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Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC
Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC
This week marks the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan to the city of Washington, DC, in 1912. The National Park Service says that during a two-week period each spring, the festival draws more than one million visitors to the National Mall, aka America’s Front Yard. In Japan, the custom of picnicking under the cherry blossoms is known as ‘hanami,’ and it’s said to be more spectacular at night, when revelers hang lanterns from the tree branches to illuminate the blooms.Desktop Version
Adorably evolutionary sea sheep
Adorably evolutionary sea sheep
Perhaps you can understand why this tiny sea slug is sometimes called the ‘sea sheep’ or ‘leaf sheep’? It grazes on algae just as a sheep grazes on grass, and it bears more than a little resemblance to an actual sheep. Sea sheep don’t digest the chloroplasts in the algae they eat—instead, they absorb the energy-producing cells. As a result, the leaf-like fins all over the sea sheep’s back are loaded with working chloroplasts, making the sea sheep one of the only non-plant life forms on Earth with the ability to photosynthesize—that is, produce its own energy using sunlight and water. Who knew an evolutionary advancement could be so cute?Desktop Version
The power of the forest
The power of the forest
For International Day of Forests today, we’re looking at a baobab grove in Senegal. The indigenous cultures of sub-Saharan Africa, where baobabs grow wild, have long relied on the trees for a variety of uses. The fruit, seeds, and leaves are all edible, and in Tanzania, the wood pulp is a fermentation ingredient in local beers. Forests of all kinds provide many natural resources that humans use, and sometimes overuse. This year’s theme for International Day of Forests is ‘forests and education’; it’s an effort to get us all thinking about the more abstract benefits of healthy forests. A dense forest can clean both the air and water by pulling carbon compounds and other pollutants out of the ecosystem, and forests greatly reduce erosion.Desktop Version
Winter scenery near Kuhmo, Finland
Winter scenery near Kuhmo, Finland
Winter hits Kuhmo hard, but it sure is beautiful. The town, which lies in an area that borders Russia, was under Swedish and Russian rule in centuries past, but is now proudly Finnish. The boreal forests in this region are home to wolves and bears as well as the rare, and rarely seen, Finnish forest reindeer, who forage among the trees.Desktop Version
When science looks like magic
When science looks like magic
The mechanics of the northern lights are still not fully understood, as there are multiple influences and atmospheric conditions that create these photogenic ripples of colored light in the sky. Scientists agree that solar winds—big pulses of energy from our sun—interfere with the Earth’s magnetic fields, especially at the polar regions. The result is a ghostly light show in the sky—like the one in our photo today, captured in Norway.Desktop Version
Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
A sliver of the Al-Khazneh temple’s façade is just visible at the end of this path. Like nearly every structure in the ancient city of Petra, the temple was carved directly into the sandstone cliffs that line the valley. Al-Khazneh boasts one of the most ornate, detailed façades of all the buildings here. Within the temple are relics of the past, including an elevated stone urn that was once thought to be the spot where bandits hid their loot. That’s been disproved, as the urn is solid stone. But that legend prompted the nickname of this space: the Treasury.Desktop Version
Weaverbird nests at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve
Weaverbird nests at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve
Among the 350 species of birds found here at the Samburu National Reserve, some of the most industrious are weaverbirds. This family of birds is so named for the intricately constructed nests that many of the species weave from twigs, grasses, and leaves. You can see the birds’ handiwork on this acacia tree, where nests hang like ornaments. Some weaverbirds build elaborate nests that house hundreds of birds, with separate chambers for each pair, creating natural apartment complexes in the treetops.Desktop Version
What happened to these clouds?
What happened to these clouds?
