How on earth can we ask farmers to make long-term commitments for nature when the State itself seems to have no interest?

What is each bin for, where does it all our rubbish end up and can we do better? Helen O’Callaghan finds out

Demand for air conditioners is surging in markets where both incomes and temperatures are rising, populous places like India, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines — by one estimate, the world will add 1 billion ACs before the end of the decade.

A lagoon, swooping swallows and an old castle are all part of this island's charm

With sunshine and warm weather over the coming days, many of us will be flocking to the beach — here's all you need to know

 From countryside strolls to hilly hikes, here are some new routes to discover while the sun shines

'Neophobia’ — fear of the new — affects some more than others

Reusable bottles, mini-dishwashers, and water refill stations are all part of the campaign to reduce disposable plastic use

Mosses rarely die when they dry out, they simply stop growing. As soon as they get access to a good drink of water, they can revive themselves and begin growing again — even after decades

'Natural gas' is a fossil fuel that is a potentially dangerous source of indoor air pollution as well as producing emissions that are damaging to the climate

We have a Native Irish Honey Bee which is under threat... find out here how to help it survive

"One of the key messages of this three-part series is how we treat our oceans and its creatures - the documentary looks at everything from toxicity in whales from human activity in the ocean to the decimation of fin whales due to whaling."

Kate Brooks is swimming 200km from Lough Allen in Co Leitrim to Killaloe, Co Clare this month in memory of her late father - her most ambitious undertaking yet, Ellie O’Byrne writes.

Mosses rarely die when they dry out, they simply stop growing. As soon as they get access to a good drink of water, they can revive themselves and begin growing again — even after decades

'Natural gas' is a fossil fuel that is a potentially dangerous source of indoor air pollution as well as producing emissions that are damaging to the climate

We have a Native Irish Honey Bee which is under threat... find out here how to help it survive

"One of the key messages of this three-part series is how we treat our oceans and its creatures - the documentary looks at everything from toxicity in whales from human activity in the ocean to the decimation of fin whales due to whaling."

Kate Brooks is swimming 200km from Lough Allen in Co Leitrim to Killaloe, Co Clare this month in memory of her late father - her most ambitious undertaking yet, Ellie O’Byrne writes.

The island's name could come from an anglicisation of 'yellow island' or 'food island'

A hooded crow has brains, strong claws, and a razor-sharp beak — but it has a bit of an image problem

With climate change, warmer summers with even longer rainless spells are forecast

Rivers across the country are becoming increasingly polluted through negligence, carelessness, and greed

It only takes 15 minutes to get to Ballycotton Island by boat 

‘No Mow May’ is a national effort to make space for nature in gardens across the country, a campaign encouraging us all to simply put the mower away during the month of May

From Strongbow to Parnell to disrepair — the Rock of Dunamase is crumbling but still worth exploring

Nobody has ever lived on Sturamus Island, which might get its name from the Irish for dust or mud

The polar seas are warming at an alarming rate. The ice is melting more rapidly, and earlier, each year. Areas which used to be covered in winter are now ice-free. Bears find it increasingly difficult to hunt successfully and they have a shorter season in which to do so

The big challenge is to get numbers down to sustainable levels — but there’s much more to deer control than simply culling

Analysis of woolly mammoth tusks reveals surging testosterone levels in males. Researchers say traces of sex hormones extracted from the animal’s tusk provide the first direct evidence adult males experienced musth.

Ireland had a very early set of rules, or legal tracts, called the 'Brehon Laws’. These had detailed rules for the management and protection of trees, fisheries, wild birds, seaweed, and other ‘resources’ essential for people

Ireland had a very early set of rules, or legal tracts, called the 'Brehon Laws’. These had detailed rules for the management and protection of trees, fisheries, wild birds, seaweed, and other ‘resources’ essential for people

Weeds protect the soil and nurture insects and birds — now they are finally having their time in the sun

The competition challenged researchers and students to develop novel ways to drive climate sustainability

"...it’s actually of great interest to astronomers. Having a Moon with one side permanently facing away from us is a huge stroke of luck."

Utterly cruel and ruthless Richard Bingham has a Roscommon island named after him

Arif Khan Gurjar, a farmer in Uttar Pradesh, came upon an injured Sarus crane on his land. He took the bird home and nursed it back to health. The patient should have flown off when well enough, but it refused to leave.

You also have meteorological summer on June 1 and astronomical summer on June 21 but let's go with May 1 and get the summer started

So many plant–animal interactions have been harmonised over thousands of years but some of these relationships are now beginning to fall askew as a result of rapidly shifting seasonal patterns

If the promise of fine weather has you craving an ocean breeze on your walking route, here are five stunning trails to enjoy

New research shows how species boost the amount of carbon stored in their ecosystems – and why protecting them is vital

Three years in the making, this spectacular three-part series showcases the turquoise waters, predators, wild creatures, and magnificent sharks of our home

This Kerry island can be reached by paddling from the shore when the water levels are low — about knee deep

The porbeagle (‘porpoise-beagle’?) is the reigning apex predator of our seas. But are its days on the throne numbered?

A public consultation on the open seasons order is now underway so you can have your say on this issue — link in this article

Letting our last pieces of rainforest dwindle and die away is as destructive to our heritage as throwing unique artifacts like the Ardagh Chalice into a giant crusher

One of Ireland's finest mountaineering routes, this can be exhilarating — unless you're a husky dog