Environment & Science

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, state parks across Pennsylvania were inundated with visitors.

State officials late last month announced the theme for this year’s annual tick-themed art contest, “Protect. Check. Remove.” Last year, there were no winners in the Lehigh Valley.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Punxsutawney Phil predicted early spring, but the experts say those declaring winter over are in for a rude awakening, with the risk for colder weather in the second half of February increasing.

More than $2 million was allocated to nine organizations across Pennsylvania to fund various research efforts, all linked to the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry.

Gus the bison is considered to be "Hellertown’s mascot," but to owner Nanette Keck, he’s also a cherished pet.

January brought above-average snowfall to the Lehigh Valley, but long-range outlooks have flipped the script in a big way. Will February bring the big storms snow lovers are longing for?

Twenty-seven air quality monitors have so far been placed for Lehigh Valley Breathes, a Valley-wide, year-long effort to monitor air quality amid emissions from trucking and warehousing.

The four Galilean moons — Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto — that Galileo saw and named were discovered as he was looking through the very first telescope.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

If Mother Nature has anything to say about it, this could be an abbreviated peak bloom for the cherry blossoms in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

Cloud cover is likely to limit thunderstorm development Monday by acting as a cap, preventing the upward movement of warm, moist air needed to fuel thunderstorms.

President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency canceled Pennsylvania’s $13 million contract with the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. A pandemic-era program, farmers were paid to supply local food banks with fresh produce.

This week, how to spot the first traces of the young crescent moon that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The fifth annual Be My Neighbor Day was held Saturday at Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem. Children participated in crafts and gardening activities, interactive musical performances, and meet-ups with Daniel Tiger.

Team Pennsylvania on National Agriculture Day released “The Pennsylvania Agriculture Economic Analysis 2025.” The report takes a deep data dive into the commonwealth’s agriculture sector from 2012-2022.

“This weekend will feature an early-summer like weather pattern,” the National Weather Service said, highlighting dry conditions and a mix of sun and clouds expected Saturday afternoon.

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture on Wednesday held virtual town hall focused on the current freeze on U.S. Department of Agriculture grants earmarked for farmers implementing climate-smart production practices.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s Environment Committee on Tuesday reviewed plans to update sewage infrastructure in two municipalities.

Lehigh Gap Nature Center from Feb. 14-16 held its annual Lehigh Gap Area Feeder Watch. The long-term research project focuses on monitoring winter bird populations.

Light pollution has made seeing the Milky Way galaxy difficult, unless you're in a state park in north-central Pennsylvania that's a three-and-a-half-hour drive from the Lehigh Valley.

A recent bald eagle rehabilitation and release is a bright spot amid a dangerous time for bald eagles in the Lehigh Valley and the rest of the commonwealth. Bird flu continues to threaten wild bird populations, causing more than a dozen bald eagles to be euthanized across Pennsylvania.