Explainer
The Rise of Industrial Agriculture, Explained
Everything you ever wanted to know about intensive agriculture, and the efforts to make it more sustainable.
Food•13 min read
Explainer
Explainer
Cosmetic Animal Testing Is Cruel – But There Are Alternatives
Animal testing is an outdated method of testing the safety of cosmetics. While many companies still rely on it, consumers are demanding cruelty-free alternatives.
Animal Testing•10 min read
Explainer
Pet Food’s Environmental Impact Can’t Be Ignored
It’s time to talk about the substantial pawprint of our pets’ food.
Climate•8 min read
Explainer
Pigs Are Intelligent and Clean Animals, Actually
Pigs suffer a bad reputation — but science shows they are smart, caring and even clean.
Science•10 min read
Explainer
How Wildfires Affect Animals, and What You Can Do About It
The increasing number of wildfires are devastating for wild animals, but they harm farm animals greatly too.
Climate•8 min read
Explainer
What Monoculture Farming Is, and Why It Matters
Monoculture impacts our food system and environment — but most people have only a vague idea what it entails.
Food•10 min read
Explainer
The 30 Most Intelligent Animals in the World Might Surprise You
Ranging from huge to tiny, some of the smartest animals fly under the radar.
Science•13 min read
Explainer
The Pet Food Industry’s Future, from Plant-Based to Cultivated Meat
Contrary to popular belief, the pet food industry is not its own, separate part of the supply chain. It relies on leftover meat produced for human consumption.
Health•8 min read
Explainer
Animals Reveal Their Intelligence in Surprising Ways
There are many types of intelligence in the animal kingdom, but human bias might mean we underestimate just how smart many animals are.
Science•6 min read
Explainer
The Promises and Pitfalls of Regenerative Agriculture, Explained
Despite the massive amount of public and private funding flowing into regenerative agriculture, research shows it doesn't live up to the climate hype.
Food•14 min read
Explainer
What ‘Sentience’ Means, and Why the Concept Matters for Animals
The term means different things to different people, but here’s what you need to know.
Science•8 min read
Explainer
The Dog Meat Trade Is Still Legal in Some Countries – Here’s What You Need To Know
Here’s what you need to know about the dog meat industry, and the western hypocrisies about eating animals it reveals.
Law & Policy•10 min read
Explainer
Whale Hunting Still Exists in 3 Countries, but It Is Declining
Despite decreasing demand for whale meat and dwindling populations, the hunt for whales continues.
Climate•10 min read
Explainer
What Farm Sanctuaries Do, and How to Support Them
Farm sanctuaries provide a second chance for animals used for food. Here’s what you need to know about these safe havens, and how to help them.
Policy•8 min read
Explainer
The Clean Water Act Is Important — but a New Supreme Court Decision Limits It
A new ruling threatens the power of one of the most important environmental laws in the United States.
Health•9 min read
Explainer
Which Animals Are Most Affected by Climate Change, Explained
We’re nearing or have already arrived at the 6th Great Extinction — only this time, the crisis is manmade.
Climate•9 min read
Explainer
Are Orcas Endangered? Some Are, and the Species Appears to Be Fighting Back
Commercial fishing threatens marine life — and it seems orcas are trying to do something about it.
Climate•5 min read
Explainer
What Farm Subsidies Are and Why They Matter, Explained
Farm subsidies make meat and dairy much cheaper – but fruits and vegetables? Not so much. Here’s why.
Law & Policy•11 min read
Explainer
Are Zoos Good or Bad for Animals? The Argument, Explained
Debates about the ethics of zoos abound — but when it comes to animal welfare, there are certainly more cons than pros.
Entertainment•11 min read
Explainer
How Bees Help the Environment and Humans
Why it’s crucial we protect these extremely helpful insects — and what’s at stake if we fail to do so.
Climate•6 min read
Explainer
When Does Prop 12 Go Into Effect — and Will It Be Properly Enforced?
California’s Prop 12 faced industry opposition because it has huge implications for animal welfare. Now that it’s been upheld by the Supreme Court, here’s what’s next.
Law & Policy•11 min read
Explainer
Extreme Heat Is Deadly for Farm Animals — and Too Often, They Receive No Mercy
One ‘solution’ employed for overheated animals on factory farms? Mass suffocation.
Climate•8 min read
Explainer
15 Plant-Based Meat Companies You Should Know
The plant-based food industry has exploded in recent years, with plant-based meats igniting the conversation about the future of food.
Food•10 min read
Explainer
What Sheep Farming Really Means For Animals and the Environment
Like many other forms of agriculture, sheep farming has become increasingly industrialized. Here’s what you need to know.
Food•10 min read
Explainer
Are Orcas Smart Enough to Plot Against Humans? Their Intelligence, Explained
A series of seemingly coordinated attacks against fishing vessels has the public paying attention to orcas. Here’s what you need to know about this remarkable species.
