The Cool Down

Your summer garden may be slowing, but seeding now can keep harvests coming for months

Home gardeners can often use this stretch of summer to plant another round of crops and keep fresh harvests coming well into ...
The Cool Down

In Kenya, orphan elephants put baboons on their 'most wanted' list at a national park

A playful wildlife standoff is giving animal lovers a glimpse of daily life inside Kenya's famed Nairobi National Park.
The Cool Down

Washington hikers' Banff grizzly video in Canada could mean a $25,000 fine over off-leash dog

A viral grizzly encounter in Banff National Park is serving as a costly warning about pet safety, wildlife protection, and ...
The Cool Down

US solar beat coal and wind in May, as renewables kept widening their lead in 2026

In May, solar electricity output in the U.S. topped generation from both coal and wind, marking another notable shift in the ...
The Cool Down

Colorado data center clears planning appeal in late-night vote, but neighbors say they're not done

A late-night vote by the Colorado Springs Planning Commission pushed a proposed data center on Garden of the Gods Road past ...
The Cool Down

In Honolulu, a dog spotted a 3-foot python under the front door, and 8 cops showed up

A late-night dog walk in Honolulu turned into a scene most Hawaii residents never expect to face when a Honolulu couple ...
The Cool Down

Gardener ignored 9 tomato and 9 pepper plants and then picked 5 pounds of tomatoes in a morning

One gardener said they ignored and neglected their tomato and pepper plants and still walked away with over 5 pounds of ...
The Cool Down

Los Angeles renter's food garden in a trashed common yard is being thrown out by landlord

A Los Angeles renter says a container garden they created in a shared backyard could soon be removed after the landlord ...
The Cool Down

In Japan, a 6-inch pufferfish sculpts a 6-foot sand circle to attract a mate, then guards the eggs

A tiny fish off the coast of Japan is drawing outsized attention online for a courtship ritual that looks more like ...
The Cool Down

North Carolina dog falls into abandoned mine shaft, is brought back up with minor injuries

A dog in western North Carolina survived a frightening fall into an abandoned mine shaft this week, turning what could have ...
The Cool Down

Texas neighbors say new development's wastewater could flow through backyards to Canyon Lake

Residents are fighting a housing project due to its wastewater plan that neighbors say would send treated discharge through a ...
thecooldown

Prosecutors are actively investigating solar industry fraud — here's what you need to know before installing panels

Solar energy is booming and helping lower planet-heating pollution. Unfortunately, predatory companies can take advantage of the popularity. NPR reported on how the solar industry is repairing its ...