There are millions of animals on the planet, yet the milk Americans drink almost exclusively comes from cows.

A new video from CALPIRG explains how agricultural subsidies make unhealthy processed edible products much cheaper than real, organic food.

Dairy prices could rise if the farm bill isn't passed by Dec. 31, 2012. It's being called the dairy cliff.

Despite the high stakes, this political precipice looks more like a buttery bluff.

Congress finally passed the farm bill. Here are 5 facts to start you on your way to knowing what's actually in it.

Actor allegedly smuggled his 2 pups in via private jet, generating euthanasia threats from Australian biosecurity officials.

From playful spoofs to interrupting birds, here are our favorite moments with the official voice of nature.

'Bill Nye Saves the World' will dispel myths and anti-scientific rhetoric on everything from climate change to GMOs.

Hollywood legend Doris Day was an actress, singer and animal welfare activist.

A human home inevitably contains about 100 kinds of arthropods, research shows, but most are harmless and some can be helpful.

Mowing a lawn every two weeks instead of weekly can boost the abundance of bees, according to a new study.

When the government fails to protect a public resource like a river, our hopes often fall to a loose coalition of citizen conservationists.

As Tracy Jordan famously said, 'Live every week like it's Shark Week.'

Amphibians are reliable indicators of changes in ecosystems and are valuable in medical research.

One of Earth's most impressive ecosystems is in dire straits. Here are the main issues threatening this magnificent natural wonder.

Earth's species are now vanishing at rates unprecedented in human history. That matters for more reasons than many people realize.

Millions of black 'shade balls' float on the surface of reservoirs, slowing evaporation.

Bees often flit around with yellow saddlebags, called pollen baskets, hanging from their hind legs.

Hives of honeybees do 'the wave' by shaking their booties. The wave pattern, called "shimmering,", requires impressive coordination.

Scientists find the gene that gives bumblebees their unique patterns — and the rest of us fair warning.

A new MNN comic explains why we should rename 'Wednesday' in honor of our home planet.

The epic landscapes of Torres del Paine will make you want to hop on the next plane to this Patagonian National Park.

Spending time in nature has proven health benefits, and creating a sit-spot habit will help you reap those positive rewards.

The Irish countryside is a patchwork quilt of green, as this photo of Roughgrange, a farm located next to the prehistoric Newgrange monument shows.

These brightly colored beetles come together in huge groups, but it's not just to cuddle.

As mustang horses are rounded up and taken off public lands, what will happen to this American symbol of freedom?

A study from the European Geosciences Union suggests that undersea barriers could limit sea level rise related to melting glaciers.

While Morieka Johnson usually loves a good bargain, she knows that when it comes to local, sustainably raised beef, you get what you pay for.

A new study finds footwear desensitizes feet and may even affect balance. It's time to embrace the callus.

Don't miss the best original stories of the week from Mother Nature Network.

How about bringing the Concept B, a very cool 5-door hybrid, to the U.S.? Sorry, only for China. That aggravating truth plays out again and again.

Studies show that complex and creative activities like knitting, cake decorating or crossword puzzles can create a non-medicinal, feel-good high.

Toxic compounds called PFAS have been linked to cancer and immune problems, and they may also make it tougher to keep off weight.

50 years after man first walked on the moon, the ripples of that accomplishment continue to inspire innovation.

Well, after months of hard work with the best advisors money can buy, Ford & GM announced a bold strategy to revive their ailing industry — more government lo

Physicists love the Higgs boson, but they hate the God particle. The elusive Higgs particle, which scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accele

A new study says historic smells are part of our 'cultural heritage' and should be saved to bring the past to life.

Ecologist Chris Thomas, author of 'Inheritors of the Earth,' asks readers to look at what we gain through environmental losses.

Reading novels has all kinds of benefits for the mind — and maybe even the spirit.

A new, all-girl 'Lord of the Flies' movie is in the works, making this the right time to ditch some of the gendered assumptions we have about kids.

Rachel Herz explains the science behind our relationship with the food we eat in her new book, "Why You Eat What You Eat."

A dwarsligger, or flipback book, is a small, very portable book that you read vertically, like you're scrolling through text on a smartphone.

Turns out all those dire predictions about paper books and bookstores were wrong — and personally, I'm thrilled.

Farmers markets, a growing bike culture and plenty of parks make this horse-racing town worth a visit.

Reykjavik, the pedestrian-friendly, geothermal-spring-heavy capital of Iceland is ideal for travelers who want to leave a light carbon footprint.

Bali is one of the most famous island tourist destinations in the world. This Indonesian isle's idyllic beaches, endless surf, easygoing population and exotic c

Rehoboth Beach, Del., is a grade-A beach town -- the “Nation’s Summer Capital” nickname is well-deserved. It’s a place where Mother Nature and the atypi

The ocean food web is contaminated by trash and garbage, and it's ending up in our diets.

Euthanasia rates have dropped dramatically at animal shelters across the U.S.

Blue-green algae in lakes can be fatal to dogs that ingest it while playing in the water.