Environment

Carved zigzag marks on a shell found more than a century ago have drawn new interest from archaeologists. The half-million-year-old lines aren't from an animal, and might be art from Homo erectus.

Officials in New York said on Wednesday that the state will ban hydraulic fracturing there. The move follows years of efforts by environmentalists, who have called on the state to ban the practice.

A state panel has approved a comprehensive list of regulations for companies that want fracking permits to drill for and collect natural gas in North Carolina.

Heavy rains are hitting drought-stricken California. But instead of sinking into the earth, the water is rushing away in areas burned by wildfire, raising the danger of mudslides.

The pipeline's fate looms large in Washington. But for people living in Keystone XL's proposed path, the project will alter livelihoods and legacies — for better or worse, depending on whom you ask.

Short, unlit towers are used to prospect for new wind farms. But the structures pose a threat to crop-duster pilots. Transportation officials are urging better markings and other safety improvements.

A global summit to address climate change wrapped up in Peru last week. After 36 hours of negotiation, a draft of the Lima Accords was presented--a plan which will change how countries deal with carbon emissions. Wake Forest professor Justin Catanoso is a regular WFDD contributor and attended the UN Climate talks.

Sea otters are furry and photogenic, but those aren't the only reasons to save them from extinction. Turns out that just by eating, they can preserve their entire estuarine ecosystems.

In Lima, Peru, almost all of the world's governments agreed on a document meant to galvanize efforts to curb climate change. While the outcome was modest, it did establish some important principles.