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Environment and Biology

Protecting Earth’s ecosystems and understanding the evolution of life are essential to our shared future. The National Academies study biodiversity, climate change, and the biological sciences to inform conservation and support environmental health. Explore research that helps communities adapt, protect nature, and build a more sustainable world. Learn more about our Climate Crossroads initiative.

What's happening

New Report on Managing Highway Stormwater Quality

Announcement

Stormwater infrastructure plays an important role in protecting water resources, but contaminants from highway runoff are not adequately removed by current structures, and improved management of the various types and sources of pollutants is needed. A new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies recommends methods state departments of transportation could use in their strategies to manage highway stormwater quality.

May 21, 2026

Paleoenvironmental Data 101: Using Earth’s Past to Prepare for the Future

Announcement

While data collected by modern instruments can provide information on decades of Earth’s extreme events, paleoenvironmental data found in natural archives such as ice cores and tree rings can extend that record by hundreds, thousands, or millions of years into the past. Drawing on a new National Academies report, this interactive webpage offers an introduction to different paleoenvironmental archives and how they are being used to develop a deeper understanding of disasters in the past and plan for a more resilient future.

May 4, 2026

Rock core samples at the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland.

Used on the cover of: A Synthesis Center for Paleoenvironmental Records of Extreme Events

Climate Conversations: Brain Health

Announcement

On May 28, join us virtually for a discussion about climate change and brain health.

Apr 23, 2026

Featured Publications

Effects of Human-Caused Greenhouse Gas Emissions on U.S. Climate, Health, and Welfare

The scientific community has been studying the question of how human-caused emissions...

Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence: Fourth Edition

The 4th edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence updates the topics cov...

Forecasting the Ocean: The 2025–2035 Decade of Ocean Science

Understanding and anticipating change in the ocean, and how it will affect marine eco...

View All Publications

Managing Highway Stormwater Quality: Driving Progress

Consensus Study Report

2026

Exploring Key Research and Monitoring Topics for U.S. Engagement in the Fifth International Polar Year: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2026

A Synthesis Center for Paleoenvironmental Records of Extreme Events

Consensus Study Report

2026

Review of the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project

Consensus Study Report

2026

Exploring Applications of AI in Genomics and Precision Health: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief

Proceedings

2026

Clinical Follow-up and Care for Those Impacted by the JP-5 Releases at Red Hill

Consensus Study Report

2026

Preparing U.S. Airport Infrastructure for Weather Events

2026

Biological Threats in the Age of Emerging Biotechnology: Proceedings of a Workshop Series

Proceedings

2026

State DOT Training Programs Used to Comply with NPDES Stormwater Permit Requirements

2026

Deterring Bats from Transportation Infrastructure: Methods and Results

2026

Strategies for Deterring Bats from Transportation Infrastructure

2026

Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence: Fourth Edition

2025

Gulf-Alaska Knowledge Exchange: Learning from the Legacy of Past Oil Spills: Proceedings of a Workshop Series

Proceedings

2025

Effects of Human-Caused Greenhouse Gas Emissions on U.S. Climate, Health, and Welfare

Consensus Study Report

2025

Meeting Future U.S. Mineral Resource Needs: The Role of the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program

Consensus Study Report

2025

Circularity and Plastics: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2025

Off-Lake Sources of Airborne Dust in Owens Valley, California

Consensus Study Report

2025

Measuring Biodiversity for Addressing the Global Biodiversity Crisis: Summary of the 2025 US-UK Scientific Forum

2025

Developing a Research Agenda on Contrails and Their Climate Impacts

Consensus Study Report

2025

Accelerating the Use of Pathogen Genomics and Metagenomics in Public Health: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2025

