Environment

Year book: All 21 named storms from the busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season are seen in a composite image from NOAA's GOES East satellite.

The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season ends as the third most active year ever

4:19pm November 30, 2021

by Bill Chappell

Hurricane Ida alone caused more than $60 billion in damages, making it one of the five most costly U.S. hurricanes on record since 1980. Forecasters ran out of names for a record second year in a row.

Premature greening in urban trees could have negative environmental and economic impacts, a new study has found.

Environment

City trees are turning green early, prompting warnings about food and pollination

7:57am November 30, 2021

by Michael Levitt

A study of trees in dozens of cities found that urban heat and light pollution are pushing urban trees to sprout leaves earlier than trees in more rural areas.

Environment

Climate change is blamed for dramatic flooding in British Columbia

6:38am November 30, 2021

by Emma Jacobs

British Columbia, devastated by wildfires last summer, is now coping with severe flooding — both dramatic examples of the impact of climate change.

Queue Listen Now

Environment

Invasive green crabs are threatening local species. The solution? Eat them

8:13am November 27, 2021

by Scott Simon

Invasive green crabs are harming habitats in the pacific northwest. A solution? Researchers say catch 'em and eat 'em. Scott Simon talks with marine scientist Shon Schooler.

Queue Listen Now

The number of monarch butterflies migrating to California spiked this winter after years of historic lows.

Environment

The butterflies are back! Annual migration of monarchs shows highest numbers in years

4:07pm November 26, 2021

by Michael Levitt

The annual winter monarch butterfly migration, which has seen steep declines in recent years, seems to be making a comeback. Biologists are encouraged and confused by the trend.

Queue Listen Now

In this Russian Emergency Situations Ministry Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 photo, rescuers prepare to work at a fire scene at a coal mine near the Siberian city of Kemerovo, about 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) east of Moscow, Russia,. Russian authorities say

Death and destruction follow a Siberian coal mine fire

4:22pm November 25, 2021

by The Associated Press

A devastating fire swept through a Siberian coal mine Thursday, killing 52 miners and rescuers about 820 feet underground, Russian news reports said.

Producers plan to tap 7 million more maple trees to meet syrup demand.

Environment

Canada taps into strategic reserves to deal with massive shortage ... of maple syrup

2:35pm November 25, 2021

While high gas prices have pushed President Biden to tap into the US's strategic oil reserves, America's neighbor to the north is also dealing with a shortage of another so-called "liquid gold".

Queue Listen Now

The Oregon-born wolf known as OR93 near Yosemite, Calif. in February 2021. The wolf thrilled biologists as it journeyed far south into California, but was found dead after apparently being struck by a vehicle.

A famously far-ranging gray wolf is found dead in Southern California

6:02pm November 24, 2021

by Nathan Rott

The Oregon-born gray wolf gained a following this year when it became the first to travel to Southern California in a century. Wildlife officials say it appears to have been struck by a vehicle.

Intense wildfires have killed up to 1/5 of the earth's largest trees

9:26am November 20, 2021

by Alice Daniel

Recent wildfires in California have highlighted the fragility of giant sequoias. The National Park Service says many were killed or badly hurt earlier this year during a blaze.

Queue Listen Now

Environment

Climate change is making it harder to provide clean drinking water in farm country

8:52am November 20, 2021

by Clay Masters

The largest water utility in Iowa is sounding alarms that it won't be able to keep up with cleaning the water for more than 600,000 customers as extreme weather swings become more common.