Asia & The Pacific
In Maori, Rakiura means “Land of Glowing Skies.” Brilliant sunrises and sunsets mark the tranquil days on Rakiura, also known as Stewart Island, while its location at 47° south latitude makes it a potential viewing spot for the aurora australis, or Southern Lights.
Asia & The Pacific
In New Zealand, Maori legends that tell the tales of how the landscape came to be abound. One such story describes a giant supernatural creature whose body ignited in flames while he slept, creating an S-shaped trough thousands of feet deep.
Nature & Wildlife
Tool use isn’t unique to humans. Various species across the animal kingdom, including birds, insects and mammals, exhibit the behavior. For example, sea otters use stones to crack open shellfish, while crows modify twigs to probe for hidden prey—and even have been observed using cars to crack open nuts.
Nature & Wildlife
Aliens are certainly in our midst, and invaders are running rampant across the planet. What I mean is, plants are spreading across the globe faster than ever, and the very same traits that make them thrive in their native lands also drive them to their successes abroad. Who are these aliens and invaders?
Asia & The Pacific
Visit Lake Moeraki, and witness the movements of some of the world’s rarest species. This is a destination for nature lovers, active travelers and anyone seeking wild New Zealand! The mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand’s South Island marks the contact zone of the Indo-Australian and Pacific continental plates.
Asia & The Pacific
Long before people around the world began referring to New Zealanders as “kiwis,” the indigenous Maori held the kiwi bird in high regard. They called this elusive, flightless bird—found burrowing through forests, scrublands and grasslands—the hidden bird of Tane, the god of the forest: te manu huna a Tane.
Conservation
The theme for the 56th annual Earth Day, April 22, 2026, is “Our Power, Our Planet.” According to the official Earth Day website, “it emphasizes collective action, community mobilization and the role of individuals in defending environmental protections, accelerating the transition to clean energy and ensuring a sustainable future.”
Nature & Wildlife
The predator/prey relationship is an age-old association. Despite that longevity, it can still mystify us. For example, on a remote Alaskan island, gray wolves are rewriting the rule book by hunting sea otters—a behavior few scientists ever expected to see.
Nature & Wildlife
Our impacts on the natural world can be very large—and often detrimental. This manifests in various ways, including in biodiversity loss, climate change, habitat destruction and pollution. These changes can have cascading effects on ecosystems and human societies, leading to a range of challenges.
Antarctica & Arctic
Part of the reason that I’m so enthralled with Antarctica is because it’s one of the rare places on Earth that has never had an Indigenous population; in other words, there are no native human Antarcticans. Of course, animals other than us have lived there for eons. Perhaps, the best known and most abundant are penguins.
Nature & Wildlife
Captivating remnants of ancient times, fossils offer a window into Earth’s history and the evolution of life. They document the past, providing clues about extinct species, vanished environments and the processes that shaped our planet.
African Safaris
A trip to the rainforest is filled with interesting possibilities for adventure, whether through cultural exchange, photography, fishing, hiking, birding or wildlife spotting. But not all rainforests are the same! Some are hot and humid and filled with colorful orchids, while others are cool and misty and packed with prehistoric ferns.
