Outdoor activities can seem daunting. Maybe the idea of carrying a heavy pack into the woods and sleeping on the ground isn’t your idea of a good time — and all of that lightweight backpacking gear can be prohibitively expensive. But you don’t need to hike out into the deep wilderness to enjoy nature: your […]
A new study from Boston University School of Public Health has found a link between living with exposure to more green space and an improvement in cognitive function. The research suggests that living near greenery could especially boost cognitive function for middle-age women, ultimately reducing rates of depression and possibly dementia. The paper, published in […]
In Panama, scientists, lawyers and politicians are working together to dismantle current legal systems and popular mindsets about Nature. And, they’re collaborating to build it back better for the future of their country and the planet. It all started with Callie Veelenturf, an American marine conservation biologist and National Geographic explorer. While studying sea turtles […]
Many people have animal phobias and two of the most common are those of spiders and snakes. A fear of these particular animals is ingrained in humanity as a protective measure from a time when people encountered them much more than they do now. A new study has found that people who feel a stronger […]
Health care providers in four Canadian provinces — British Columbia (BC), Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario — can now prescribe time in nature, and even a Parks Canada Discovery Pass, to their patients to help improve their physical and mental health through the country’s national nature prescription program, A Prescription for Nature (PaRx). The passes are being offered through a partnership between Parks Canada and the British Columbia Parks Foundation.
The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most reliable and active meteor showers of the year, will peak on the night of December 13 into the early morning of December 14. The Geminids display can produce over 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. “The Geminids, which stem in name from the constellation Gemini, are […]
We’re all familiar with rainbows, tornados, and shooting stars. Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to see Aurora Borealis, or even bioluminescent waves rolling in from the ocean. Our planet exhibits such awe-inspiring natural phenomena wherever we look: at its highest peaks, deepest ice formations, or right in our own backyards. Here are a few amazing […]
By Derrick Z. Jackson I am the very accidental Black nature lover. I was a typical urban boy in Milwaukee and a rabid sports fan in the 1960s. The most significant eagles to me played football in Philadelphia. The first cardinal I ever paid attention to was Bob Gibson throwing fastballs for St. Louis. My […]
Getting a breath of fresh air is much more important than it might seem. A 2019 study found that spending two hours in nature a week notably benefits health and overall well-being. Time outdoors is associated with reduced stress, better concentration and mood, enhanced immune system function, and both better social interactions and higher standardized […]