environmental issues

While fires have always been here, the climate crisis appears to be exacerbating both their frequency and intensity. The giant fire in the Jerusalem hills on Independence Day. Photo: Yair Barkan

How do we prevent the next fire?

Huge fires are spreading in Israel and around the world with increasing frequency. Experts point to the climate crisis and the urgent need for forest management, budgets and awareness to prevent future disasters.
Measuring methane emissions. Israel has pledged to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Photo courtesy of Greenpeace Israel

Methane: The Hidden Problem of Natural Gas

Group fitness training. Why do some people love exercise? Illustration: depositphotos.com

AI Revealed: What Really Makes Us Move?

First-of-its-kind study uses AI to examine what motivates people to exercise
The first hydrogen refueling station in Israel has been operating since May 2023 in Sonol Yagur. Photo: Idan Sabah

Israel as a hydrogen powerhouse: From a research base to solar-hydrogen parks

Israel is in a unique position to develop a hydrogen economy. The establishment of solar-hydrogen parks could bridge the gap between research and commercial implementation. Opinion
Massive destruction in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. Image prepared using ideogram.ai

Trump's first 100 days of total environmental destruction and damage to generations

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From announcements of green technologies to the repeal of regulations and the firing of scientists – moves that undermine the foundations of environmental and public health protection. Inside Climate News investigation
Oil production in the heart of nature. In Britain they banned it. Photo: shutterstock

Britain is an example of zero carbon emissions

Lessons from the UK: Long-term legislation, financial incentives, and research infrastructure to build an economy that balances quality growth and environmental protection
Fires in the Jerusalem Mountains, 30/4/2025. Photographed by KKL-JNF employees and foresters.

NASA: Climate crisis doubles the extremes of forest fires worldwide

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Satellites detect dramatic increases in the frequency, intensity and extent of extreme fires due to global warming. There are plenty of reasons for fires. Human error would be more forgivable if it weren't for warming
Environmental awareness is not just a moral or activist issue. Forest garden in Moshav Mata. Photo: Yaniv Kadoshim

The surprising connection between environmental protection and mental resilience

How environmental awareness and ecological engagement contribute to happiness, stress reduction, and improved mental well-being
Large clam shell insect (Oncopeltus fasciatus). Credit: Louise Wudrich

Why are insects disappearing?

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International study reveals more than 500 combined factors causing global decline in insect populations and suggests not just focusing on bees and butterflies
Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv, glass walls. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Israeli startup turns glass walls smart and saves up to 30% energy

The Israeli startup that makes glass walls smart: Innovative technology dramatically reduces energy consumption in high-rise buildings
Unusual concentrations of mercury were found in sea turtles that laid eggs in the Western Galilee region. Photo: Noa Gonen

Still waters penetrate boundaries

The sea does not recognize political borders – and when one country dumps industrial waste or raw sewage into the sea, it is not just its problem. In the Mediterranean, where Israel shares a maritime border with Lebanon, Egypt,
A common allergy in the spring. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Maybe it's better that spring doesn't come?!

It's a season of blossoms, blooms, and holidays – but also of allergies, warming, dryness, and disruption of the biological clock. What annoys us in spring?
A Basset Hound dog plays with a large stick in nature. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The hidden factor exacerbating the climate crisis – pet dogs

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Although the ecological damage caused by cats has been well documented, research from Australia's Curtin University shows that dogs also pose a complex and significant environmental threat.
More than 2,000 individuals have died in the past two years due to habitat loss and pollution. Photo courtesy of Save The Manatee Club

The fight for the future of manatees: from Trump to seagrass

What is a manatee and why is it important to protect it? While river otters are in danger around the world, their protection in Florida is undergoing a shake-up
On Trump, science, and climate change denial. Image prepared using ideogram.ai

Trump Administration Attacks on Climate Scientists (2025)

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Budget cuts, censorship and layoffs – the Trump administration's steps against climate research, investigation.
A swarm of locusts on a green tree branch. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How does a swarm of locusts decide where to turn and move forward?

New Israeli research reveals the secrets behind the swarm and shows it is not just an agricultural disaster but also a biological wonder
Map of the Baltic States. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Baltic states name Russia in Brexit

The last countries in the European Union that were still connected to the Russian electricity grid are disconnecting from Russia and Belarus and starting a new, cleaner page.
On the right - the desert Arabian Peninsula as it appears today. On the left - green, as it appeared 8 million years ago. Illustration: Avi Blizovsky via DALEE. This illustration should not be considered a scientific image.

