Billions of Cicadas To Emerge Soon!

In the spring of 2004, NPR journalist Peter Breslow recorded the chatter of newly-emerged cicadas and the delighted screams of his 4-year-old twin daughters, playing in their backyard splash pool. Now, 17 years later, his daughters are 21-years-old, and the cicadas are returning again! The Brood X cicadas will be emerging from the ground in 18 Eastern US states. Their exact timing is likely to vary across states, though the Mid-Atlantic region will expect to see cicadas appear around the third week of May. The Incredible Life Cycle Often confused with grasshoppers or crickets, periodical...

Deer In Snow

U.K Bids Farewell To Prince Philip

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh has passed away at the age of 99. Prince Philip is also the husband of Queen Elizabeth ll. He passed away peacefully at Buckingham Palace. He was born on June 10, 1921, in Greece. He was born into the Greek and Danish royal family but his childhood was not a typical royal experience. Philip’s uncle, the King of Greece at the time, was forced to abdicate and his whole family fled from Greece to France. Philip was only a baby at the time and when he was 7, he moved to England. When he was 18, he joined the Royal Navy and became an exceptional Naval Officer...

The Happiest Country Once More

Finland has been named the happiest nation in the world for the 4th year in a row! The World Happiness Report surveyed people in 149 countries who rated their own happiness. They also looked at other factors such as personal freedom, corruption levels, and more. Additionally, in light of the current pandemic, the World Happiness Report stated, “Our aim was two-fold: first, to focus on the effects of COVID-19 on the structure and quality of people’s lives, and second, to describe and evaluate how governments all over the world have dealt with the pandemic. In particular, we try to explain why...

An Early Spring Bloom In Japan!

On March 26, cherry blossoms filled the streets of Kyoto as the cherry blossom season reached its peak. Because of an unusually warm spring, this year’s cherry blossom season reached its peak on the earliest date since 812 AD! Additionally, the cherry blossom season started eight days earlier than the previous earliest blooming, on March 11, 2004. Scientists believe that climate change is the cause of the earlier blooms in recent decades. Let’s take a closer look at the cherry blossom season in Japan. Japan’s Cherry Blossom Season The cherry blossom season in Japan typically begins in early...

In Australia, Even Spiders Flee Floods!

Last week, Australia experienced one of the heaviest rainfall it has had in decades. With dams overflowing and river levels reaching an all-time high, a massive flood across eastern Australia has caused over 40,000 people to immediately evacuate, two reported deaths and another 10 million Australians to receive weather warnings. Some of the most affected states include New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, Australia. On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, approximately 200 schools remained closed. Many have reported seeing dead wildlife floating through flooded areas, while entire backyards and homes...

Michael Mastrandrea

Michael Mastrandrea is the Research Director for the Climate and Energy Policy program at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford. He also advises the California State government on topics related to energy and climate research.

Writing Contest: Tell Me A Story?

** THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. WE RECEIVED SO MANY AMAZING SUBMISSIONS. WATCH OUT FOR RESULTS IN EARLY JUNE!" ** Imagine the year is 2070. You are narrating the story of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it changed your life to your grandkids. Write a 500-word story that weaves in your personal experiences and lessons learned. A few tips to help you think deeper - Would you tell them about the lockdown? The worry and uncertainty that affected us all? School confusion, uncomfortable masks? What have you learned thus far, that you would share as a wise elder in the future? Your story could be about...

A Ceremonial Chariot Discovered

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D, it buried the Ancient Roman city of Pompeii. This eruption killed between 2,000 and 15,000 people. Under a thick layer of ashes, archaeologists were delighted to find that Pompeii was almost intact. It has been an architect’s dream and has brought up so many amazing new discoveries over the years and given us a glimpse into life in ancient times. Archaeologists have made yet another new discovery in Pompeii. A perfectly preserved chariot was uncovered in the ancient villa at Civita Giuliana, near Pompeii. This is not just any chariot, it is a ceremonial...

Heroes Don't Wear Capes!

Edgar McGregor, a 20-year-old climate activist, spent 589 days straight picking up litter from Eaton Canyon. Eaton Canyon is a part of the Angeles National Forest in southern California. McGregor committed to picking up litter left by visitors while posting his progress on Twitter. His Twitter has amassed more than 17,000 followers! McGregor started this journey when he learned that Los Angeles would be hosting the Olympic Games in 2028. He thought the litter-infested forests would be a “national embarrassment” for the United States. He decided to start with cleaning Eaton Canyon first since...

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