Chicago residents logged more than 50,000 complaints last year about rats, according to a new survey that ranks the city as the “rat capital” of the U.S. We separate rat fact from fiction.

Next week, the retired University of Chicago astrophysicist, 91, will watch as a probe named in his honor is launched from the Kennedy Space Center and catapulted to the sun’s corona.

There’s a telescope under construction in Chile, and it’s slated to be the world’s largest – if it’s completed in time.

Chicago is losing its last waterfall. We follow up on an earlier story to see the beginning of its demolition in River Park.

Despite its moniker as “The City that Works,” Chicago features plenty of places to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle. Here are 10 spots to zen out in the city this summer.

General Iron announced plans earlier this month to move its scrap metal yard from Lincoln Park to the Southeast Side, where residents are concerned about the company’s environmental track record.

For the next several days, the celestial event calendar includes some stellar highlights for observers in Chicago and around the globe.

Fossils typically take tens of millions of years to develop, but a Chicago scientist recently helped discover a new way to simulate the fossilization process in a lab – in just 24 hours.

A new report from an environmental advocacy group criticizes Illinois and more than two dozen other states for adopting renewable energy plans that allow for dirty energy sources. 

Though not a terribly romantic process, walleye breeding at the Cook County Forest Preserve District produces thousands of young fish for county lakes. We take a closer look.

If you’re not ready to raise chickens in your backyard, you could try your hand at another popular trend: urban beekeeping.

The latest on a major city infrastructure project that officials say was made necessary because of climate change.

Renowned paleontologist and University of Chicago graduate Steve Brusatte tells us about his new book, “The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World.”

Chicago-based Lakeshore Recycling System is the first company in the U.S. to install a new “self-aware” machine that sorts through recycled materials. 

Next time you step outside to mentally recharge, leave your phone at your desk. A new study finds using electronics outdoors counteracts nature’s restorative properties.

Animal welfare advocates will gather next week at McDonald's new West Loop headquarters to present a petition with more than 200,000 signatures calling on the company to improve conditions for chickens in its supply chain.