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![a chimpanzee with its hand over its face on a green background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKXoqKWCfCGi67iCSfHt9k-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
10 times humans messed with nature and it backfired
By Sascha Pare published
History is peppered with times when our patchy knowledge of natural systems has led to questionable interventions with unintended — and sometimes disastrous — consequences.
![The pinkglow pineapple, grown in Costa Rica, gets its pink color from lycopene.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NtsJFb5H6FwwQRKK7MF2gi-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Genetically engineered pink pineapples are flying off shelves: What gives them their distinctive color?
By Donavyn Coffey published
The food giant Del Monte has created a genetically engineered pink pineapple that owes its rosy hue to higher concentrations of a pigment called lycopene.
![Dry farm land in the Gila River Valley near Kinter, AZ.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrtssD3tfTgzowa3NhSwTE-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Will El Niño end the Southwest's megadrought?
By Kelly Oakes published
El Niño is set to collide with a megadrought in the Southwest. Will the pattern of wet, warmer weather in the Pacific help end the drought?
![Parliament building at sunset under pollution and smog in New Delhi, Delhi, India, Delhi.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8fM54uxTPAGak6Sp6fj4TN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What are the most polluted cities in the world?
By Meg Duff published
Cities like Lahore, Pakistan, Hotan China and Delhi, India have consistently poor air quality, but it's impossible to accurately identify the city with the world's worst air pollution.
![Three images of red lightning bolts sprouting upward like trees out of a dark storm cloud](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N3pNP9NPi4vJnG6i2gUSdg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Photographer captures rare 'gigantic jets' of upside-down lightning blasting out of Atlantic hurricane
By Brandon Specktor published
Gigantic jets, which are 50 times more powerful than typical lightning bolts and can reach the edge of space, were seen erupting out of Hurricane Franklin near Puerto Rico.
![Hurricane Idalia hits Florida's Big Bend region.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ePNEkDew5UmGPtjHencdJ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
A blue supermoon and soaring ocean temperatures created a perfect storm for Hurricane Idalia
By Sascha Pare published
The storm intensified overnight and made landfall near Keaton Beach, Florida, on the morning of Aug. 30, supporting predictions that soaring sea temperatures would boost storms and hurricanes this year.
![Maxar overview satellite imagery shows the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GQbMHW3paBe7SE2a6s2YXV-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Did the Tonga eruption cause this year's extreme heat?
By Patrick Pester published
The 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption may have contributed to this year's heat, but it's not causing climate change.
![A view of the steel containers used to store wastewater at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jdKx4o8ffr6jHVpD6apZT5-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Fukushima nuclear power plant is now pumping wastewater into the Pacific Ocean
By Sascha Pare published
The International Atomic Energy Agency — the UN's atomic watchdog — has said the release meets international safety standards with a "negligible radiological impact."
![Mist hangs over the upper canopy of the dipterocarp rainforest in Borneo's Danum Valley.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hzWjrC9ED6pY67onRH6UX7-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Tropical rainforests could get too hot for photosynthesis and die if climate crisis continues, scientists warn
By Ben Turner published
Data collected by the International Space Station has revealed a small fraction of leaves in the world's tropical rainforests are already exceeding peak temperatures, and scientists warn that this could increase.
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