Nature & Wildlife
Just five days from now, the magic will happen. Santa Claus will step into his gift-laden, reindeer-powered sleigh and make his annual, around-the-world trip. The character of Santa Claus was originally inspired by the fourth-century, Greek bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra in Asia Minor (now Turkey), a man renowned for his generosity and kindness.
Nature & Wildlife
Wolves are probably one of the most widely studied species on the planet. What’s fascinating, though, is that just when we think we know almost everything there is to know about them, they find a way to surprise us. It’s estimated that 2 million wolves once roamed freely throughout North America.
Nature & Wildlife
From spots on leopards to stripes on zebras to hexagons on boxfish, nature creates an almost infinite array of dazzling patterns and stunning colors. But a full explanation for how these designs form has remained elusive—until now.
Conservation
Ever since the HMS Beagle arrived in the Galapagos Islands with a young Charles Darwin aboard—who was soon to meet a fateful family of finches—ecologists have struggled to understand a particularly perplexing question: Why is there such a ridiculous abundance of species in some places on Earth and a scarcity in others?
Nature & Wildlife
“This is the most magnificent mammal on our continent. Its story is so complicated and so interesting and moves into every aspect of almost every era of our lives and touches on so many subjects you wouldn’t think it would necessarily touch on,” says filmmaker Ken Burns of our national mammal, Bison bison.
Conservation
On December 28, 1973, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law. We’ll soon be celebrating the 50th anniversary of this landmark conservation legislation, which has saved hundreds of animals that once wavered on the brink of extinction.
Nature & Wildlife
Africa’s great wildebeest migration and Mexico’s “living mountain” of fluttering butterfly wings are just two of nature’s many amazing and fun phenomena. But, especially appropriate for this time of year, nature holds some scary wonders, as well. One of them is ants who become real-life zombies.
Nature & Wildlife
On November 5, 2023, daylight saving time (DST) will end and standard time will once again reign. While recently there have been many attempts to do away with Americans’ “springing forward” and “falling back” each year, it looks like we’ll be continuing with the practice for some time to come.
Conservation
“Paper or plastic?” asks the grocery store clerk. For me, that question is never easy. I tend to choose paper when it comes to grocery bags or drinking cups and straws, but I’m finding out that my choices aren’t always the most eco-friendly.
Nature & Wildlife
I’ve always been drawn to what we call “earth colors”—soft browns, olive greens, muted oranges, dusty pinks and corn-husk yellows. Colors have been on my mind because I recently moved to the Pacific Northwest into an older home that needs paint and some new carpeting.
Nature & Wildlife
Cities provide us with many benefits: better educational and employment opportunities, exposure to more diversity and multicultural influences, improved infrastructure and access to public transportation. On the other hand, urbanization and the consequent changes in land use often result in air, land and water pollution; economic inequalities; an increase in health issues; and overcrowding.
Canada & the North
Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—one of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders and culturally significant areas—received some much-needed support recently. In early September 2023, President Biden canceled the last seven gas and oil leases there.
