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Cactus poachers are picking the Texas desert clean of rare species

Feb 21, 2022
The lucrative cactus black market is booming, and many species are threatened with extinction.
Karen Little, manager of the Sul Ross State University greenhouse, holds a rare Pelecyphora aselliformis cactus, seized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service en route to markets overseas.
Zoe Kurland

Grounded planes find a temporary desert home during the pandemic

Apr 14, 2021
Many jetliners are being stored in the aviation equivalent of long-term parking in the southwestern desert of the U.S.
The desert around Pinal Airpark helps preserve aircrafts' internal systems and protects the metallic surfaces from corrosive environments.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Desert homes become a hot commodity in California's real estate boom

Apr 5, 2021
The housing rush is fueled by the pandemic and the desire of people who can work remotely to get out of the city.
An abandoned homestead structure in Wonder Valley. People who migrate from the city to the desert may have to deal with a lack of services, including municipal water.
Benjamin Gottlieb

In Arizona desert, big farms are springing up

Aug 19, 2015
An investor group is developing thousands of acres, watering the land with water pumped from wells.

A desert city welcomes California's high-speed train

Jul 27, 2015
California's high-speed rail project is controversial because of its cost, but Palmdale is looking forward to bullet trains.

The future of desert solar power

Jul 2, 2013
Solar facilities like Ivanpah could be the future -- or, they could be a footnote in the history of clean energy.

Joshua Tree's gentrification

Nov 20, 2012
Author Rubén Martínez discusses our relationship with the desert and why we keep returning to it.

For public good, not for profit.