At the Joya Redonda Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, located at the foothills of two volcanoes in the tiny Mexican town of San Miguel Atlautla, clusters of orange-and-black butterflies roost among oyamel fir trees each winter. The insects’ migration south from colder regions is one of instinct, but their abundance in this particular area is in large […]
Washington state’s Mount St. Helens is a popular tourist destination for outdoor enthusiasts — but it’s also an active volcano. When an earthquake caused it to erupt in 1980, the explosion of hot lava and ash destroyed much of the surrounding flora and fauna. Two years after the event, the area remained largely barren. But […]
On any given day in Monrovia, California — outside of winter, perhaps — residents may catch a glimpse of black bears, rabbits, coyotes, deer, and even the occasional mountain lion ambling about in their backyards or front gardens. The city, located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, is the ideal location to set […]
Time to bust out the fuzzy slippers and stock up on hot chocolate fixins’, winter is just around the corner. And since it’s the season for spending time indoors, you’ll also want to make sure your home is set up to keep you cozy through the cold months. Winterizing your place isn’t just about staying […]
Winter’s harsh weather conditions famously send certain animals, like black and grizzly bears, running for the hills — and into their dens, more specifically, where their renowned ability to sleep for months on end helps them avoid the cold altogether. But during the most frigid months of the year, other animals are actually living their […]
For sporty snow bunnies, skiing is one of winter’s great joys, but the cold weather recreation isn’t without risk. Not only does it take some serious skill to careen down a mountain on two runners — or one, if you’re a snowboarder — you’re also up against the elements. Though they’re luckily rare occurrences at […]
This article was written by Laura Russo, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee, for The Conversation — a nonprofit news organization dedicated to sharing the knowledge of researchers and scientists, under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here. In order to reproduce, most flowering plants rely […]
This article was written by Julie Pollock, an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Richmond, for The Conversation — a nonprofit news organization dedicated to sharing the knowledge of researchers and scientists, under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here. Brrr … it’s cold out there! Children are flocking to the […]
Surrounded by jungle-like forests, picturesque waterways, and turquoise-green coastlines is a place that looks a lot like the lush tropical settings of the Jurassic Park films. Hat Head, in the Australian state of New South Wales, is a quiet beachside community that offers adventure at every turn. One could imagine the quiet beach town, located […]
When it comes to bucket list ski destinations, there are the Alps in Switzerland, the Rockies in the United States — and the roof of a sustainable power plant in Denmark? If you’re looking for a unique experience, then a resounding yes to that last one. Located on the water in Copenhagen is the Amager […]
The Congo Basin currently contains the largest and healthiest intact tropical forest on Earth — and thanks to dialogues from the World Economic Forum and legislation passed by the Democratic Republic of Congo, it’s set to receive new protections that will keep it that way. The area is what’s known as a “carbon sink,” which […]
“Wolves are to Yellowstone what water is to the Everglades,” Doug Smith, the former director of the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project and current National Park Service wildlife biologist, once said. That sentiment is especially evident in a recent study highlighting the predators’ slow yet steady role in bringing the park’s ecosystem back into balance — […]