News & Commentary

Protecting Biodiversity Means Saving the Bogs (and Peatlands, Swamps, Marshes, Fens…)

April 23, 2024 ExplainerUnited StatesJason Bittel

Wetlands cover just 6 percent of the planet’s land area but provide habitat for 40 percent of wildlife.

These 5 Animals Would Be Goners Without the Endangered Species Act

May 4, 2023 ExplainerUnited States, InternationalJason Bittel

They’re just a handful of the hundreds of species that would be extinct without the 50-year-old law.

Our Nation—and Its National Parks—Has a Smog Problem

April 21, 2023 ExplainerUnited StatesJason Bittel

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules to address air pollution. But experts worry it’s not enough.

Saving Big Mammals Fights Extinction and Climate Change

June 23, 2022 ExplainerInternationalJason Bittel

By bringing back just 20 large mammalian species to landscapes across the globe, scientists say we can make huge dents in the biodiversity and climate crises. Here’s how.

After 140 Million Years, the Chinese Sturgeon May Soon Be Extinct

November 20, 2018 ExplainerChinaJason Bittel

As dams have popped up in the Yangtze River, one of the world’s biggest freshwater fish is running out of room—and time.

Could Grizzlies Make Good Neighbors?

February 13, 2017 ExplainerWashingtonJason Bittel

In Washington State, biologists and conservationists are working to open the wilderness (and people’s minds) to the Great Bear.

Can Military Dolphins Save This Tiny, Critically Endangered Porpoise?

January 9, 2017 ExplainerUnited States, MexicoJason Bittel

Scientists want to round up the world’s last vaquitas to protect them from extinction. Cue Flipper.

A Smuggler’s Fridge Is No Place for the Weird and Wonderful Pangolin

September 21, 2016 ExplainerAfrica, ChinaJason Bittel

The world must crack down on the pangolin trade or risk losing these animals for good.

Come On Under the Grizzly’s Umbrella

June 10, 2016 ExplainerUnited StatesJason Bittel

Protecting umbrella species can help conservationists get the most bang for their bucks.

Poachers Abuse an International-Law Loophole to Sell Some of the Rarest Animals on Earth

March 28, 2016 ExplainerUnited States, InternationalJason Bittel

How can you tell the difference between a captive-bred turtle and a wild-caught one? (You can’t.)

Orangutan Accounting 101

July 14, 2015 ExplainerInternationalJason Bittel

To save a species, scientists first need to know how many members it has left.

The Blue-Light Special

April 28, 2015 ExplainerUnited StatesJason Bittel

Could aircraft lights in tune with bird vision help prevent costly and dangerous collisions?

Social Media Slaughter

March 12, 2015 ExplainerUnited StatesJason Bittel

Social media and e-commerce sites are the new battlegrounds for the illegal wildlife trade.

Bird's Eye View

February 20, 2015 ExplainerUnited StatesJason Bittel

The story of one region’s seagulls reveals the enormous and surprising influence humans have on the environment.

Big Cats in Big Trouble

November 28, 2014 ExplainerInternationalJason Bittel

Tigers, lions, and leopards are among the world’s most beloved animals. So why don’t we treat them better?

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

November 13, 2014 ExplainerInternationalJason Bittel

How do you keep a seven-ton elephant out of your garden? Get creative.