Science•8 min read
Explainer
The Animal Welfare Act Actually Doesn’t Protect Most Animals
Why are so many animals left out of the Animal Welfare Act? We explain the history of the law, and its shortcomings.
Law & Policy•9 min read
Explainer
What Is the Difference Between Animal Rights and Animal Welfare?
Animal welfare advocates and animal rights groups are sometimes at odds. In this explainer, we dig into where the two approaches diverge.
Law & Policy•6 min read
Explainer
Are Wagyu Cows Raised More Humanely Than Other Cows?
Wagyu beef is one of the most expensive — and consistently mislabeled — foods on the market. In this explainer, we look into what the "wagyu" label means for the cows.
Food•5 min read
Explainer
What Is Ultra-Processed Food and Why Is It Unhealthy?
Ultra-processed foods are designed to be addictively delicious. Just how unhealthy are they and what are the processed foods to avoid? We explain.
Health•8 min read
Explainer
What Are Right to Farm Laws?
Right to farm laws are increasingly used to protect industrial meat operations from answering for their air and water pollution.
Law & Policy•4 min read
Explainer
The Four Most Intelligent Insects
Research shows honeybees can do math. Meanwhile some ants are building massive underground fungi farms.
Science•5 min read
Explainer
Why So-Called Fake Meat Is Actually Better for Nature Than the Real Thing
"Fake meat" has long been used as an insult to the alternative protein market but in reality natural meat is far worse for the planet.
Climate•9 min read
Explainer
Why Do Some Critics Still Call It Lab-Grown Meat?
More than 150 companies are growing meat from fish or animal cells. Yet some critics still deride cultivated proteins as "lab-grown meat." Why?
Science•12 min read
Explainer
What Does ‘Humanely Raised’ Actually Mean for Farm Animals?
A growing number of companies are marketing meat and dairy as 'humanely raised'. We take a closer look at the reality behind the label.
Diet•7 min read
Explainer
Do SNAP Benefits Actually Work to Address Hunger?
Over 34 million people in the U.S. suffer from hunger. One effort to address food insecurity is through SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.
Health•7 min read
Explainer
What a Climavore Eats and Believes, Explained
A new kind of eater — the climavore — eats foods based on their environmental footprint. But the approach has been criticized by food justice and animal advocates.
Climate•7 min read
Explainer
The Difference Between Essential and Nonessential Amino Acids, Explained
There are 11 nonessential amino acids that are absolutely critical for your body.
Health•4 min read
Explainer
The Farm Bill Is Crucial. Here’s Why.
The farm bill is a collection of laws that governs our food system, including subsidies and federal nutrition benefits known as SNAP.
Law & Policy•7 min read
Explainer
Is Dairy Bad for You?
Is there a link between dairy and cancer risk? The evidence isn't conclusive but we took a closer look at what we do know in this explainer.
Health•7 min read
Explainer
Here’s How to Get Better at Reading Food Labels
Food labels are confusing. Our guide will help you tell the difference between useful information and meaningless junk.
Health•8 min read
Explainer
Am I Getting Enough Essential Amino Acids?
There are nine essential amino acids that your body can get from a variety of foods, including plant-based sources like nuts.
Health•9 min read
Explainer
20 Healthy Plant-Based Protein Sources for a Sustainable Diet
Protein is an essential part of any heathy diet but it's possible to get all that you need from a healthy variety of plant-based sources.
Health•10 min read
Explainer
Why Do People Drink Raw Milk?
Devotees of raw milk tout it as a miracle food yet consuming it can cause severe foodborne illness — leading to paralysis or even death.
Health•7 min read
Explainer
What Does the FDA Do?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ensures the country's food, medical and cosmetic products are safe.
Food•9 min read
Explainer
Which Foods Are Dairy?
The global dairy industry produces nearly 550 million metric tons of cow’s milk each year. But which products are dairy and how are they made?
Diet•11 min read
Explainer
What Does the USDA Do?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has many responsibilities, including oversight of the food system and rural development.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
What Are Gestation Crates?
Gestation crates are one of the most controversial aspects of pork production. But what are they, and why does the industry say they're necessary?
Food•7 min read
Explainer
Is It Legal to Kill Baby Chickens?
The egg industry continues to cull billions of male chicks worldwide each year — despite legal and scientific progress to curb the practice.
Food•8 min read
Explainer
Is Beef Consumption Headed in the Right Direction?
Researchers are clear that we can't meet our climate goals without tackling beef consumption in the U.S. Let's take a look at our progress.
Climate•3 min read
Explainer
How Do You Make Leather From Mushrooms?
Leather made from mushrooms is a cruelty-free and environmentally friendly alternative to animal hides, including cow and lamb.
Food•7 min read
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