Moby-Dick and the Galápagos Tortoises
What Herman Melville left out of his classic novel
Conservation1140 articles archived since 1845
Otters Show How Predators Can Blunt Climate Damage
Understanding the full impacts of warming requires factoring in the complexity of ecosystems
The Problem with Honey Bees
They’re important for agriculture, but they’re not so good for the environment
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from the United Arab Emirates about the the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country.
We Can Save Earth’s Coral Reefs
Members of the International Coral Reef Initiative have agreed on the steps we must take. Now governments have to act
Rain Forest Canopy Bridges Aid Slow Lorises, Gibbons and Other Threatened Species
The world’s most endangered primate is only the latest example of an arboreal animal benefiting from this simple yet effective conservation solution
Rapid Heat-Stress Test Identifies Resilient Corals
A new method to measure corals’ heat tolerance on-site could speed up conservation efforts
Election Science Stakes: Energy
Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti and associate editor Andrea Thompson talk about this election and the future of U.S. energy research and policy.
Election Science Stakes: Environment
Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti talks about how this election will affect environmental science and policy.
Election Science Stakes: Climate
Scientific American’s associate editor for sustainability Andrea Thompson talks about how climate science and policy will be affected by this election.
Double Whammy of Warming, Overfishing Could Spell Disaster for Antarctic Krill
Countries are debating proposed marine reserves that could help protect this key source of food for other species
Beehives on a Cliff Wall Are Protected from Predators and Pesticides
A high mountain in China turns into a safe haven for the declining insects
River Ecosystem Restoration Can Mean Just Add Water
Planners returned water to the dry bed of Arizona’s Santa Cruz River in 2019, and various species began showing up on the same day.
Humans Make Wild Animals Less Wary
From mammals to mollusks, animals living among humans lose their antipredator behaviors.
Blue Whale Song Timing Reveals Time to Go
Blue whales off California’s coast sing at night—until it’s time to start migrating, and they switch to daytime song.
When Whales Stop Calling
Seismic surveys looking for oil and gas deposits are interfering with cetacean communication, likely stressing the marine mammals
An Ambitious Strategy to Preserve Biodiversity
The so-called 30 by 30 plan would protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters from development by 2030
Sloths Slowly Cavort by Day Now
The disappearance of their predators in a disturbed ecosystem has turned Atlantic forest sloths from night creatures to day adventurers.
Online Reptile Trade Is a Free-for-All That Threatens Thousands of Species
More than one third of all reptile species, including highly endangered ones, are sold internationally, primarily as pets
Squeezing the Elephant
The massive Asian version is running out of habitat, raiding farms, and killing the occasional human
