"Cage-free, antibiotic-free, artificial-free. Sound familiar? Many of the world's biggest food companies announced major changes this year — in what they purchase and how they manufacture their food."

"Another year, another continuing flow of environment stories."

"Artificial intelligence, testosterone and ship tracking technology probably aren’t on many conservation organizations’ 'top things to think about' lists right now. But they should be, suggests a new report in the scientific journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution."

The Paris climate deal, President Obama's denial of the Keystone XL Pipeline permit, Pope Francis' environmental encyclical, and the global heat record are among the top environmental stories of the past year.

"Phew. Back in 2015, both a President and a Pope stepped up to call for action on climate change, and the world sort of responded with an agreement. For the first time, a Vulgarian-American led his party’s field in a run for the Presidency. And once again, we experienced the hottest year on record."

"A terrible earthquake, massive drought and nuclear power captured the imagination this year".

"As the year ends, the Science desk of The New York Times asked its reporters to choose the stories that were the most memorable. These are their selections, with a focus on space, climate change, biology and artificial intelligence."

"From climate accords to mining disasters and increased Indonesian haze to decreased Amazon deforestation, here is the year that was."

"BEIJING — The artist and filmmaker Zhao Liang has shed light on some of the darkest corners of Chinese society, filming in locations as obscure as a shantytown here known as the 'petitioners’ village' and a military police office on the North Korean border."