8 million years ago, the Arabian Peninsula was green: Fossils and caves change the history of human migration

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8 million years ago, the Arabian Peninsula was green: Fossils and caves change the history of human migration
There is no doubt that lion cubs and monkeys evoke more intense emotions than reptiles and birds. Photo: Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Not just lions and monkeys: on the illegal wildlife trade

Money laundering, crime families, the spread of disease and animal suffering – the phenomenon of wildlife smuggling has serious consequences.
An innovative system combines sensors, artificial intelligence, and advanced algorithms to identify signs of hive collapse in advance.

The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Bee Hives

Advanced sensors and artificial intelligence monitor the condition of bees and prevent hive collapse in real time.
When Western countries have a demand for wood for construction, for example, they will obtain it from countries where trees are still cut down for these purposes. Illustration: depositphotos.com

False environmental policy

Globalization allows for the rapid movement of goods, allowing rich countries to preserve their nature but at the cost of harming the nature of poor countries.
The biggest challenge the researchers faced was the bitterness of the lupine. Photo: Adi Weinberger

Mountain lupine: Will the beautiful flower contribute to food security | Angle

Lupine has great potential as a raw material for the production of plant protein. Could it serve as a healthy and tasty alternative to animal protein?
The same beetles that eat the flower also spread its pollen. Photo: Tzlil Libin

Which anemone is tastier? The hidden battle between colors in nature

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Why are there red anemones alongside purple, pink, and white anemones? Is this a random whim of nature, or perhaps colors that help the flowers evade hungry caterpillars? New research aims to solve the mystery
Small snails and sea urchins come to the boards in droves and destroy everything growing on them. Photo: Maxim Rubin-Blum and Yitzhak Makowsky

Palmachim Disorder: What is hiding hundreds of meters below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea?

Animal habitats have been placed deep in the sea off the coast of Israel. They reveal unique living conditions that have been almost unexplored.
It is difficult to accurately assess the extent of the damage in the Strip, but everyone agrees that it is an enormous destruction that will require decades just to clear it. Photo: pixabay

The silent, deadly danger from Gaza that no army can stop

Whether Trump's plan is practical or not, one thing is clear: the current environmental situation in Gaza directly threatens not only the residents of the Gaza Strip, but also Israel, and above all,
Brown sea turtle. "The average mercury concentration in brown sea turtle eggs is higher than the average concentration we found in green sea turtle eggs." Photo: Reut Alon

Not just in thermometers: Mercury found in sea turtle eggs

Heavy metals were found in sea turtle eggs in record-breaking concentrations – according to a new Israeli study that may provide us with a broader picture of heavy metal pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.
Even areas once considered immune to the ice and freezing weather are now showing signs of weakening. Photo: pexels

Frozen surprise: Melting glaciers are more harmful than we thought

Why might the worrying consequences of melting glaciers suddenly interest Trump?
To use the product, simply insert the capsule into a reusable bottle and add tap water. Minimal Capsule Products. Image courtesy of Minimal Capsule

A big revolution in a small capsule

Advanced 3D printing technology makes it possible to create small capsules that become a cosmetic product, allowing us, the consumers, to take an active part in protecting the environment.
Ultrasound examination for leeks. Screenshot, Chaim Lest

For the first time in Israel: An ultrasound examination revealed an advanced pregnancy in a finless sea bream

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Melting glaciers are slowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the world's strongest ocean current, researchers have found. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

The Great Ocean Slowdown: How Antarctic Ice Loss Is Reshaping the Climate

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New research finds that melting ice in Antarctica is weakening the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and could lead to worsening climate extremes, disrupting marine ecosystems, and reducing the ocean's ability to absorb carbon by 2050.
Youth protest for climate justice. Illustration: depositphotos.com

There is no room for environmental justice in Trump's dictatorship.

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Among the areas that were decided to be eliminated "for reasons of efficiency" is the area of ​​environmental justice, which is responsible for the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). During 2025, 171 EPA employees were sent on administrative leave - 160 of whom dealt with justice issues
The study focuses on the consequences of powerful lightning strikes for infrastructure in contact with the sea. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Lightning Hazard: The Growing Threat to Infrastructure in the Eastern Mediterranean

New study reveals increase in lightning intensity in the Eastern Mediterranean region due to climate crisis and dangers to marine infrastructure and gas rigs
Environmental injustice. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Environmental justice and climate change programs on hold after federal funding freeze

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$19 billion grant freeze harms efforts to improve quality of life in needy communities and sparks legal and political controversies
Like climate change, plastic pollution is global, but local impacts need to be studied in each country individually. Photo: pixabay

Microplastics: A Global Crisis

Plastic pollution is a serious global problem. This is a wake-up call to take it seriously and conduct a systematic mapping of the pollution in Israel. Opinion
Almond trees blooming in Israel. Photo: Ran Berkovich, Unsplash It sounds like rain and irrigation are just as significant a factor as warming.

