A largely forgettable rainfall provoked a growth in vegetation that, followed by a hot, near-record dry period, simply resulted in more fuel for potential wildfires.When it comes to Southern California's increasingly perilous fire season, you can blame both the lack of rain and the little rain we did have.

Douglas Trumbull's new project would use fast frame rates, huge screens, 4K digital for an "immersive" experience. Are audiences ready?

Bodily waste is widely considered a topic not to be discussed in polite company; it’s something to be flushed and forgotten. But a new book argues that waste, in all its human and animal forms, is worth getting to know intimately

Vast reserves of shale oil is set to make the US an exporter rather than a leading importer, delivering a blow to Middle East oil producers that can expect to see demand fall, an International Energy Agency report observes.

A Japanese company will soon test the first renewable energy source that will harvest the power of the wind and ocean

Concentrations of the greenhouse gas CO2 could go above 400 parts per million in the Northern hemisphere this month

Corn and soybean farmers not only survived last year's epic drought — thanks to crop insurance, they made bigger profits than they would have in a normal year, a new analysis finds. And a big chunk of those profits were provided through taxpayer subsidies.

A breathtaking new video captures a crisp evening descending into a star-strewn night in Death Valley National Park last month. This new production from Sunchaser Pictures -- the team that brought you Death Valley DreamLapse -- features two desert enigmas: ...

A deep dive into the nature and complications of alt fuels like fracked natural gas, methane hydrate, and tar sands oil    

Fecal collections provide clues to marine mammal's diet

Snakeheads are no ordinary fish. They can live for days out of the water. They’re elongated, with a small, flat head and extensive top and bottom fins. The mucus they exude would put a slug to shame.

Two-year moratorium on neonicotinoids to protect bee health takes effect on 1 December

The northern hemisphere is on average 1.5 °C hotter than its southern twin, but this isn't because it contains most of the world's land    

The planned ruling would eliminate protection for the top predators, but scientists and conservationists say the proposal is flawed.Federal authorities intend to remove endangered species protections for all gray wolves in the Lower 48 states, carving out an a exception for a small pocket of about 75 Mexican wolves in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico, according to a draft document obtained by The Times.

The U.S. Geological Survey is putting remotely piloted former military planes to work in the areas of environmental and wildlife management. Earlier this month, researchers spent three days counting sage grouse in rural Colorado. Next up: a survey of pygmy rabbit habitat in Idaho.