Today is World Meteorology Day, so we’re high up in the atmosphere, above the clouds, for a satellite view of fallstreak holes. These gaps in the clouds are sometimes called hole-punch clouds. The holes form when supercooled water droplets suddenly freeze—often when a plane flies through the cloud—and then fall, leaving an opening in the formation. Scientists are still gaining new insights on how fallstreak holes form and behave.Desktop Version
Commemorating peace in Antarctica
Commemorating peace in Antarctica
We feel chilly just looking at this image of the Europa sailing the Penola Strait, near the Antarctic Peninsula. This three-masted barque may resemble polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated ship Endurance, which was lost to the ice in an expedition to the South Pole in 1915. But the Europa is a modern, refitted lightship that now sails the world with paying passengers and makes annual trips to Antarctica.Desktop Version
Fresh water on the Silk Road
Fresh water on the Silk Road
No, these aren’t the ruins of an ancient amusement park in Western China. These two water wheels on the Tashkurgan River are part of the irrigation system that helps keep the 13,000 or so residents of Tashkurgan supplied with fresh water even though the region receives less than 3 inches of precipitation each year. That reliable access to fresh water is one of the reasons this area has been inhabited for thousands of years and made it an important stop on the ancient Silk Road trade route. Highlighting the importance of fresh water is the goal of World Water Day, which falls on March 22 every year. This year’s theme is "Leaving no one behind." With over 2.1 billion people living without safe water at home, it’s one of the most ambitious of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.Desktop Version
You re feeling sleepy
You re feeling sleepy
If springing forward for daylight saving time has you feeling drowsy, grumpy, or unproductive, then National Napping Day was literally made for you. Created in 1999 by Boston University professor William Anthony, this annual event is observed on the day most Americans are "nap-ready." So, take a cue from this African leopard and find a comfy place to catnap.Desktop Version
The glowing waters of the Matsu Islands
The glowing waters of the Matsu Islands
From April through September, a type of algae commonly called ‘sea sparkle’ blooms along the coast of all 36 islands in the Matsu archipelago off the coast of Taiwan. An enzyme reaction in the algae’s single-cellular bodies creates the light-emitting chemical reaction. Locals call the natural light show ‘blue tears.’ Stranger still is that when the water is disturbed, the algae light up even brighter. If you want to see the blue tears of the Matsu Islands, there’s still time to book a trip—the bioluminescent effect is more common and more intense during the hot summer months.Desktop Version
A view fit for a queen
A view fit for a queen
The tiny island of Gaztelugatxe is connected to the mainland of northern Spain in Basque Country by a manmade bridge and this winding, ancient stone footpath. Two hundred and forty-one steps lead up to a small church, originally dating from the 10th century. The church has been destroyed and rebuilt several times—its current incarnation was built from scratch in the late 1800s.Desktop Version
Red squirrel in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Red squirrel in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
This wee red squirrel looks warm and cozy in its winter coat here in the Scottish Highlands. The red squirrel is the only squirrel species native to the United Kingdom, but its numbers are in decline. It’s estimated there are only 160,000 left in the UK, and 75 percent of the population makes its home here in Scotland, where conservation groups are coming to its aid. The main threat to this group comes from nonnative gray squirrels, which were introduced here in the 19th century and outcompete the reds for food and living space. Perhaps the two species will make amends for Squirrel Appreciation Day, celebrated on January 21.Desktop Version
Gardens by the Bay nature park, Singapore
Gardens by the Bay nature park, Singapore
This futuristic nature park is part of Singapore’s vision to transform itself from a ‘Garden City’ to a ‘City in a Garden.’ Constructed in 2012, the 250-acre destination is known for sustainable development, as well as stunning garden exhibits. The Cloud Forest exhibit shown here features the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, cascading down a 115-foot Cloud Mountain that’s covered in plant life. In the park’s Supertrees Grove, you’ll find vertical gardens that use solar energy to light up at night.Desktop Version
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park shines
Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park shines
If you’re looking for a piece of paradise that’s off the beaten path, consider Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, a destination in the Cerrado, a vast tropical savannah in central Brazil. Located on a towering plateau that’s estimated to be 1.8 billion years old, it’s home to many rare and beautiful species, including these delicate flowers, paepalanthus. Waterfalls are plentiful here. Ranging from 250 to nearly 400 feet tall, they cascade down among some of the oldest rock formations on the planet. Quartz crystals dot the landscape, and their reflections reportedly make the region shine when viewed from space.Desktop Version
The Easter Bunny’s story
The Easter Bunny’s story
It sure looks to us like this bunny has found a great place to hide brightly colored eggs. German Lutherans created the character of the ‘Easter hare’ that is the basis for the modern-day Easter Bunny. Their version of the bunny judged whether children had been good or bad during the Eastertide season—with well-behaved kids getting a treat. But rabbits and hares have long been associated with springtime, rebirth, and fertility, so perhaps the leap from gentle backyard visitor to keeper of spring’s ‘naughty or nice’ list was inevitable for these fuzzy critters.Desktop Version
Hello, spring!
Hello, spring!
