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An activist dressed as a bumblebee holds a notebook that reads: "Homework for the federal government" during a protest for better conditions for insects on June 19th, 2019, in Berlin, Germany. Several studies point to a strong decline in Germany's insect population over the last decades, with causes attributed to a variety of factors, including the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture, the loss of wild meadows, growing urbanization, and climate shifts.

Viewfinder: Protesters Warn of Insect Population Decline

An activist dressed as a bumblebee protests for better conditions for insects on June 19th, 2019, in Berlin, Germany.

Scientist Raffaele Gamba from the State Museum of National History Stuttgart superscribes the container from a trap used to collect insects in the southwest German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg on May 6th, 2019.

Environment

What We Know and Don’t Know About the State of Insect Populations in the U.S. and Europe

Despite the fact that insects make up most of the species on Earth, and much of the planet's biomass, they are significantly understudied compared to mammals, birds, fish, and much else.

Jeremy Hance

Ideas

Indigenous Knowledge Has Been Warning Us About Climate Change for Centuries

Nishnaabeg scholar Leanne Betasamosake Simpson explains why "green growth" isn't enough to save the planet.

Malcolm Harris

Senator Jeff Flake speaks to members of the media on January 17th, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

Economics

Senator Jeff Flake’s War on Small Animals and Sound Science

Through his attacks on those government expenditures he deems frivolous, the Arizona senator exposes the counterproductive nature of his own belt-tightening mission.

James McWilliams

Environment

Ironically, Beetles Respond Poorly to Rock ‘n’ Roll

New research finds the insects devour fewer aphids when forced to listen to AC/DC or other hard rock music. Country music didn't have the same negative effect.

Tom Jacobs