Science
SUMMER BUZZ
Hot, sunny days and warm, humid nights bring out insects galore. We celebrate the pollinators; the fireflies; the glorious bugs of summer. Photoessay by Rhiannon Newman.
TINY HARVEST
Think your apartment is too small for a garden? Guess again. This teeny DIY edible garden will tickle your tastebuds (and your inner interior decorator). Great for any sunny sill.
THE FORGOTTEN VARIETY OF APPLES
Sophie Krause introduces us to the unexpected diversity of the apple.
THE ECHO OF RAIN
The system that delivers water to California's dry southlands may be what holds the state through its three year drought. By Holly McKelvey.
ROAD TRIP NATION
On the road and back out there. Photographs by Christian Whiting.
YOUR BODY FIGHTS THE ICE
The beginning of winter can seem unbearably cold, but by spring our bodies are seemingly immune to the chill in the air. We get under your skin to find out why. By Holly McKelvey.
TITAN'S DEEPEST WINTER
Winter in the depths of space, under oily rains on icy lakeshores: a glimpse into the coldest season on the alien landscape of Saturn's largest moon. By Elise Wall.
HOME SWEET Microbial home
Germs are in us and on us. They affect our health, and may even shape our evolution. By Amy McDermott.
Invasives on the Menu
Lionfish are an ecological disaster when introduced beyond their native range. But in the Caribbean, restaurants are fighting back in a new and tasty way.
Anthocyanin: sunblock...for autumn leaves.
Ever wonder why fall heralds the stunning golds and reds of changing foliage? We get inside leaves, and to the heart of the matter.
Getting Out There
The foggy mountains of central California remind us that we're all scientists at heart.
GREAT GREEN ROOFS
Sophie Krause gives us five good reasons to grow some green on urban rooftops. Coming soon.
CRYPTIC CRICKETS
The Asian 'Greenhouse' camel cricket is now more common in cellars and basements than any native camel cricket species. This Q&A with ecologist Mary Jane Epps asks how this happened, and why we didn't notice sooner.
WHEN WRENS CAN'T MAKE RENT
Urbanization fractures populations and displaces Southern California natives. By Amelia Taylor-Hochberg.
NETWORKS ON THE WING
Devices called proximity loggers are helping researchers understand how a barn swallow interacts with its flight-mates—and hinting at what social connectedness could mean for an individual’s wellbeing. By Laura Booth.
WHAT ARE HEIRLOOMS? SEEDS WITH STORIES
Sophie Krause gives us five good reasons to grow heirloom plants this spring.
NIGHT FISHING THE CLEVELAND SHORELINE
Can the act of fishing change the way Cleveland thinks about its most damaged watersheds? By Matt Stansberry, Illustration by David Wilson.
AN ODE TO THE ELEGANCE OF SEDIMENT
On a stroll down an icy beach, Holly McKelvey meditates on stories written in rock.
CAN FISH FEEL PAIN?
The science of fish pain raises greater questions about the philosophy of consciousness and animal welfare. By Amy McDermott.
The Sunflower Wars
Sunflowers are a timeless sign of late summer, bringing a breath of countryside calm to windowsills in even the most bustling metropolis. But how were these sunburst-orange beauties domesticated? We trace the controversial story of sunflowers from wild to cultivar.
Why Does Flu Have a Season?
Flu is an unsavory hallmark of the colder months. Influenza season begins in autumn and peaks in winter. But why does flu have a season at all?
Autumn Anaerobes
How fermentation preserves the spoils of the harvest, and how you can make sauerkraut at home.