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Environment

Weather

California Mudslides

January 19, 2018

Mudslides and flash floods destroyed parts of Montecito, California, last week. At press time, the natural disaster had caused at least 20 deaths. The mudslides were caused by a powerful storm. It sent mud and boulders down hills and into…

Food and Nutrition

Ugly but Tasty

April 15, 2016

In U.S. supermarkets, perfectly shaped fruits and vegetables line shelves. But not all the produce grown in the U.S. looks like what is being sold. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, more than a quarter of all fresh produce…

Animals

Shell Game

April 15, 2016

The ploughshare (plow -share) tortoise is one of the world's most endangered animals. Experts estimate that there are fewer than 300 adults in the wild. A small piece of land in northwest Madagascar is the species' only natural habitat. Because…

Earth Science

Earth Day

April 1, 2016

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. Energy & Waste The average American produces more than four pounds of garbage per day. Over the course of a year, that is more than 1,600 pounds of garbage per…

Animals

Bug Business

October 7, 2015

Chocolate-chip cookies. Banana bread. Brownies. What do these treats have in common? If they were made with Bitty Foods flour, they all contain a special ingredient: crickets. The company, which is based in San Francisco, California, wants to make insects…

Earth Science

Water Worries

April 24, 2015

California has survived many droughts. But the current dry spell, now in its fourth year, is one of the most severe the state has ever experienced. A shortage of precipitation has left lakes, reservoirs, and other sources of water at…