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The Friendliest, Most Gentle Animals Are Also Some of the Most Exploited
It’s a cruel logic that results in the most affectionate creatures being punished the most, but sadly, that’s how it’s often turned out.
Animal Behavior•8 min read
Explainer
Explainer
The Number of U.S. Poultry Farms Is Rising — Which Is Bad News for Animals and the Environment
As America’s appetite for chicken increases, so too do the negative effects of poultry farms.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
7 Animals With Sex Lives That Make Humans Look Vanilla
If you want proof the animal kingdom is queer, kinky and gender-bending, look no further.
Research•6 min read
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7 Sneaky Foods That Can Have Dead Horses in Them
If you don’t want to accidentally consume horse, check out this list.
Diet•7 min read
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Is ‘Climate-Friendly Beef’ Always Just Greenwashing?
From methane masks to lemongrass, how do the many efforts to make sustainable beef compare to just eating a little less?
Climate•1 min read
Explainer
What Veganism Is, Why It Matters and How to Eat Plant-Based
A primer on the what, whys and hows of veganism.
Diet•10 min read
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How Much Protein You Need to Be Healthy, Explained
The answer depends on your age and situation, but in general, most people are worried about the wrong nutrient.
Diet•10 min read
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Conditions for Chickens in Battery Cages Are More Sadistic Than Most People Realize
You probably knew chickens in battery cages are crammed in tight — but did you know about the neverending light and reproductive control?
Food•11 min read
Explainer
Why Coconut Milk Isn’t the Most Ethical Plant-Based Milk
The plant-based milk might be more environmentally friendly than dairy — but that doesn’t make it automatically ethical.
Food•8 min read
Explainer
Plant-Based School Lunches Are in Demand — but Big Dairy Is Still Prioritized Above Student Health
Students of color are likely to be lactose intolerant — yet dairy-free options in schools are still the exception to the rule.
Nutrition•11 min read
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The Number of Chickens in the World Means They Outnumber Humans 3.5 to 1
Why eating chicken is not necessarily more ethical than eating beef.
Food•2 min read
Explainer
What Veguary Is, and Why It Matters, Explained
Afro-Veganism, otherwise known as Black Veganism, is growing. Here’s how the movement is connecting people to their roots.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
The Top Pork Producer in the U.S. Is Owned by China, but Harming Local Communities
Here’s what you need to know about the pork industry in the United States.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
What a Plant-Based Diet Is — and Isn’t — Explained
A plant-based diet isn’t the same thing as being vegan. Here’s how it differs.
Health•10 min read
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Mangroves Fight Climate Change, but Shrimp Farming Threatens Them
On a per capita basis, mangroves capture four times more carbon than the Amazon.
Climate•8 min read
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Do Plants Feel Pain? No, and Here’s How Scientists Know
It’s a question people love to throw at vegans and vegetarians — so here’s a thorough explanation.
Science•6 min read
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Amazon Deforestation Is Falling Under Brazil’s New President — but Is It Too Late?
Lula is much, much better for the environment. But can he reverse Bolsonaro’s damage?
Climate•9 min read
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The Best & Worst Protein Sources for the Environment, Explained
Most people know beef is bad for the climate. But how does tofu compare to other plant proteins, like almonds or hemp?
Climate•10 min read
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5 Ways Taxpayers Bail Out Factory Farms
The way we produce meat and dairy is responsible for all sorts of damage, and taxpayers end up footing the bill.
Law & Justice•6 min read
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The Best & Worst Milks for the Environment, Decoded
From dairy to soy to oat to almond, these are the milks with the highest and lowest carbon footprints.
Climate•8 min read
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If Factory Farming Ended, What Would Happen to All the Animals?
It might be a faraway scenario — but it’s one worth examining.
Food•10 min read
Explainer
Animal Testing for Cosmetics Is Still (Unnecessarily) Common
More humane and effective techniques abound, but many brands remain stuck in arcane ways.
Health•9 min read
Explainer
How To Explain Lab-Grown Meat Simply (For People Who Aren’t Scientists)
The most common questions about cultivated meat, answered in plain English.
Food•11 min read
Explainer
8 Important Laws for Animals to Watch Out for in 2024
The year ahead brings new legal challenges for animals and the advocates working to protect them.
Law & Justice•8 min read
Explainer
Antibiotics in Chicken and Other Animals Is a Big Public Health Risk
Consumers should be wary of “antibiotic-free” claims on meat.
