Environment
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Question of the Week: New nuclear power in Wisconsin?
What are your feelings about new nuclear power generation being planned for Wisconsin? It’s our newsletter Question of the Week for February 1, 2026 Click one of the options below about a proposal to add nuclear power generation in eastern Wisconsin.
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Can severe cold cause exploding trees? Kind of. They’re frost cracks
As Wisconsin and much of the upper Midwest prepares for rapidly dropping subzero temperatures, some viral social media posts warn people to watch out for “exploding trees.” The phenomenon, while bizarre-sounding, is real – kind of. Bill McNee, a forest health specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said it’s not uncommon for a…
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Scientists race to protect Lake Superior from invasive mussels
Last August, Lauren Isbell dove around Mott Island Dock at Isle Royale National Park, plucking invasive zebra mussels from the lakebed – sometimes with her fingers, other times with a credit-card sized piece of plastic attached to a lanyard on her wrist. As Isbell removed each mussel, she put it in a parmesan cheese container…
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Here are some ways you can help winter birds in Wisconsin
Spring bird migration may be awhile away, but there are a range of winter birds in Wisconsin that you can support over the next few months. Goldfinches, sparrows, woodpeckers and chickadees are a few of the species that stick around in Wisconsin through the cold weather. Between the birds’ higher energy needs and the limited…
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What will the weather be like in Wisconsin on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
What to know about Wisconsin weather on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
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Greenhouse designs provide opportunity for year-round crop production in WI
Deep winter greenhouses (DWGs) and geodesic dome greenhouses (GDGs) are promising systems for extending the growing season and supporting local food production in cold northern areas.
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What to know about ice dams, how to prevent them in snowy Wisconsin winter
Tis’ the season for ice dams, Wisconsin. When icicles hang from the edge of your home’s roof after snowfall, it’s a sign this fickle, recurring winter concern might be plotting a leak into your home.
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Oh buoy! Runaway research buoy gets data on Great Lakes winter waves
Winter is a quiet time for Great Lakes research, at least out on the water. Research vessels remain secured to their docks; most monitoring equipment is ashore.
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The 2025-’26 Great Lakes ice forecast is out. What’s in store?
It looks like the Great Lakes region might get another relatively normal ice year − a relief given recent trends.
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Wisconsin wellness tips: Staying safe this winter
How to stay safe and warm this winter in Wisconsin.
