could help reduce deforestation in the Amazon
Clearing land for cattle and cows is the single biggest driver of rainforest loss in the Amazon. This "hotel for cows" in Colombia offers a solution.
Trump administration layoffs hit NOAA, agency that forecasts weather, hurricanes
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration houses key groups like the National Weather Service. Experts warn the consequences of employee cuts could be drastic.
Greenpeace faces a $300 million lawsuit after Dakota Access Pipeline protests
The company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline is suing Greenpeace for at least $300 million for damages the oil pipeline company says it suffered from protests in 2016 and 2017.
What the firings at FEMA could mean for the next hurricane or wildfire
The Trump administration has fired several hundred employees at FEMA. When it comes to helping disaster victims on the ground, the agency was already hundreds of people short.
Exclusive: Trump administration drops work on stronger building codes for disasters
To help homes survive more intense disasters, FEMA has been developing recommendations for stronger building codes. The Trump Administration has pulled them back.
Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency
Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.
An atmospheric river is coming to California. It could bring risks of debris flows
The weather phenomena are common for California winters, but they could cause dangerous debris flows or mudslides in recently burned areas.