BBC

From the search for life in the Universe to fighting fires in Antarctica, here's a festive selection of the best science long reads from 2018.

Recycling your Christmas tree could help provide the materials needed to make food sweeteners and paint, as well as help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Ten weather events linked to climate change caused damage over $1bn in 2018, according to a study.

A selection of the best science and environment published this year.

The government wants to double the charge and extend it to all shops in England, to cut plastic use.

One conservation group warns that the move shows "a troubling disregard for international rule".

The year 2018 provided plenty to chew on if you're interested in science and the environment.

A small, invasive wasp is threatening the cultivation of chestnuts in Spain.

The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral on Sunday after four previous launches were cancelled.

One of the first astronauts to orbit the Moon thinks there's no public support to send people to Mars.

Alba, the world's only known albino orangutan, has been through many months of rehabilitation.

Hamish the polar bear celebrates his first birthday in his Highland home.

Workshops have been held in Whitley Bay to help reduce the use of plastic over Christmas.

Artist Lucy Smith draws plants so that they can be recorded for science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Earth is not the only planet with icy scenes this festive season, the European Space Agency says.

Environmentalist Jason MacGregor and his partner aren't having children because they don't want to add to human-made climate change pressures.

Plants have been on the planet for hundreds of millions of years – but we’re still discovering new ones.

The InSight mission begins to lay out the sensors that will listen to the Red Planet's "heartbeat".

Thrill-seeking tourists are putting themselves in danger getting too close to volcanoes.

They've blocked bridges, held die-ins and closed roads - all in the name of stopping climate change.