Nature Traveler

08/04/2025

How large herbivores in Yellowstone National Park find enough to eat throughout the year was recently revealed. And newly discovered methane-producing microbes in Yellowstone’s hot springs could one day contribute to climate change mitigation and provide insights into extraterrestrial life.

In Yellowstone, how herbivores find enough food was just revealed; and newly verified microbes could mitigate climate change and provide outer space insights.

01/04/2025

Across Africa, leopards are on the decline. And, sometimes, we humans make the prospect of their continued existence worse. Luckily, new technologies could help in leopard conservation.

African leopards are on the decline. And humans often have a hand in the downward trend. Luckily, new technologies could help in leopard conservation.

25/03/2025

Do animals possess the same range of emotions that we do? Science is saying yes, and that could have implications for animal welfare actions.

18/03/2025

The role of animals in shaping Earth’s landscapes is much more significant than we previously thought. But we risk losing their crucial, diverse and natural services as biodiversity declines.

Animals play a large role in shaping Earth’s landscapes. But we risk losing their crucial, diverse and natural services as biodiversity declines.

11/03/2025

Polar bears have inspired the creation of better anti-icing and traction products. But the warming of the Earth that our activities have caused could spell the end for polar bears. Let’s not lose them now—on our watch.

Polar bears have inspired the creation of better anti-icing and traction products. But climate change is affecting them. Let’s not lose them on our watch.

04/03/2025

Recently, the name of the highest mountain peak in North America was changed from “Denali” back to “Mount McKinley.” And some animal species are named for racists. How should we deal with problematic monikers for the natural world?

Recently, “Denali” was changed back to “Mount McKinley.” Some animals are named for racists. How do we deal with problematic monikers for the natural world?

25/02/2025

Just how much of our natural resources do our lifestyles require? Can we adapt them to stay within the limits of what the Earth can give? Science—and a worldwide strong public trust in scientists—can point the way.

How do we adapt our lifestyles to the limits of the Earth’s ability to give? Science can point the way; and, luckily, public trust in science is still strong.

18/02/2025

Nighttime light pollution is bad for us and wild animals—it could even be causing smaller eyes in some birds. And since we now know birds use symbolic gestures, having good sight could have far more implications for birds than we realize.

Nighttime light pollution is bad for both us and wild animals—it could even be causing an evolutionary adaptation for smaller eyes in some birds.

11/02/2025

2024 has officially taken over the title of hottest year on record from the former titleholder, 2023. The term “hydroclimate whiplash” is now being used to describe the rapid swings between intensely wet and dangerously dry weather that have increased due to climate change, with further large jumps expected as warming continues.

2024 was the hottest year on record. And “hydroclimate whiplash”—rapid swings between severely wet and extremely dry weather—will worsen as warming continues.

04/02/2025

Despite the downsides of social media users encroaching on natural habitats, photography can be an incredibly powerful conservation tool, cultivating and enhancing nature-based connections and providing opportunities for education and stewardship.

Despite the downsides to social media users encroaching on natural habitats, photography can be an incredibly powerful conservation tool.

28/01/2025

Ancient rock-art in Finland was not only a passive art gallery, but a dynamic environment where sight, sound and spirituality converged. And a new discovery in Scotland lets us hear a five-century-old hymn.

Ancient rock art in Finland provided an acoustic environment where sight, sound and spirituality met. In Scotland, an old text lets us hear a 500-year-old hymn.

21/01/2025

When Mount Saint Helens erupted in 1980, lava incinerated anything living for miles around. But after the blast, gophers dropped onto parts of the scorched mountain for only 24 hours caused beneficial repercussions that are still visible 40 years later. In contrast, wolves returning to Washington have had less of an impact in the state than anyone predicted.

Gophers on Mt. Saint Helens had a beneficial effect that’s still visible 40 years later. However, Washington state wolves had less of an impact than predicted.

14/01/2025

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes listing several giraffe subspecies on the U.S. Endangered Species List. If enacted, it will be the first time that these long-necked, socially complex mammals receive federal protections in the United States.

Five giraffe subspecies could soon be listed on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It would mark the first time that giraffes receive federal protections.

07/01/2025

Globally, textile waste each year weighs 92 million tons, and this could double by 2030. Here are some innovative ideas to make our clothing more sustainable and practical for our warming world.

Globally, annual textile waste weighs 92 million tons and could double by 2030. How do we make clothing more sustainable and practical for our warming world?

31/12/2024

There’s good reason to love nature. A peaceful walk through a natural setting can reduce anxiety and stress and enhance attention. And nature prescriptions would help more of us with our mental and physical health needs. I predict we’re going to need a lot of nature in 2025.

Walks in nature can reduce anxiety and enhance attention. I predict more of us will need nature prescriptions in 2025.

24/12/2024

It turns out that people are kind by nature. Around the world, we signal others for assistance every couple of minutes—and we comply with those requests most of the time.

It turns out that people are kind. Around the world, we ask others for help every two minutes—and surprisingly, we comply with most of those requests.

17/12/2024

Researchers are working to untangle the ecosystem impacts that geese and reindeer are having on a changing and vulnerable Arctic. And in the boreal forest of Western Canada, deer are pushing farther north, which might be bad news for reindeer.

Both geese and reindeer are changing the vulnerable Arctic ecosystem. And in Canada’s boreal forest, deer are pushing farther north—bad news for reindeer.

10/12/2024

Like New Zealand mountain climber and Antarctic explorer Edmund Hillary, I have always felt the call of snow. I do hope it doesn’t go extinct. I want to believe that clean drinking water, the unearthly blue of glacial ice and high-diving foxes will always go on.

I hope snow doesn’t go extinct. I want to believe that clean drinking water, the unearthly blue of glacial ice and high-diving foxes will always go on.