Health•8 min read
Explainer
Colostrum Claims To Be a Superfood — But It’s Meant for Newborn Calves
The new ingredient is gaining in popularity — which is bad news for animal welfare.
Health•6 min read
Explainer
Fish Feel Pain, Science Shows — But Humans Are Reluctant To Believe It
The research that fish feel pain, explained.
Science•9 min read
Explainer
Cows Play and Have Best Friends — But Are Rarely Given the Chance
When it comes to cows’ feelings and preferences, humans can find plenty to relate to.
Science•9 min read
Explainer
The Bill Gates Bug-Eating Conspiracy, Explained
The surprising origins of the idea that billionaire Bill Gates wants to feed you insects.
Climate•8 min read
Explainer
Why Going Plant-Based Makes a Good New Year’s Resolution
How one switch addresses both personal and environmental health.
Diet•6 min read
Explainer
Meat Consumption In the U.S.: Is It Increasing or Decreasing?
Despite the rise of plant-based products, meat consumption in the U.S. remains much higher than most places in the world.
Diet•10 min read
Explainer
Lobsters Feel Pain When Boiled Alive, and Here’s How Science Knows
The sentience of lobsters is being recognized by scientists — with ramifications for the culinary industry.
Science•8 min read
Explainer
The Most Important Animal Policy Stories of 2023
The last year saw policy fights play out on both the state and national level.
Law & Justice•4 min read
Explainer
18 Simple Climate Change Actions You Can Take Today
The climate crisis can feel overwhelming. Here are 18 science-backed actions you can take to make a difference.
Climate•9 min read
Explainer
How Ocean Pollution Affects Humans and Marine Life Alike
Humans who eat seafood are also eating their own waste.
Climate•8 min read
Explainer
Vegan Leather: What Is It Made From and Is It Good for the Planet?
Demand for cruelty-free leather alternatives are on the rise, along with a growing interest in materials that are better for the planet.
Climate•6 min read
Explainer
7 Tips for a More Sustainable Holiday Celebration
From plant-based eggnog to recycled wrapping paper, here are the best ways to curb your environmental impact.
Climate•5 min read
Explainer
The Problem of Bycatch and How It Harms Marine Life, Explained
Commercial fishing decimates coral reefs and endangered species alike — but can it be stopped?
Climate•9 min read
Explainer
Chickens Are Smart and Have Feelings, Contrary to ‘Bird Brain’ Stereotypes
Contrary to stereotypes, the science proves chickens are intelligent animals who suffer.
Science•10 min read
Explainer
What the Endangered Species Act Does, and Why It Matters
The Act is turning 50 this year — but how successful has it been at protecting endangered species?
Climate•10 min read
Explainer
15 of the World’s Favorite Foods Could Disappear Because Of Climate Change
The impact of climate change — from floods and drought to extreme heat and cold — is ravaging farms across the world.
Diet•13 min read
Explainer
How Long Cows Live — If They’re Actually Given the Chance
The record for the oldest living cow might surprise you.
Research•9 min read
Explainer
What Food Justice Is and Why It Matters, Explained
The food justice movement seeks to create a fair and sustainable food system.
Food•9 min read
Explainer
Meat Consumption Is Rising — But Not in the Way You Think
9 charts explain exactly how Americans consume meat.
Climate•2 min read
Explainer
Plant-Based Meat: Healthy Option or Vegan Junk Food?
Plant-based meat comes in many forms, some healthier than others.
Food•8 min read
Explainer
What Fish Farming Really Means for the Environment, Animals and People
Despite the seafood industry’s claims, eating fish may not be as healthy or sustainable as consumers have been led to believe.
Diet•11 min read
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5 Myths About Your Turkey Dinner
The real facts about this American tradition might surprise you.
Health•4 min read
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This Scary Ingredient Might Be Lurking in Your Halloween Treats
Derived from boiled pig and cow tissue and bones, gelatin is an ingredient in some, but not all, Halloween candy.
Health•3 min read
Explainer
Overfishing Harms the Environment. Here’s How to Stop It.
How commercial fishing is destroying ecosystems around the world.
Climate•11 min read
Explainer
5 Animals Who Grieve Just Like Humans
Magpies hold funerals and elephants travel to pay their respects.
Science•7 min read
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Sentient investigates and explains factory farms and their effect on climate, the environment, animals, health, politics and rural communities.