Tu B'Shvat has arrived: Is the almond blossom in danger?

Almonds have been blooming in Israel for thousands of years, but the climate crisis could affect traditional cultivation. A special interview in honor of Tu B'Shvat with Dr. Or Sferling
In recent years, Israel has imported about 60 percent of its tomato consumption in the months after the peak of summer. A food market in Tel Aviv. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The bacteria that saves the salad

The climate crisis and growing import volumes threaten the Israeli tomato. Groundbreaking research offers a natural and effective solution: using bacteria
Divers explore the coral reef in Eilat. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The coral reef in Eilat has temporarily "shut down" due to sea level change

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New research from the Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan University reveals that the coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat experienced a temporary "shutdown" about 4,500 years ago due to falling sea levels. The researchers identified a recovery after about 3,000 years and found
"Floating drilling platform for extracting lake sediment cores, Alaska." Credit: Alfred-Wegener-Institut / Weihan Jia

Global warming and mass extinctions: What can we learn from plants from the last ice age?

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Innovative methods of analyzing ancient DNA reveal how warming affected plant species during the transition from the Ice Age – a clue to what may happen in the future
Eilat's northern coast near the Kinet Canal, 23/4/2024. Collecting details and photographs by Omri O'Oshai

Who painted the beaches of Eilat pink?

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In April 2023 and 2024, mass die-offs of planktonic amphipods occurred in the Gulf of Eilat. Researchers have found that this was the effect of seasonal circular currents called eddies.
Temperature and wind are considered weather conditions that affect the risk of fires starting, the speed of their spread, and their size in the short term. Photo: pixabay

California is Burning: 3 Fire Damages You Didn't Think About

The fires that have been raging in Los Angeles for weeks are a painful example of the consequences of the climate crisis. The damage will be paid not only by residents, but also by the air, soil and ecosystems in the area.
Geckos reduce their activity to a minimum, and at the same time, their internal organs. Photo: Simon Jamieson

The gecko that eats itself to survive

This invasive species arrived in Israel about a decade ago and has since surprised and disturbed with its impressive abilities – meet the Egyptian walled gecko
A statue of Julius Caesar, a symbol of ancient Rome, reminds us of how history repeats itself. From Wikimedia

Climate change, epidemics, and groundwater pollution in ancient Rome: Will the disregard for science and the climate crisis lead us to the fall of the West?

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Two new studies (January 2025) reveal how natural climate change and lead water contamination shaped the social and health development of ancient Rome, highlighting the need to incorporate health aspects into climate risk assessment
The 'gardeners' of the reef. Four healthy sea urchin species on Reunion Island (Photo: Jean-Pascal Quod)

The Gardeners of the Sea Are Disappearing: Are Coral Reefs Facing Collapse?

The deadly parasite that destroyed sea urchins in Eilat has also spread to the Indian Ocean
An image of a wild forest. Virgin forest in Brazil, Comte de Clarac, circa 1820. ©Creative Commons. Work at the Acervo da Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil

Is the wild forest truly virgin?

A new book by Dan Hendel reveals a surprising perspective on how forests have been shaped over generations of human activity.
The system not only distinguishes between species, but also assists in population management. Photo: pexels

AI against invasive species

Artificial intelligence is mobilizing for the environment and helping to address a critical problem we all know – invasive species of animals that threaten local nature.
Israeli coach Nir Levin coaches soccer players in Zambia. Photo: Zambian Football Association

The climate crisis: Is it changing the world sports map?

Trump is destroying the World Health Organization. Image prepared using FLUX.

Trump disconnects: United States announces withdrawal from World Health Organization (WHO)

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Photo: Naja Bertolt Jensen, Unsplash

When marine animals become plastic distributors

Marine animals eat microplastic particles and excrete them in their feces, endangering the marine environment.
Do deer get all the nutritional value they need when they live and eat in the forest? Photo: Uri Segev, via trail camera

Even deer need a dietitian

The Israeli deer is in danger of extinction, and to save it, we need to find out what the best diet is for it. New Israeli research has found a way to discover what goes on deep in the deer's stomach – without touching it.
The complexity of light pollution stems from its impact on different stages of the turtles' life cycle. Green sea turtle hatching Photo: Guy Loyan

When light disturbs nature: Light pollution threatens green sea turtles | Angle

Although light symbolizes progress, for green sea turtles it is the opposite of a miracle. Mapping the lighting on beaches shows that not all darkness needs to be banished.