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Saving Species: True Stories of Survival and Second Chances
Hey there, animal lovers! Are you ready for some good news about saving species? 🐾 Did you know that some endangered animals once on the brink of extinction are now making an amazing comeback? Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, some species have been given second chances and are thriving again. Here are the stories of saving species from extinction. Bald Eagle Once endangered due to hunting and dangerous pesticides like DDT, the bald eagle experienced a steep decline. However, protective laws like the Bald Eagle Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the banning of DDT led to a significant recovery. Today, the bald eagle has grown to an…
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Swinging Toward Extinction: The Fight to Save Borneo’s Orangutans
In the lush rainforests of Borneo, orangutans swing through the trees, raise their babies, and search for food. But now, palm oil plantations are destroying orangutan homes. A palm oil company called PT Equator Sumber Rezeki (ESR) has started cutting down large areas of forest in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. This forest is not just any forest—it’s a critical habitat for the Bornean orangutan, a species already in danger of disappearing forever. What’s Happening to Borneo’s Orangutans? ESR, part of the First Borneo Group, has begun clearing parts of a 15,000-hectare (about 37,000 acres) area of forest. So far, over 200 hectares (about 500 acres) have been cut down between August…
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Cracking the Ice Myth: What’s Really Happening in Antarctica
Some folks will say just about anything to deny that humans are heating up the planet. Lately, I’ve seen way too many posts claiming that Antarctica is gaining ice. So let’s clear this up—again. First: Weather is not the same as climate. A snowstorm or cold snap doesn’t mean global warming isn’t real. Second: Climate change doesn’t move in a straight line. It’s more like a rollercoaster—up and down, but overall heading in a downward direction. That’s because Earth’s systems are complex. Natural patterns, like ocean currents and air pressure systems, can temporarily speed up or slow down warming in different places. So, What Caused the Short-Term Gain in Antarctica?…
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Good News For A Change: Hope Is On The Horizon
Hope is on the horizon! Amid the challenges, there’s good news: people everywhere are stepping up to protect our planet. From coral reef restoration and reforestation projects to massive clean energy expansions and some wildlife making a comeback, change is happening. Some endangered sea turtles are recovering. Countries are phasing out coal. Kids are leading climate marches. Nature is resilient—and so are we. A Bright New Record for U.S. Power In March 2025, something big happened—clean energy made more electricity than fossil fuels in the U.S. for the very first time! That month, renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower provided 51% of the country’s electricity, while fossil fuels…
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Earth’s Coral Reefs Are in Big Trouble—Here’s Why
Since the beginning of 2023, about 84% of the world’s coral reefs have suffered from something called bleaching, according to the International Coral Reef Initiative. This is the worst global bleaching event ever recorded, even worse than the last big one that happened between 2014 and 2017. To say our coral reefs are in big trouble barely scratches the surface—this is an ocean emergency. What Is Coral Bleaching? Corals may look like underwater plants, but they’re actually animals—and they team up with tiny algae to survive. The algae give corals their bright colors and also provide food. In return, the corals give the algae a safe place to live and…
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Big Ship Pollution: A New Deal to Clean Up the Seas
A New Deal to Clean Up the Seas Have you ever wondered how stuff from across the world ends up at your local store? Giant ships carry nearly everything we buy—clothes, toys, electronics, even food. But there’s a big problem: big ship pollution. Those gigantic ships burn dirty fuel, and that pollutes our air and warms our planet. Now, there’s a new plan to help change that. What’s The Big News? Countries around the world are working on a new agreement that would require ships to cut their pollution—or pay a fee if they don’t. This deal is being talked about by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is kind…
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The Year Nature Couldn’t Keep Up
In 2024, scientists saw the biggest jump in carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in Earth’s air since they started keeping track back in 1958. CO₂ went up by 3.58 parts per million compared to 2023, beating the old record from 2016. Nature couldn’t keep up. Most of this rise came from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. On top of that, natural events like El Niño and massive wildfires in North and South America made things worse. We know all this from something called the Keeling Curve—a graph that shows how CO₂ levels have changed over time. It’s named after Charles David Keeling, the scientist who started measuring CO₂…
