Celia Llopis-Jepsen

Half a century ago, a series of landmark federal laws started reining in water pollution. As a result, some rivers across the country are bouncing back to life, but threats to clean rivers remain.

Justin was terrified of snakes – until he learned they’re scared of him, too. Tay’s fear was soothed after discovering the Internet’s affection for “nope ropes” and “danger noodles.” Can we ease our discomfort around critters by getting to know the animals? We spoke with psychologists, who offer their tips for overcoming phobias.

Rinsing your fruits and vegetables with tap water reduces how much pesticide you inadvertently eat — and a few other tricks can help you cut down the residue further.

Rinsing your fruits and vegetables with tap water reduces how much pesticide you inadvertently eat — and a few other tricks can help you cut down the residue further.

You know that moment of panic when you find a tick on yourself? Well, we assembled a crack team of tick scientists to tell us exactly what to do

The Kansas City region has a growing community of night-time enthusiasts, whose efforts to protect the vanishing darkness from light pollution are bringing attention to a wide variety of natural wonders worth staying up for.

What should you do when you find a tick on yourself? Don't freak out — we have you covered. From the KCUR Studios and Harvest Public Media podcast Up From Dust, a team of scientists help answer that question, plus how to avoid it in the first place.

People have harvested wild foods for millennia, but learning how to do it today is harder, because fewer people have those skills. These groups are teaching people to eat "field to fork" again.

Some parts of the U.S. have far more ticks than they used to, including species that can make us really sick.

About a decade ago, scientists pitched an idea to the White House: You know those endless, boring stretches of mowed grass along roads? The U.S. could turn them into places bursting with wildflowers — and I-35 from Minnesota to Texas would be the perfect place to start. Everyone seemed on board, but the project stalled. Now some states have their own visions of highway habitats and are making them come true.