Tiny crystals capture millions of years of mountain range history – a geologist excavates the Himalayas with a microscope
Measuring the concentration of radioactive elements in a single, sand-size crystal reveals the growth of the Himalayan mountain range over time.
April 9, 2024 • ~5 min
Altitude sickness is typically mild but can sometimes turn very serious − a high-altitude medicine physician explains how to safely prepare
Whether you’re ascending to high altitudes for casual travel or for adventure tourism, there are specific strategies to help you acclimate and reduce the likelihood of altitude sickness.
March 1, 2024 • ~10 min
After an 80-year absence, gray wolves have returned to Colorado − here's how the reintroduction of this apex predator will affect prey and plants
At one time, perhaps as many as 2 million gray wolves roamed the North American continent. But now those numbers are down to a few thousand.
Jan. 10, 2024 • ~7 min
The chickadee in the snowbank: A 'canary in the coal mine' for climate change in the Sierra Nevada mountains
These tiny songbirds have extraordinary memories for the tens of thousands of spots where they hide food. But that doesn’t help when heavy snow blocks their access.
Jan. 4, 2024 • ~10 min
What 2,500 years of wildfire evidence and the extreme fire seasons of 1910 and 2020 tell us about the future of fire in the West
As the climate warms, devastating fires are increasingly likely. The 2020 fires pushed the Southern Rockies beyond the historical average. Is there hope for the Northern Rockies?
Oct. 17, 2023 • ~10 min
What 2,500 years of wildfire evidence tells us about the future of fires in the West
As the climate warms, devastating fires are increasingly likely. The 2020 fires pushed the Southern Rockies beyond the historical average. Is there hope for the Northern Rockies?
Oct. 17, 2023 • ~10 min
What the extreme fire seasons of 1910 and 2020 – and 2,500 years of forest history – tell us about the future of wildfires in the West
As the climate warms, devastating fires are increasingly likely. The 2020 fires pushed the Southern Rockies beyond the historical average. Is there hope for the Northern Rockies?
Oct. 17, 2023 • ~10 min
Thriving in the face of adversity: Resilient gorillas reveal clues about overcoming childhood misfortune
In many animals, including humans, adverse events in youth have lasting negative health effects over the life span. But new research suggests something different is going on in mountain gorillas.
May 15, 2023 • ~9 min
Fire danger in the high mountains is intensifying: That’s bad news for humans, treacherous for the environment
Fires here can affect meltwater timing and water quality, worsen erosion that triggers mudslides, and much more, as two scientists explain.
April 19, 2023 • ~8 min
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