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Ocean In Trouble: Toxic Algae Is Killing Sea Life
Off the coast of Southern California, something heartbreaking is happening for the fourth year in a row. A toxic algae bloom — caused by tiny ocean plants growing out of control — is making sea lions and dolphins sick. Many are getting stranded on beaches, helpless and confused. Some are even dying. This bloom started earlier than usual this year, likely because ocean waters are warmer than normal. Toxic algae produce a dangerous poison called domoic acid. It builds up in fish, and when sea lions and dolphins eat those fish, the poison attacks their brains. Sick animals may seem disoriented, have seizures, or lose their ability to swim and…
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Frozen in Time: Glaciers on the Brink
Glaciers on the Brink: Imagine a world where the towering glaciers, nature’s ancient water reservoirs, are on the brink of vanishing before our eyes. This isn’t a scene from a science fiction movie—it’s our current reality. What Are Glaciers and Why Do They Matter? Glaciers are like giant frozen libraries! They contain all kinds of important information about Earth’s past. They are massive, slow-moving rivers of ice found in mountain regions and polar areas that store about 70% of the world’s freshwater. They also hold clues about past climate, how Earth has changed over time, and they even preserve plants, animals, and microorganisms that are really old. As they melt…
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“Silent Screams: How Rat Poison Is Devastating Owls
Every night, I’m lucky to hear the deep, stuttering hoots of Great Horned Owls echoing through my neighborhood: hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo. Sometimes, the male and female of a breeding pair call back and forth in a duet, with the female’s voice sounding higher than the male’s. It’s like a secret nighttime concert, hidden in the trees. It breaks my heart to know that some of my neighbors are using rat poison — a danger that could devastate these majestic owls I’m so lucky to hear each night. Why Is Rat Poison Devastating Owls And Other Wildlife? When you think of rat poison, you probably imagine it just killing rats, right? Sadly, that’s…
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Toxic Rice? How Climate Change Is Threatening Our Food
More than half the people in the world eat rice every day. But now, rising carbon dioxide and hotter temperatures are creating toxic rice. Global Hunger in Focus The world is already facing a huge hunger crisis. Right now, about 1.9 million people are experiencing extreme hunger, mostly in places like Gaza and Sudan, but also in parts of Sudan, Haiti, Mali, and parts of the Middle East. These people are very close to famine, which means not having enough food to survive. In one camp in northern Sudan, famine is already happening. Many of these hunger emergencies are getting worse each year because of many problems happening at the…
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Pills in the Gills: Why Fish Are Acting So Weird
Fish are acting strange—and human medicines might be to blame! Find out how drugs from our bathrooms are ending up in rivers and messing with fish brains.
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Poison in Disguise: The Scary Side of Plastic Recycling
When we think of plastic recycling, we usually imagine helping the planet—turning old stuff into something new instead of throwing it away. But did you know that recycling plastic might actually be more harmful than helpful in some cases? We’ve grown up being told that recycling is the best way to help the planet. It became a badge of honor: rinse the yogurt cup, separate the caps, fill the blue bin. It felt like the right thing—and for a long time, it was one of the best tools we had. But now, the story’s getting more complicated. I’ve decided to dig deeper and ask myself, “Am I really helping?” I…
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How to Spot Fake Graphs
Fake graphs pop up on social media all the time. And if graphs confuse you, you’re not alone—I’ve felt that way too! With all the lines, numbers, and labels, they can seem boring, messy, or even like they’re trying to trick you. But once you learn how to read them, graphs actually make things easier. They’re like a shortcut to show patterns or comparisons without a big wall of text. This guide will help you spot misleading and fake graphs faster—so you won’t fall for the tricks. Why Even Use a Graph? Sometimes, it’s the only way to clearly show trends, like how a population grows over time, or which…
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Scientific Consensus: It’s Not a Vote, It’s the Evidence!
