It soon could become much harder for recycling centers across the U.S. to turn a profit, and some instead could divert reusable materials to landfills, thanks to a looming Chinese import ban on certain types of recycled materials. China is by far the biggest importer of U.S. recyclables, but part of that market is about to close: The Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) notified the World Trade Organization in July that it would ban imports of certain types of...

Use of hazardous chemicals for colors could pose safety risk, EU says. Inks currently not subject to such comprehensive controls in U.S. Tattooing has been around for thousands of years, but its popularity is bigger than ever. Once considered an act of rebellion against cultural norms, today nearly one in three Americans and nearly one in six Europeans have a tattoo.

Oregon farmers swapped out pine trees for hazelnuts in wake of Great Recession. Asian consumers are developing a taste for Nutella, made from hazelnuts. The great Christmas tree shortage of 2017 is real and it could be Nutella’s fault. Or, more specifically, it could be partly because of China’s growing taste for the iconic chocolate-hazelnut confection.

Across the U.S., development and agriculture have fundamentally altered the American landscape. In some cases, the change has been so dramatic that conservationists and researchers are now looking for what they call "hidden habitats." Among those are cemeteries that serve as refuges for some of America's most endangered native plants and insects.

Experts point to growing value of natural areas in urban settings. The Anacostia River has played second fiddle to its more famous cousin, the Potomac, ever since Pierre L’Enfant designed the “City of Washington” back in 1791. “Then, as now, the Potomac was more of a rich man’s river, and the Anacostia was a poor man’s river,” wrote historian John Wennersten in his 2008 book “Anacostia: The Death & Life of an American River.”.

Ethiopia hopes new hydroelectric dam will make it Africa’s largest power exporter. Downriver Egypt gets basically all its water from the Nile, worries about interruptions from the dam. Two of the world’s most ancient civilizations remain at loggerheads over access to water, a dispute that could presage conflicts to come on an increasingly thirsty and electricity-dependent planet.

Resolution aims to cut down on bycatch, improve data collection. Bycatch kills and injures fish and other animals that aren’t the targeted catch. A United Nation’s wildlife summit is calling for steps to reduce on a global scale the incidental capture of sea birds, sea turtles, sharks and other nontarget species that get caught in fishing gear, often killing them.

“I think it’s one of those unseen events that perhaps doesn’t get recognized in all of the chaos and devastation of the storm,” said Elena Craft, a senior scientist with...

Following withdrawal from Paris accord, states take the lead on emissions targets.

BOULDER, COLO. • The transition from employment to retirement used to be marked by a date on a calendar, along with some sheet cake, and maybe a gold watch. Those days are long gone for most workers in the United States. Today, the journey toward complete withdrawal from the labor force can last many years.

Bourbon, America’s only “native spirit,” has been riding a wave of popularity like it hasn’t seen in 50 years, driven by a combination of savvy marketing and a resurgence of cocktail culture. Bourbon has become so popular that many of its most precious labels have become nearly impossible to buy at the retail level.

Establishing a sea route over the top of the world has been a centuries-old navigation dream, with explorations in search of the famed Northwest Passage often ending with stranded sailors being forced to eat their boots—and in some cases, each other. Now, thanks in part to climate change, polar expeditions are becoming the latest thing in high-end tourism.

The Environmental Protection Agency's new head, Scott Pruitt, is already signalling his intent to start undoing climate change regulations introduced under the Obama adminstration. Republicans have been critical of the EPA for what they feel are overly aggressive regulations dating from the 2007 Supreme Court ruling on the Clean Air Act, which gave the EPA the right to regulate greenhouse gases coming from vehicle tailpipes.

Higher levels of mycotoxin contamination turn up after extreme weather. Fungus could threaten billions of dollars in lost food production. While some kinds of mold and fungi give us antibiotics and cheese, other types aren’t so helpful when they cause diseases or kill plants. And climate change is exacerbating the harm caused by toxins from fungi called mycotoxins, increasing the risk of contamination for many common food crops, agricultural researchers say.

President-elect Trump’s inauguration is expected to attract the biggest mass protest of an elected president since Richard Nixon in 1973, when 60,000 protesters descended on Washington. The idea for the Women’s March on Washington was conceived on Facebook and pulled together in a few short months, a feat that would have been impossible even a decade ago.

During their working years, women tend to earn less than men, and when they retire, they’re more likely to live in poverty. These are women who raised children and cared for sick and elderly family members, often taking what savings and income they had and spending it on things besides their own retirement security.