Climate Change

Environmental DNA

Evolution and Geologic History

Genetics

Glaciers, Ice Sheets, and Sea Levels

Hazards, Disasters, and Extreme Events

Microorganisms and Microbiomes

Pollinators and Insects

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Weather

Wildlife

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What's happening

Featured Publications

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Featured work

Research at Multiple Scales: A Vision for Continental Scale Biology

Formalizing Best Practices for Data Governance of Life Science Data in Central Asia

Committee on Planetary Protection (CoPP)

Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space (CESAS)

Strengthening Southeast Asian Academia and Industry Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Safety and Security - A Workshop

Review of the draft U.S. National Assessment by the Nature Record

Status of Insects in North America

Review of the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project: Cycle 2

U.S. Army National Guard Joint Base Cape Cod Small Arms Ranges and Their Impact on the Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer

Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative

Review of Draft Chapters of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fourteenth Round

Heritable Genetic Modification in Food Animals

Review of Transmission and Geographic Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in U.S. Cervid Populations

Evaluation of Hydrodynamic Modeling and Implications for Offshore Wind Development: Nantucket Shoals

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress X

Review of Progress Toward Implementing the Decadal Survey-Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space

Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health

Foundational Research Gaps and Future Directions for Digital Twins

Review of the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project: Cycle 2

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress X

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress IX

Peer Review of Interim Report on Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Predicting Wellhead Oil-Burning Efficiency at Bench and Intermediate Scales

Improving the Next-Generation EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges

Review of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Program

Emerging Research Questions in the Arctic

Responding to Oil Spills in Arctic Marine Environments

Ecological Risk Assessment Under FIFRA and ESA

The Legacies and Lessons of International Polar Year 2007-2008

Formalizing Best Practices for Data Governance of Life Science Data in Central Asia

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fourteenth Round

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Thirteenth Round

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Twelfth Round

DNA Forensic Science: An Update

Status of Insects in North America

Biological Collections: Ensuring Critical Research and Education for the 21st Century

Catalyzing Opportunities for Research in the Earth Sciences (CORES): A Decadal Survey for NSF’s Division of Earth Sciences

State of the Art and Practice in Earthquake Induced Soil Liquefaction Assessment

Subsurface Characterization, Modeling, Monitoring, and Remediation of Fractured Rocks

Underground Engineering for Sustainable Development

The Importance of Deep-Time Geologic Records for Understanding Climate Change Impacts

The Earth System Context for Hominin Evolution

Grand Research Questions in the Solid-Earth Sciences

Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space - Panel on Earth Surface and Interior: Dynamics and Hazards

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fourteenth Round

Heritable Genetic Modification in Food Animals

Toward Sequencing and Mapping of RNA Modifications

Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Issues Associated with Neural Chimeras and Organoids

Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The Potential for Biotechnology to Address Forest Health

Gene Drive Research in Non-Human Organisms: Recommendations for Responsible Conduct

Science Needs for Microbial Forensics: Developing an Initial International Roadmap

A Study of Technologies to Benefit Farmers in Africa and South Asia

Research at Multiple Scales: A Vision for Continental Scale Biology

Formalizing Best Practices for Data Governance of Life Science Data in Central Asia

Committee on Planetary Protection (CoPP)

Strengthening Southeast Asian Academia and Industry Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Safety and Security - A Workshop

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences

Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health

Engaging a Trusted Scientific Network in Southeast Asia to Counter Misleading Information about Biological Threats

Biotechnology Capabilities for National Security Needs

Addressing Inaccurate and Misleading Information about Biological Threats through Scientific Collaboration and Communication in Southeast Asia

Advancing Understanding of the Implications of Environmental-Chemical Interactions with the Human Microbiomes

Review of the draft U.S. National Assessment by the Nature Record

Status of Insects in North America

Status of Pollinators: Monitoring and Prevention of their Decline in North America

Strengthening the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Research & Technology Program

Review of the draft U.S. National Assessment by the Nature Record

Review of Transmission and Geographic Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in U.S. Cervid Populations

A Research Strategy to Examine the Taxonomy of the Red Wolf

Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters: A Community Discussion Toolkit