Environment

The Dry Fork Station coal-fired power plant in Gillette, Wyo., supplies electricity across the West.

Coal Country: EPA Plan Is Short Term Boost, No Solution For Industry Decline

5:00am August 27, 2018

by Cooper McKim

The Trump administration's proposed changes for coal plants could keep some of them operating longer. But even those in the industry say it won't stop coal's overall decline.

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Helping Clean Florida's 'Red Tide'

8:46am August 26, 2018

Piles of dead, rotting fish are washing ashore on parts of Florida's coastline due to red tide, a seasonal algal bloom. Captain Destiny Ibasfalean talks with NPR's Melissa Block.

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Mario Ramos (left) and wife Tally adjust their umbrellas in Laguna Beach, Calif. The state was among a number of places this summer that experienced their highest temperatures on record.

So Far, More Heat Waves Do Not Mean More Heat Deaths

7:00am August 26, 2018

by Christopher Joyce

The spread of air conditioning may have kept some people from dying in this summer's extreme heat. But studies project more heat-related illnesses as the climate warms.

Talkin' Birds: The Damage Of Plastics

8:23am August 25, 2018

Single-use plastics like bags and straws are doing damage to the world's oceans and marine life. Ray Brown from Talkin' Birds tells NPR's Scott Simon that such plastics pose danger to birds as well.

A Creator Burger fresh out of the robot that toasted the buns, sliced the produce, shredded the cheese, and cooked the beef.

Fad Or The Future? Robot-Made Burgers Wow The Crowds In San Francisco

5:25pm August 24, 2018

by Anna Mantzaris

As more culinary robots find their way into commercial food prep, one restaurant in San Francisco called Creator is hoping to strike a balance between high tech and the human touch.

A "hunger stone" exposed by the low level of water in the Elbe River is seen in Decin, Czech Republic, on Thursday. The low level of water caused by the recent drought has exposed the stones on the riverbed.

Drought In Central Europe Reveals Cautionary 'Hunger Stones' In Czech River

11:27am August 24, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

For hundreds of years, these boulders have warned about the consequence of devastating droughts — and documented them for posterity. One says "if you see me, weep."

Sea ice is seen from NASA's Operation IceBridge research aircraft off the northwest coast of Greenland on March 30, 2017.

Some Of The Oldest Ice In The Arctic Is Now Breaking Apart

5:46pm August 23, 2018

by Christopher Joyce

A massive ice pack that normally clings to northern Greenland's coastline is splitting apart and floating out to sea. Climate change is to blame, scientists say.

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Hundreds of fish killed by red tide are washed ashore in Sanibel, Fla., this month. The current red tide has stayed along Florida's southwest coast for around 10 months, killing massive amounts of fish as well as sea turtles, manatees and a whale shark sw

Scientists Battle Red Tide That Turned Florida Coast Into Wildlife Killing Field

3:48pm August 23, 2018

by Samantha Raphelson

Scientists are exploring how they can combat the spread of the toxic algae bloom known as red tide along Florida's southwest coast.

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Single-use plastic bags like these are going to be phased out by Kroger supermarkets.

Attention, Shoppers: Kroger Says It Is Phasing Out Plastic Bags

2:30pm August 23, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

The Kroger Co. includes major chains such as Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Food4Less and Pick 'n Save. Its goal is to eliminate all single-use plastic bags by 2025.

A satellite image shows Hurricane Lane in the Central Pacific Ocean on Wednesday.

Hawaii Braces For Hurricane Lane, Now A Category 4

2:59pm August 22, 2018

by James Doubek

The National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for Maui and Hawaii's Big Island. Forecasters were predicting flash flooding and landslides.