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Environment

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Toppled Trees

August 31, 2018

There was once a tree in South Africa so wide it could fit 60 people inside its hollow trunk. The tree reached 62 feet into the sky. It was more than 1,100 years old. But recently, that tree and others…

Environment

Toxic Waters

August 31, 2018

A toxic algae bloom, or red tide, has killed thousands of animals off Florida’s Gulf Coast and driven people away from beaches. It is the worst red tide in Florida since 2006. Red tides occur when algae, a type of…

Environment

Penguins in Peril

August 13, 2018

The world’s largest colony of king penguins has shrunk by 90%, researchers say. Thirty years ago, there were some 2 million king penguins on France’s remote island of Ile aux Cochons. It is located in the Indian Ocean, between Africa…

Health

Bug Off

May 23, 2018

For many Americans, spring and summer mean more time outdoors­—and lots of bugs. In fact, diseases spread by insect bites have tripled in the United States in recent years. That’s according to a new report by the Centers for Disease…

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United States

Cactuses at Risk

April 20, 2018

The sun goes down and a truck pulls up to a giant saguaro (sa- wah -ro) in the Sonoran Desert. Poachers wearing protective gloves step out. They dig up the cactus, wrap it in a carpet, and drive away. Cactuses…

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Environment

Sweet Solutions

April 6, 2018

Last year, Americans spent more than $22 billion on chocolate. But the tasty treat comes at a far greater cost than this. That’s because farmers in Africa and South America often cut down trees in the rain forest when…

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Spanish

Environment

Hope for the Wild

April 6, 2018

One of the last unspoiled areas of Amazon rain forest lies in a remote region of northeastern Peru called Yaguas. The lush land stretches along 125 miles of the Putumayo River. Amazon rain forests are so massive that they…

Environment

The Problem With Plastics

April 6, 2018

One late-summer day, a team of cleanup volunteers was exploring the shore of the Anacostia River, in Washington, D.C. The water rippled under a hazy blue sky. Tall grass swayed on the mudflats. But something else caught the group’s eye.…

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World

Trees, Please

April 5, 2018

China is known for its long history, rich culture, and cute pandas. It’s also known for some of the worst air quality in the world. But the Asian country is now wielding a natural weapon against air pollution—trees. In February,…

Business

Lego Goes Green

April 5, 2018

Lego bricks are among the world’s most popular toys. But fans might be surprised to learn that the process for making the colorful playthings—as with many other toys—is harmful to the environment. That’s because Legos are made with plastic derived…