While it’s always a sad occasion when an animal goes extinct (such as the case of the Western black rhino in 2011), conservation efforts can revitalize a dying species and bring it back from the brink. Such is the case with Fender’s blue butterfly: The Oregon native species is moving off the endangered species list […]
While February is set to be a fairly low-key month for astronomical happenings, it starts off strong: by offering an excellent chance of spotting a 50,000-year-old comet that astronomers have been eagerly tracking since spring of 2022. For all of February’s night sky highlights, read on. CONSTELLATIONS As far as constellations are concerned, the Old […]
There is an abundance of fish species in the River Mersey once more. An iconic part of the United Kingdom’s topography, River Mersey separates Lancashire in the north from Cheshire in the south. In recent years, the once-heavily polluted river has become one of Europe’s biggest environmental success stories. “It’s the best environmental good news […]
Valentine’s Day is soon approaching, and why limit our understanding of love and romance to humans alone? There are plenty of animal species that mate and remain committed to their chosen partner for life, from bald eagles and beavers to seahorses and mice. Monogamy and faithfulness could be natural for some species, as a 2019 […]
Tucked in a lake on a remote island country in the western Pacific lives a mysterious and rare creature. They’re small and squishy, they don’t have a brain, heart, or eyes, and they have stingers that don’t cause pain. Meet the golden jellyfish: a unique, gold-colored subspecies that draws visitors from all over the world […]
When you think of ceramic, porcelain or china probably comes to mind. Over in South Africa, though, scientists are using the material to house endangered penguins in order to protect them from the warming weather caused by climate change. The African Penguin Nest Project team, made up of researchers and conservationists from around the world, […]
Not only do trees provide natural beauty and shade to urban areas, but their leaf-filled branches could also increase the lifespan of city residents. A new study recently published in The Lancet has estimated that increasing urban tree cover — the canopy created by trees that shades the ground below — by 30% could prevent […]
If winter’s long, dreary days have you down, take heart — March ushers in the official start of spring by way of the spring equinox, after which point days will once again grow longer (or, technically speaking, brighter). Of course, this means daylight saving time is also on the horizon, so get ready for the […]
Seawater often varies in hue — from crystal clear to chlorophyll-tinted green, and sometimes even neon blue thanks to bioluminescent plankton. But for three brief periods in early 2023, one small part of the Pacific Ocean sported a more novel shade: Waves were crashing against the shore looking pretty in pink. Though some bodies of […]
The World Nature Photography Awards announced its 2022 winners earlier this month, with the top honor going to Jens Cullmann of Germany for his arresting image of a crocodile camouflaged in caked mud, only one of its bright yellow eyes looking directly at the camera. Getting the shot was no easy feat: “I had to be very […]
Some may see an empty glass bottle as an item to be tossed away, but Danielle Ruttenberg views it as something worth a closer look. Ruttenberg is the co-founder, alongside Rebecca Davies and Mark Ellis, of Remark Glass, a Philadelphia-based company devoted to transforming recycled glassware into small batch home and kitchen accessories. Every piece […]
Stargazers, rejoice! April brings a few major astronomical treats and feasts for the eyes. Most fittingly, this month is designated as Global Astronomy Month, per Astronomers Without Borders, with International Astronomy Day taking place on April 29. The day was started in 1973 by Doug Berger — the then president of the Astronomical Association of […]