The Global Environmental Outlook (GEO), compiled by the member states of the United Nations, reports on a range of planetary disasters, including coral reef bleaching, species loss, wildfires, extreme weather events, melting glaciers, and the decline of polar ice. It is all very alarming....

Throughout human history, zoonotic diseases, illnesses that jump from animals to humans, have shaped civilizations, triggered pandemics, and rewritten the course of economies. The Black Death, which ravaged Europe in the 14th century, originated from bacteria transmitted by fleas that lived on rats. Ebola, HIV,...

As the seasons shift into spring and summer, flowers bloom, trees turn green, and the days grow longer and sunnier. However, for many, this time also marks the start of allergy season in the United States, which can begin as early as February in warmer...

The mountain dominates the western coast of New Zealand’s North Island, also known as Aotearoa. Its peak is like the center point of a sundial, the shadows on its slopes telling time. The cloud formations drift in and out, shaping the weather. ...

As global populations transition into what has been called the “longevity society,” caring for the aging and dying has prompted the emergence of an unusual self-care movement promising improved quality of life as it anticipates death. ...

In 2012, in Turlock, California, 50,000 hens were abandoned in an egg farm. Every one of those trapped birds embodied a tragic irony. Birds can fly in the sky, unassisted by metal structures or fossil fuels. They are emblematic of freedom. “Free as a bird,”...

Pigs, intelligent and social creatures, possess a strong maternal instinct. In the wild, a pregnant pig will walk several miles to carefully select the perfect spot to build a nest for her newborns. A sow, or mother pig, is pregnant for almost

While many people are fascinated by nonhuman animals, most do not have the time, money, or opportunity to travel to remote natural habitats where these animals live freely. Instead, zoos relocate animals for the convenience of humans, offering guaranteed viewings and encounters that fit our...

Ecotourism and purpose-driven travel are transforming the way individuals engage with the world, offering enriching alternatives to conventional sightseeing. Volunteer travel encourages meaningful participation, inviting individuals to take an active role in conservation efforts and community support. From teens and college...

During their spring migration, billions of birds fly from their southern wintering habitats. After the spring breeding season ends and as fall and winter approach in the northern latitudes, they begin the journey to warmer areas—unless they’re hardy, resident birds like cardinals or blue jays....