Scientific consensus is when most scientists agree on something after looking at a lot of evidence and doing many studies. Think of it like this: if 100 doctors all study the same illness and 97 of them say, “Yep, we’ve tested this, and this is what we’ve found,” then we say there’s a consensus—a strong agreement—on that topic. But it’s important to know: it’s not a vote. Scientists don’t just raise their hands and pick an answer. Instead, they do experiments, gather data, and check each other’s work. If many scientists get the same results over and over, that’s how a consensus forms. Examples of Scientific Evidence Include: Smoking causes…
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Chapter 4 Secrets in the Hills: My Journey into the Santa Susana Field Laboratory
After a string of interviews — including group panels — I joined the the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) in 2007. I made great friends and learned a ton, especially about how disinformation (people deliberately spreading false information) can shape public opinion. I also learned about endangered orangutans, which only deepened my commitment to protecting wildlife and wild places. My title was Public Outreach Specialist: I translated complex environmental issues into clear, accessible information for the public. One of my main assignments was the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), a sprawling site between Ventura and Los Angeles counties. At first I thought, “No big deal.” I was wrong.…
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“An Inconvenient Truth”: More Right Than We Knew
People laughed (and still are) at Al Gore over his film, “An Inconvenient Truth”. The planet’s not laughing. I’m frankly tired of the lie that Al Gore’s predictions from his film were all wrong. Yeah, he got a couple of things wrong, especially the timing. But the science behind what he said? Still very real—and in some cases, it’s even worse than he predicted. Let’s break it down: Claim: “Within the decade there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro.” What Really Happened: Timing was off, but the ice is disappearing quickly. Gore was a little early on the timing, but he wasn’t wrong about the big picture. The glaciers…
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Celestial Sizzle? Burning Through The “All Planets Are Warming” Myth
Are All Planets Warming? Nope—that’s not true! The notion that “all planets are warming” is a myth. Here’s what scientists actually know about the planets in our solar system: Mercury, Too Hot and Too Cold! OK, how can that be? Mercury is super close to the Sun and doesn’t really have an atmosphere. That means it doesn’t have a climate like Earth’s. Even though a year on Mercury lasts only 88 Earth days, its day is super long—176 Earth days! Also, since it hardly tilts on its axis (only about 2°), it doesn’t have real seasons like we do. Believe it or not, temperatures can reach up to 800°F (430°C)!…
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Smiling Angel in Peril: The Yangtze Finless Porpoise
By Holly Shaftel, contributing writer In China’s Yangtze River, a shy, finless “Smiling Angel” glides through the water, echolocating with others of its kind. This is the Yangtze finless porpoise, the world’s only known freshwater porpoise. It once shared its habitat with the Baiji dolphin, however that species was declared functionally extinct* in 2007. Now, the porpoise faces its own fight for survival. In 2013, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed it as critically endangered due to growing threats from human activity. Will the porpoise disappear next? Why Do We Need the Yangtze Finless Porpoise? Nature is like a giant game of Jenga. Each species is a…
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The High Cost of Cheap Clothes: Fast Fashion Waste
Happy Earth Month! This is a time when people around the world come together to clean up trash, including plastic and fashion waste, and help protect the environment. We often hear about plastic pollution and food waste, but what about fashion? Believe it or not, the fashion industry is a huge polluter. And Fast fashion is the worst of all. The Shocking Truth About Fast Fashion Every year, manufacturers produce over 100 BILLION pieces of low-cost clothing. Many of these clothes contain harmful chemicals and harm the environment. The Environmental Cost of Fast Fashion Fast fashion is a major problem for our planet. Here’s how: It’s a carbon monster – the…
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Plastic Everywhere: Microplastics Are Harming Birds–And Us
Introduction Did you know that every piece of plastic ever made still exists somewhere on Earth? Unlike food or paper—it just breaks down into tinier and tinier pieces (microplastics). That means every plastic bag, bottle, plastic cup, or straw ever created is still out there, whether it’s in a landfill, the ocean, or even tiny pieces floating in the air. Now we’ve learned that microplastics are harming birds–and us! In just the first ten years of the 2000s, people made more plastic than in all of history before the year 2000. Now, scientists estimate that there are between 15 and 51 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the ocean—that’s more…
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Brace Yourself: Why Turbulence Is Getting Worse
Have you flown lately? Have you noticed that turbulence is getting worse? Remember these shocking 2024 headlines? “A flight attendant broke her back during severe turbulence on a flight in Turkey—the third major incident of its kind in a week.” “Singapore Airlines flight hits severe turbulence, one passenger dead.” Buckle Up! Turbulence is making headlines! More and more, we’re hearing jaw-dropping stories of terrifying flights. In May 2024, a Singapore Airlines flight hit extreme turbulence, bouncing like a roller coaster and plunging 178 feet in just 4.6 seconds! The chaos left 104 people needing medical help, with 20 in intensive care. One person suffered a fatal heart attack. That same…
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Food Waste: The Big Problem Hiding in Your Trash!
