A massive blue whale that drifted onto a southern Oregon beach in 2015 is about to reappear on land after an eleven‑year odyssey. The carcass, weighing roughly 200 tons and stretching nearly 70 feet, was found in a battered state. Scientists could not tell how long it had been dead, but tests reveal
The limestone caves that run across northwestern Cambodia are still a mystery. A recent field trip to the province of Battambang revealed several animals that science has never seen before. Among them are a bright turquoise pit viper, a snake that can glide through the air, new kinds of geckos, tiny
The planet is home to roughly ten million living kinds, from tiny fungi to giant whales. Every day, people around the world tap their phones and add a picture of something they spot to a free app that gathers this information. About six million people use it each month, giving scientists fresh data
Scientists have looked beyond the usual parks and reserves to find other lands that could help wildlife survive. They called these places “Other Effective Area‑Based Conservation Measures” or OECMs. The idea is that some areas, even if not officially protected, still play a key role in keeping speci
Scientists working behind the scenes aren’t waiting for politicians to act—they’re already using clever tricks to fix Earth’s big problems. One big issue they’re tackling is dirt. By 2050, some places might run out of healthy soil, which is like losing the foundation for growing food. Instead of jus
The Fulton Historical Society is arranging a day out on March 15 at two in the afternoon, taking folks to a nearby prairie restoration project. The event is led by Dean Huisingh, who founded the society and also runs a conservation foundation that works to protect Illinois plants and animals. He
The story of Partula snails shows how small creatures can teach big lessons about nature and human care. In the 1980s, a harmful snail was brought to French Polynesia to fight another pest. Instead of helping, it ate the native Partula species and pushed them close to extinction. A group le
A new online resource gathers a wide range of information on more than 1, 000 cactus species. The collection links physical traits, where each plant lives, the climates they occupy, and their evolutionary relationships. It also offers data on how large each species’ range is, the speed at which new
Ohio people who protect the land and water deserve a big thank‑you. The state’s Department of Natural Resources has a Hall of Fame that honors those who work hard to keep Ohio beautiful. Since 1966, about 200 people have been added to this list. Names like Johnny Appleseed and Louis Bromfie
A plan approved last November by Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) promises to protect 50, 000 acres of forest as a buffer for a new power line that will stretch from the Quebec border to central Maine. The plan says half of this area must be managed as “mature forest habitat” and
