Kids News - Environment Articles

Yosemite National Park in California is famous for its giant sequoia trees and towering rock formations, such as El Capitan and Half Dome. But in mid-to-late February, the spotlight turns to El Capitan's Horsetail Fall. During this brief period, the seasonal waterfall can glow a bright orange. It looks like lava is pouring down the rock surface. This striking sight is called the "firefall."...

The Kawah Ijen volcano on Java, Indonesia, is famous for its electric-blue "lava." But as you may have guessed, this is not actual lava. The striking glow is the result of a chemical reaction triggered by the high concentration of sulfur-rich gases trapped in the volcano....

A powerful winter storm has left a trail of destruction across North America — from the Mexican border through much of the United States (US) and into Eastern Canada. The massive system, nicknamed Fern, began its cross-continent trek on January 22, 2026 and lasted several days. It brought heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain to more than 220 million people....

Researchers in Canada confirmed a rare and remarkable event on January 1, 2026. A wild female polar bear had adopted an unrelated cub. The five-year-old mother was identified as bear X33991. She belongs to the Western Hudson Bay polar bear subpopulation in northern Manitoba. The scientists say this is only the 13th known adoption since they began tracking the group 45 years ago....

Each winter, Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, hosts more than just airplanes. Snowy owls also make a surprising stop here. This rare phenomenon has long delighted travelers and birdwatchers alike....

In the summer of 2019, ecologist Patrick Sullivan traveled to northern Alaska to study forests near the Salmon River. Known for its pristine water, the river supports a thriving population of wildlife, including fish and bears. Instead of the crystal-clear water he had expected, large sections farther down the river appeared bright orange. The riverbanks were also stained with rust-colored sediment....

San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved residents. Claude, an alligator with striking white skin and red eyes, died on December 2, 2025, from liver cancer....

On the morning of November 23, 2025, the residents of Ethiopia's remote Afar region were jolted awake by an unexpected event. The nearby Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in recorded history!...

The next time you grumble about short winter days, think of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska, the northernmost town in the United States. On November 18, 2025, its residents witnessed their final sunset of the year. They will not see the Sun again until around January 22, 2026. That is about 64 consecutive days, or 1,536 hours, of darkness!...