U.S. asked to protect great white sharks

(Chris Fallows / Discovery Channel)

Juliet Eilperin

Three environmental groups petitioned NOAA late Monday to list the West Coast population of great white sharks under the Endangered Species Act.

Plan would ban drilling on half of Alaska petroleum reserve

Plan would ban drilling on half of Alaska petroleum reserve

Juliet Eilperin

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s proposal to manage the nearly 23 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve allows for new oil and gas drilling on half while putting the rest off-limits.

The Bakken billionaire’s oil optimism

The Bakken billionaire’s oil optimism

Steven Mufson

An early believer in two drilling technologies, Harold Hamm made billions on the Bakken oil boom and now is using his wealth in GOP politics.

Shark fin delicacy worries scientists

Shark fin delicacy worries scientists

Juliet Eilperin

The soup served in D.C. and other major cities may be made from a threatened species of sharks.

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Health, Science & Environment Videos

Jackson river dispute

Jackson river dispute

Landowners along the Jackson River have sparked a debate about who controls the rights to Virginia’s river bottoms. Video courtesy of Matt Pickett.
Jackson river dispute

Jackson river dispute

Landowners along the Jackson River have sparked a debate about who controls the rights to Virginia’s river bottoms. Video courtesy of Matt Pickett.
‘Mohawk Guy’ on STEM education: I hope NASA will continue more public outreach

‘Mohawk Guy’ on STEM education: I hope NASA will continue more public outreach

The Washington Post’s Haley Crum presents readers’ questions to NASA mission controller Bobak Ferdowsi.
‘Mohawk Guy’ on the Curiosity rover playlist

‘Mohawk Guy’ on the Curiosity rover playlist

The Washington Post’s Haley Crum presents readers’ questions to NASA mission controller Bobak Ferdowsi.
Curiosity’s mission to Mars: Exploring the surface

Curiosity’s mission to Mars: Exploring the surface

Watch an animation of how NASA’s Mars rover, named Curiosity, is designed to explore the Martian surface.
Curiosity’s mission to Mars - The rover’s descent

Curiosity’s mission to Mars - The rover’s descent

NASA’s Mars rover, named Curiosity, landed on the red planet on August 6, 2012. Watch this animation of the rover’s landing sequence and an explanation of its instruments to explore the martian surface.
Climate change in Alaska brings break with tradition

Climate change in Alaska brings break with tradition

Residents of Kotzebue and Point Hope, Alaska reflect on how climate change is affecting their way of life. They are trying to keep their generation-old traditions alive in the face of beach erosion, changing migration patterns and diverging Alaskan weather.
Curiosity lands on Mars

Curiosity lands on Mars

VIDEO | The Post’s Marc Kaufman on the successful “mission of the decade.”
Swimming (and surviving) with sharks

Swimming (and surviving) with sharks

Video courtesy of Discovery News.
Shark takes 450 mile road trip

Shark takes 450 mile road trip

Sharks take a road trip from South Carolina to their new home in the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, as staff work to provide the smoothest and least stressful transport. Video courtesy of Discovery News. Shark week starts August 12 on The Discovery Channel.
Cool jobs: Shark traffic cop

Cool jobs: Shark traffic cop

Florida Aquarium staff use contrasting colored tools to provide traffic control in the water with sharks. Video courtesy of Discovery News. Shark week starts August 12 on The Discovery Channel.
Shark attack victim speaks out for sharks

Shark attack victim speaks out for sharks

After a shark attack, Krishna Thompson lost his left leg but felt he had a second chance at life upon surviving the encounter. Since then he’s teamed up with other environmentalists to lobby against shark finning. Video courtesy of Discovery News. Shark week starts August 12 on The Discovery Channel.
Shark fears traced

Shark fears traced

A look at the history of shark attack reports. Video courtesy of Discovery News. Shark week starts August 12 on The Discovery Channel.

Special Report

Exploring Antarctica

Exploring Antarctica

The frozen landscape, dry valleys and active volcanoes that make up Antarctica provide a living laboratory for scientific study and a wondrous journey for those traveling to the ends of the Earth.

Urban Jungle

The new occupants of McPherson Square

The new occupants of McPherson Square

Patterson Clark

Tall fescue is joined by some univited guests that are making a stand in the park.

Featured Galleries

Brazil’s shrinking rain forest

Opponents say planned regulations could speed up deforestation.

Obama administration rejects Keystone pipeline

The supporters and opponents of the controversial pipeline.

Aerial views of coal mining operations

Coal production’s center in the U.S. has moved to Wyoming and Montana.