biodiversity
The Arctic Doomsday Vault Might Save Our Food Future
In the snowy Arctic tundra sits an imposing edifice that food scientists hope could protect the future for food security. Could a seed vault in Norway really save us from climate-change-induced famine?
UN Says Progress on Biodiversity Goals is Lagging
The international community has failed to allocate adequate financing and demonstrate the necessary political will to meet a goal of curbing species loss by 2020.
Central Park's Soil Is Home to Microbes Found All Over the World
A whopping 122,081 bacterial, 1659 archaeal, and 43,429 eukaryotic phylotypes live below the surface of the park.
How Cities Can Save the World's Wildlife
We’ve lost half the global vertebrate population from 1970 to 2010. Cities are the key to bringing them back from the brink.
The Plan to Bring Back Extinct Animals, Without Cloning
Some 'rewilding' efforts are looking at living species to bring back extinct animals like the ancient aurochs.
Like Animals, Languages Need Isolation to Thrive
Islands are the only thing keeping languages diverse. But for how long?
Fishing for Survival in Gaza City
In the 1990s, Palestinian fishermen were able to sail 20 nautical miles to catch a diverse haul of seafood. Today, the tensions between Israelis and Hamas have limited their fishing range to three miles from shore, where biodiversity is scarce.
To Save Frogs From a Horrifying Fungus, We Might Have to Vaccinate Them
Amphibians are dying out at a breakneck pace. It's time to get them up to date with their shots.
Three New Species of Mushrooms Were Found in a UK Grocery Store
Mycologists in the UK have discovered three new species of porcini mushrooms—not in the remote forests of Italy but in a grocery store outside London, which means that people have been eating them. Sorry, biodiversity.
'Biodiverse' Software Could Thwart Hackers' Ability to Spread Viruses
Security researcher Michael Franz used Earth's biodiversity to inspire a new anti-hacking measure.
Scientists Have Identified the Most Irreplaceable Areas on the Planet
Preventing extinctions means conserving more than just the fluffiest animals.