NATURE

The 10 Best States for Campers

Get in touch with nature in California, Texas, or Arizona.

The monarch butterfly is facing challenges.

Monarch Butterflies May Soon Be Protected By the Endangered Species Act

Conservationists warn that the monarch could die out by the end of the century unless action is taken.

What‘s less frequent than northern lights? Their opposite: anti-auroras.

Rare, Black ‘Anti-Auroras‘ Spotted in Alaska

Anti-auroras are even less common than the northern lights.

A bonfire is a common way to celebrate the season.

10 Ancient and Contemporary Yule Traditions

For millennia, people have celebrated the longest night of the year with these Yule traditions.

A group of reindeer walk up a snowy riverbank.

11 Things You Might Not Know About Reindeer

Beyond their sled-pulling capabilities and discrimination against those with red noses, what do you really know about reindeer?

The northern lights are an event to remember.

Missed the Northern Lights This Year? Scientists Say They’re About to Get More Active

If the northern lights are on your bucket list, the 2026 to 2027 winter season will be exciting for you.

The squirting cucumber can blast its seeds dozens of feet from the parent plant. The stem and fruit of the plant have been colored green in this image.

Solved: The Mystery of the Squirting Cucumber’s Powerful Projection

The little gourd can shoot its seeds nearly 40 feet via "ballistic dispersal”—but until now, the mechanism behind the plant’s power and proliferation was poorly understood.

Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach

Lost Emperor Penguin Who Washed Up in Australia Returns Home

A penguin named Gus captured people’s hearts when he appeared on an Australian beach not long ago. Now he’s ready to go back home.

An eagle pair in Alaska tend to their gigantic nest.

Minnesota Launches New Bald Eagle Livestream After the First Ends in Tragedy

The 20-year-old nest that starred in the state agency’s first livecam was destroyed by a snowstorm. Now, viewers can tune into watch another eagle pair raise their family at a new spot.

The online database covers nearly all the fossils discovered in New Zealand.

New Zealand Is the First Country to Open Its Fossil Database to the Public

New Zealand’s open-access fossil database makes it easier for scientists to collaborate.

An Australian Zoo Needs Help Collecting Deadly Spiders and Their Eggs

The Australian Reptile Park is asking the public to capture the Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the most dangerous species in the world.

They are several differences between the two.

Tsunami vs. Tidal Wave: What’s the Difference?

Tsunamis and tidal waves may look similar, but they differ in crucial ways.

New Study Reveals the Source of the Corpse Flower’s Horrible Stench

Research (and lots of dry-heaving) has revealed why the flower reeks of weeks-old road kill.

Local Canned Air Is Being Sold as a Souvenir at Italy’s Lake Como

Forget the snow globes and ornaments. Buy souvenir air instead.

This Veterans Day is your chance to visit Glacier National Park for free.

All National Parks Are Offering Free Admission on Veterans Day

In honor of Veterans Day, you can visit any one of the National Park Service's more than 400 parks on Monday, November 11, 2024, for free.

Animals Might Be Drinking More Than We Thought

You’ve heard the stories of birds drunk on fermented fruit, but scientists suspect that many animals ingest alcohol on a regular basis.

14 Bold Facts About Bald Eagles

Bald eagles are powerful symbols of America—but there's much more to know about these quirky birds.

Here’s the newly-discovered flea toad on top of a coin.

Recently Discovered ‘Toadlet’ Is One of Smallest Vertebrates on Earth

Researchers just described one of the tiniest frogs known to science.

10 Epic Trails That Every Hiker Should Try

Whether it’s a gentle stroll through the English countryside or summiting Africa’s tallest peak, these bucket-list hikes are not to be missed.

A 911 Call About a Raccoon Invasion Is a Good Reminder Never to Feed Wild Animals

Where there is one hungry raccoon, there are likely dozens, as one unfortunate woman found out.

The beaches of Newfoundland are covered with gooey white blobs.

Weird White Blobs Are Taking Over Some Canadian Beaches

The beaches of Newfoundland are a little less pleasant since white blobs have appeared everywhere.

A black-throated green warbler perches on a funerary statue at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

From Snakeroot to Salamanders, Life Thrives in Cemeteries

Three historic cemeteries, designed as refuges of the dead, are bringing their landscapes back to life for native plants and animals.

This scene near Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks shows why New York is the top state for fall road trips.

The 19 Best States For Fall Road Trips

There’s nothing quite like peeping peak foliage, dashing through a corn maze, and spending an afternoon at an apple orchard to celebrate autumn—and in some of these top states for fall road trips, you can do all three.

Do Wombats Use Their Butts as Deadly Weapons?

An important investigation of the muscular marsupials’ bony backsides.