Climate Change

Tech companies have been building more data centers around Kansas City, spurred by the increased need for artificial intelligence. But residents are worried about the environmental impact, higher utility bills, and the long-term consequences for communities.

Monarch butterflies usually flutter into Kansas City in swarms and visit for a couple of days before continuing south to Mexico. But with prolonged summer heat and heavy winds, the monarchs’ migration trickled through over weeks.

Two companies are pursuing two very different visions for building and operating nuclear reactors in Kansas.

Deep Fission is a fledgling startup that says it can help tech companies meet the "explosive demand" for more energy to power artificial intelligence. It's one of two nuclear companies that have announced plans related to Kansas in the past month.

Dr. Imogen Herrick, assistant professor of STEM Education at the University of Kansas, is changing the way climate change is discussed in K-12 classrooms. Her Community Science Data Talks shift the focus from global issues and intangible statistics to local impacts and student emotions.

A company cofounded by Bill Gates will explore building a reactor in Kansas. It would generate power without emissions, but environmental groups have concerns.

Leaves typically start to peak in the Kansas City region by early October, but projecting peak foliage isn't an exact science. Here are some things you can do to get the most out of fall's colors.

Quick-growing blooms of bacteria and algae have long been a hazard in lakes and rivers, because of the toxins they produce. Fueled in part by agricultural runoff, these blooms are also threatening public water systems, making water temporarily unusable, and forcing some cities and towns to take costly preventive measures.

Nebraska ecologist Chris Helzer blends art and science to open people's eyes to an underappreciated ecosystem that is shrinking more and more every year.

Trees and shrubs are invading prairies, hurting the wildlife and making it harder to ranch. Yet it's hard to know the full extent of the problem, so Kansas State University found a way to map it out on the cheap.

Trees and shrubs are invading prairies, hurting the wildlife and making it harder to ranch. Yet it's hard to know the full extent of the problem, so Kansas State University found a way to map it out on the cheap.

Americans are losing their starry views to light pollution. But some communities are make lighting decisions to help preserve night skies – while benefiting wildlife and human health.