Today’s the first day of spring, otherwise known as the spring equinox. But what is an equinox, exactly? The answer lies in the tilt of the Earth’s axis. When it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere, those of us above the equator are tilted away from the sun, giving us shorter days and longer nights. In summer, we’re tilted toward the sun, so we can enjoy longer days and shorter nights. But the equinox is right in between. It"s the moment during Earth"s annual revolution around the sun when its axis is neither tilting away nor tilting toward the sun, giving everyone on the planet an equal split of day and night. This phenomenon happens twice a year—in March and again in September. For folks in the Northern Hemisphere, today signals a shift toward the long days of summer. But in the Southern Hemisphere, everything"s flipped. It"s the autumnal equinox today—and, yes, winter is coming.Desktop Version
Stuben am Arlberg, Austria
Stuben am Arlberg, Austria
The ski resort town of Stuben am Arlberg may closely resemble what you imagine when reading the phrase ‘historic Alpine village.’ Tucked in near the Alberg mountain pass, tiny Stuben is a must for ski fanatics, who can set off on a run right from their doorstep. It’s also the birthplace of the ‘father of modern skiing,’ Hannes Schneider, whose instructional methods revolutionized the sport.Desktop Version
Bow Bridge in Central Park, New York City
Bow Bridge in Central Park, New York City
Bow Bridge in New York’s Central Park is the site of many a romantic moment–both on screen and off. The cast iron bridge served as a filming location in such movie classics as ‘The Way We Were’ and ‘Manhattan.’ One of 36 bridges and arches here at Central Park, it was designed in 1862, in part by Calvert Vaux, who is famous for co-designing Central Park along with Frederick Law Olmsted. Years later it’s still inspiring romance.Desktop Version
Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
Leave it to weird, wild, wonderful New Zealand to be home to a blue mushroom. Fungus enthusiasts can also find Entoloma hochstetteri in parts of India and Brazil, but it’s bountiful enough on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, that it is part of the artwork on the latest iteration of the $50 note. It appears alongside the kōkako, a bird whose blue wattles inspired the Māori name for this mushroom: werewere-kōkako.Desktop Version
30 years after Exxon Valdez
30 years after Exxon Valdez
Thirty years ago today, the largest oil tanker spill in US history occurred here in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Nearly 11 million gallons of oil flowed into the once-pristine waters when the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck Bligh Reef. The area is so remote that cleanup efforts were delayed, allowing 1,300 miles of shoreline to be contaminated. The US Fish & Wildlife Service estimates that among other casualties, more than 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, and 22 orcas were lost. The spill, while devastating, has provided a living laboratory as scientists study how the ecosystem recovers—and doesn’t. Some species and their habitat are still impacted by the spill. There is at least one highlight: Government agencies say the sea otter population here has fully recovered; however, the local subspecies as a whole remains endangered.Desktop Version
A day of death and rebirth
A day of death and rebirth
Today, places like this nature path in Longyan, China, will be full of families. A springtime walk with loved ones is often part of the Qingming Festival happening today. Qingming translates as ‘Pure Brightness,’ though it’s also called Tomb-Sweeping Day. It’s a time to honor your deceased ancestors, often by cleaning and decorating their graves, and gathering the family together to share happy memories of those relatives. The solemnity is balanced by the arrival of spring, so some Qingming observances include spending time outdoors with family.Desktop Version
Glacial spires in the fog
Glacial spires in the fog
The Cove of Spires in Kenai Fjords National Park is just one of the dramatic glacial landscapes that you can experience in the park. Located near Seward, Alaska, the park is home to 38 glaciers which cover over half of the area in ice—though climate change has reduced that drastically over the last decades. We"re here to celebrate the beginning of National Park Week, a nine-day celebration of the 61 national parks in the US. Parks around the country will be holding special programs and events throughout the week, and today, April 20, is free admission day. So, put on your hiking shoes and start exploring our national treasures.Desktop Version
Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Two thirds of the world’s geysers are located here at Yellowstone National Park, each with its own unique characteristics. Shown here is the Great Fountain Geyser, which erupts every 9 to 15 hours with sprays that reach 75 feet to over 220 feet in the air. More than just a spectacle, these geysers are evidence of the volcanic activity simmering beneath the surface. Yellowstone’s last major volcanic eruption occurred about 630,000 years ago, and the potential for future activity is the subject of much curiosity—and speculation.Desktop Version