Arbor Day should be about growing trees, not just planting them
Planting trees is a popular way to do something for nature, but putting seedlings in the ground is just the first step. And without long-term care, those sprouts may not last.
April 27, 2021 • ~9 min
How many Tyrannosaurus rex walked the Earth?
Using the incredible wealth of fossil data and a modern ecological theory, researchers estimated population density for the extinct apex predator.
April 16, 2021 • ~6 min
To help insects, make them welcome in your garden – here's how
Looking for a new gardening challenge? Turning your yard into an insect-friendly oasis could mean less work and more nature to enjoy.
March 22, 2021 • ~8 min
Risk versus reward on the high seas – skinny elephant seals trade safety for sustenance
By measuring how and when elephant seals sleep, researchers were able to figure out how elephant seals change their risk-taking behavior as they gain weight.
March 17, 2021 • ~9 min
Ancient leaves preserved under a mile of Greenland's ice – and lost in a freezer for years – hold lessons about climate change
This ancient ecosystem showed that the ice sheet had melted to the ground in northern Greenland within the past million years.
March 15, 2021 • ~10 min
Billions of cicadas may be coming soon to trees near you
One of the largest groups of 17-year cicadas, Brood X, last emerged from underground in 2004. The next generation will arrive starting in April.
March 12, 2021 • ~9 min
Tiny cacao flowers and fickle midges are part of a pollination puzzle that limits chocolate production
Entomologists wonder if the insects currently pollinating farmed cacao are the right ones for the task.
Feb. 10, 2021 • ~6 min
Citizen scientists are filling research gaps created by the pandemic
COVID-19 kept many scientists from doing field research in 2020, which means that important records will have data gaps. But volunteers are helping to plug some of those holes.
Feb. 3, 2021 • ~10 min
/
16