Sep 12 2026
Every September 12, World Dolphin Day gives us a reason to celebrate some of the most remarkable mammals on Earth—and to think seriously about what it will take to keep dolphins thriving in the wild. For many people, dolphins symbolize the joy and mystery of the ocean. We picture them racing beside boats, leaping above …
Jul 25 2026
Born on July 25, 1940, Richard Ballantine spent much of his life arguing for an idea that now seems remarkably modern: the bicycle was not merely a toy, sporting machine, or weekend recreation. It was transportation, freedom, exercise, engineering, adventure, environmental common sense, and one of the simplest ways to make cities better places to …
May 23 2026
From tiny freshwater turtles basking on logs to enormous leatherbacks crossing entire oceans, turtles are among the most distinctive animals on Earth. Their protective shells, slow and deliberate movements, remarkable migrations, and extraordinary longevity have fascinated people for generations. Every May 23, World Turtle Day celebrates turtles and tortoises while drawing attention to the growing …
Mar 23 2026
A handful of finished compost can contain an extraordinary community of microorganisms along with small amounts of plant nutrients and decomposed organic matter. Compost tea is one way gardeners try to transfer some of those soluble materials and microbes into water so they can be applied easily around plants. The basic idea is simple: steep …
Oct 24 2025
When most of us picture dolphins, we imagine sleek animals racing through ocean waves. Yet some of the world’s most extraordinary cetaceans live far from the sea, navigating the muddy channels, flooded forests, tributaries, and enormous river systems of South America and Asia. Freshwater dolphins are wonderfully adapted to environments that can be difficult to …
Oct 18 2025
Hidden deep within the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo lives an animal that looks almost as though nature combined pieces of several different species. It has the long face and large ears of a giraffe, a rich chocolate-brown coat, and striking black-and-white stripes across its legs and hindquarters that immediately bring a …
Oct 08 2025
Few animals seem as wonderfully strange as the octopus. It has three hearts, blue blood, eight extraordinarily flexible arms, a soft body capable of squeezing through remarkably narrow openings, and skin that can transform its color and texture in moments. Its suckers can gather chemical information from the environment, much of its nervous system extends …
Sep 22 2025
Rhinos look almost prehistoric. With massive bodies, thick skin, broad feet, and distinctive horns, they seem like animals that belong to another age. In a sense, they do. Rhinoceroses belong to an ancient mammal lineage that has survived enormous environmental changes, shifting continents, and the rise and disappearance of countless other species. Today, however, their …
Sep 17 2025
A manta ray moving through the ocean can look almost as though it is flying. Its enormous pectoral fins rise and fall like wings while its broad body glides seemingly effortlessly through the water. There is no frantic movement and no obvious rush. Even a manta several yards across can seem strangely weightless. That graceful …
Aug 12 2025
Few animals have the presence of an elephant. An adult African savanna elephant can tower over a person, reshape vegetation simply by feeding, carry enormous tusks, communicate with companions across long distances, and travel through landscapes using routes that may have been followed by generations of elephants before it. Yet some of the most remarkable …
