Environment & Science

SpaceX’s capsule Polaris Dawn splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico in the predawn darkness early Sunday. Returning to Earth were two SpaceX engineers, a former Air Force Thunderbird pilot and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman of the Lehigh Valley. Isaacman became only the 264th person to perform a spacewalk.

A Lehigh University graduate last year recorded a new species of mushroom at Wildlands Conservancy's South Mountain Preserve.

Monarch butterflies are starting to migrate through the Lehigh Valley. An annual tagging program, held at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, helps conservation efforts.

Testimony that will help a Northampton County judge decide if a lawsuit against the Bethlehem Landfill and Lower Saucon Twp. can move forward continued Friday, and will stretch into a third day.

Called the Recovery in Nature initiative, two state departments have joined forces to create regional-specific partnerships to bolster substance use recovery efforts while strengthening all residents’ connection to nature.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America released its report of the most challenging places to live with asthma. The release coincides with peak asthma season in September.

Early Tuesday, Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who has a home in the Lehigh Valley, launched into space for a second time as part of a mission dubbed Polaris Dawn. The launch was visible in the area.

Awardees of the state Department of Education’s Environmental Repairs Grant program were announced Monday. It focuses on eliminating lead, mold, asbestos and other environmental hazards from school buildings.

Brad Klein reviews the week’s astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s ‘Backyard Astronomy Guy,’ Marty McGuire. This week should be a good one for viewing the planet Saturn.

Easton's Nurture Nature Center has been recommended for conditional approval for its proposed planetarium, or "immersive dome," intended to expand programming capabilities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is collecting public input about listing the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. Officials estimate the eastern migratory population has declined by approximately 80%.

Looking back on two of 2024's "Skies" highlights with Brad and Marty.

PA Utilities Commission offers doable tips for getting through predicted winter blast and keeping pets safe. Include checking on elderly and disabled.

Ice Cream Wars is described by the Da Vinci Science Center as the 'sweetest competition in the Lehigh Valley.'

Unforeseen issues and obstacles have pushed the timeline for Lehigh Valley Breathes back. The regional air monitoring project aims to measure fine particle pollution.

Easton's Nurture Nature Center is searching for stargazers to join in the Hubble Night Sky Observing Challenge, where participants look out for some of the spectacles the legendary telescope has photographed.

The 109th PA Farm Show opens this weekend in the state capital, kicking off a week of competitions and demonstrations. Here's what you need to know about admission, parking and more.

With the system three days away, the weekend will serve as the calm before the storm, with questions remaining on exactly where it will track and how much snow will fall across the region.

Preliminary testing showed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Sick birds were also found at both locations.

January is National Radon Action Month. Public health officials are urging residents to stay informed of the risks, test and support legislative efforts to increase testing.

While Friday may only bring a dusting to an inch of snow for the Lehigh Valley, forecasters say it could be a sign of things to come. They're watching trends for Monday continue to pull the next system north.

The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, in partnership with the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, is holding its 10th annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids on Saturday, Jan. 11.