Agriculture
This Shrub Could Supply Rubber, Insect Repellent and Glue
Researchers and tire companies hope drought-tolerant guayule can provide a sustainable economic boost to the water-stressed Southwest
Stories by Ula Chrobak
Water
Skies Are Sucking More Water from the Land
Western states’ “atmospheric thirst” means more fires and strained water supplies
Ecology
Redwoods Grow Weird Leaves to Suck Water from Air
Here’s how they choose the right leaf for the job
Climate Change
Lyme and Other Tick-borne Diseases Are on the Rise—But Why?
The complex interplay of tick ecology, land use and climate may be enabling the spread of the pathogens the arachnids carry
Natural Disasters
Severe Wildfires Raise the Chance for Future Monstrous Blazes
The complete torching of trees allows dense, low vegetation to sprout, creating a new hotbed for more extreme fire
Am I Addicted to Climbing Rocks?
The science on that question is mixed, but for me it feels more like a form of meditation