Have you ever thrown away food at home—maybe an apple with a bruise or leftovers you didn’t feel like eating? If so, you’re not alone! I’ve done it, too! People all over the world waste tons of food every single day. But did you know that food waste is a big problem for our planet? Let’s dive into what food waste is, why it matters, and how we can help fix it! What is Food Waste? Food waste occurs when people throw away perfectly good food instead of eating it. This waste happens at home, in restaurants, at grocery stores, and even on farms. Some common reasons food gets wasted…
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“Food Waste Fix: Smart Hacks to Save Food & Save the Planet!” 🍎♻️
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Vanishing Giants: Can We Save Africa’s Forest Elephants?
By Holly Shaftel, contributing writer Deep in the dense rainforests of Central and West Africa, a quiet giant roams — smaller than its savanna cousin, but just as vital to its ecosystem. The African forest elephant, a master gardener of the jungle, spreads seeds and shapes the land with every step. Yet, despite its importance, this elusive creature is critically endangered, facing threats from poaching and habitat loss. Tracking these secretive creatures isn’t easy. Unlike other animals with special markings that make them easy to recognize, forest elephants are great at staying out of sight. Instead of relying on direct sightings, scientists turn to an unusual method — counting poop.…
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African Forest Elephant Coloring Page
Want the details? Read all about them here.
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Fueling the Future: Why EVs Are Better for the Environment
Guest Post by Holly Shaftel When I was on Facebook (maybe five years ago), I once debated an old high school classmate about electric vehicles. I can’t remember the details, but this person replied to my post about electric trucks, spewing all the falsehoods she likely picked up from her social circle, including those about battery production. As a proud EV owner and former NASA climate website editor, I’m used to “science bombing” online trolls, bots, and deniers who work for Big Oil and other bad actors. So, it might not surprise you that misinformation (unintentionally false information) and disinformation (intentionally false information) around electric cars often came up in my…
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Fact-Checking Series No. 5: Busting Yet Another Myth About Climate Change
Let’s Call a Spade a Spade! I’m back, busting yet another myth about climate change! Ever heard of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)? It’s a “think tank” (a group that shares ideas) that doesn’t believe humans are causing climate change. Sounds wild, right? Even more interesting, they’ve gotten money from groups that don’t like environmental rules, like the Charles Koch Foundation and ExxonMobil. Through 2016, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation contributed over $2.2 million to CEI.—that’s a whole lot of cash! Now, CEI once published a list basically saying, “People have been predicting environmental disasters since the 1960s, and they’re still doing it today!” But are these predictions really…
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Amur Leopard Maze (late elementary)
Hungry for more fun or fascinating facts? Dive into our Amur Leopard coloring page and discover amazing insights about this critically endangered big cat!
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Critically Endangered Amur Leopard Maze (early elementary)
Craving more fun? Grab your crayons and explore our Amur Leopard coloring page here!
Earth Advocacy for Future Generations
