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Replica of a Viking home in Dublin National Botanic Gardens, Ireland
Replica of a Viking home in Dublin National Botanic Gardens, Ireland
One of the more recent additions to the National Botanical Gardens in Dublin is this Viking house. This structure was hand-built in 2014 using 11th-century tools and represents what a typical Vikiing home looked like in this region. The home is roughly 340 square feet, a typical dwelling in Dublin 1,000 years ago.Desktop Version
It’s Napping Day
It’s Napping Day
Despite this group-nap pose, sanderlings are active birds that migrate extremely long distances every year. In spring they fly from South America and Africa to the High Arctic beaches and river banks of North America, Europe, and Asia. Once they’ve laid eggs and raised their young, they head back south again, stopping on beaches along the way to stitch their needlelike beaks into the sand for insect-sized crustaceans. Having lost an hour due to the start of daylight saving time yesterday, these sanderlings are celebrating Napping Day by sleeping on a beach in Terschelling, Netherlands.Desktop Version
The puffin-rabbit connection
The puffin-rabbit connection
Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives at sea—either flying over the surf as they migrate and search for fishing spots, or diving into the water to gobble up fish. But in spring and summer they come ashore to nest, meet up with their mates, and with any luck, raise a chick or two. Puffins can dig their own burrows, as they prefer to build nests underground atop seaside cliffs. But if there are rabbit warrens around, the puffins have no problem moving into empty burrows. They’re not even above kicking a rabbit out to take over.Desktop Version
Hiking the High Trestle Trail
Hiking the High Trestle Trail
The unique 130-foot-tall bridge you see here is just a small part of a longer 25-mile trail that connects five small towns in central Iowa. The High Trestle Trail is a rail trail—a decommissioned railroad track that’s been turned into a multiuse trail—and it follows the path of an old Union Pacific Railroad freight line. The rail-to-trail movement began in the 1960s when many railroad tracks began to be removed and people noted that the relatively flat rail corridors were perfect for hiking and biking trails. We can now enjoy thousands of miles of rail trails throughout the US. So today, on National Trails Day, find a trail near you and get outside to celebrate.Desktop Version
In Sicily, history is everywhere
In Sicily, history is everywhere
Today we"re in Montalbano Elicona on the island of Sicily. The town is known for the very old castle at the crest of the hill, as well as the quaint medieval village below. It"s no wonder that Montalbano Elicona has been called one of the most beautiful towns in all of Italy. The castle itself was built in the early 13th century by medieval power broker Frederick II of Swabia. He wore many hats, including King of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor, and—as far-fetched as it sounds—King of Jerusalem, a title he claimed after conquering that city during the Sixth Crusade. The castle was originally designed as a fortress, but it also served as a summer residence for Frederick and rulers who followed him.Desktop Version
National Park Week: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
National Park Week: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Cactus flowers and historic landmarks await visitors at this national park east of El Paso, Texas. Here you’ll find the four largest peaks in Texas, as well as towering El Capitan, a dramatic looking peak that was used as a landmark by stagecoach drivers delivering passengers and mail. Visitors here can view the ruins of the stage line and visit Frijole Ranch–once a center of ranching in this mountain range. Ancient rock art and pottery indicate people lived here as early as 10,000 years ago.Desktop Version
Perfect timing
Perfect timing
If the first day of daylight saving time doesn"t have you springing for joy, this towering timekeeper might be more your speed. The astronomical clock at Lyon Cathedral in France was built in 1660, centuries before daylight saving time was widely adopted in the 20th century. The clock"s intersecting hands and dials don"t just tell time, they form a flattened model of our planet that tracks the positions of the sun and moon relative to Earth. The zodiac dial, offset to account for the planet"s rotational tilt, shows the star sign currently in season.Desktop Version
Lights, camera, Sundance
Lights, camera, Sundance
The Sundance Film Festival begins today in Utah, bringing glitz and glamour to the ski town of Park City. When it first launched in 1978, the goal of the festival was to highlight American-made films and attract filmmakers to Utah. Robert Redford has long been involved in the festival, serving as chairman at the first event and in the years since, helping it become the media extravaganza it is today. In 1984 Redford’s Sundance Institute took over management of the festival, hence the ‘Sundance’ name, which comes from the name of the character he played in ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.’ In its 41-year history, Sundance has become perhaps the premier showcase for American independent and documentary film. We look forward to seeing what innovative new films steal the limelight in 2019.Desktop Version
‘The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever’
‘The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever’
The iconic Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, is chock full of symbolism and details for eagle-eyed observers to discover. Dedicated on this day in 1922, the landmark has 36 columns, representing each of the states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death. The president’s pose was designed to represent both his strength and compassion (one fist is clenched, the other at rest), and even the building materials were sourced from locations significant to his life and legacy. Look closely at the inscription on the wall of the north chamber and you’ll even spot a typo in the text of Lincoln’s second inaugural address, where the sculptor carved ‘EUTURE’ instead of ’FUTURE.’ Oops! The inscription has since been corrected, but the original mistake remains discernable.Desktop Version
Colorful cows of the reef
Colorful cows of the reef
These brightly colored parrotfish are swimming off the coast of Negros Oriental province in the Philippines. There are dozens of species of parrotfish and they live in abundant numbers in the world"s tropical seas. These thick-bodied fish have large scales and a beak of fused teeth they use to diligently scrape delicious algae from reefs and rocks. Some also eat coral, which they grind up with plate-like teeth in their throats. Researchers say parrotfish play a critical role in the health of coral reefs by eating algae that can choke off coral growth. They also help replenish the white sandy beaches near these tropical reefs. How? After parrotfish digest the edible parts of coral, they excrete what"s left as sand—a lot of sand. In some species, a single parrotfish can poop almost 1,000 pounds of pearly white sand each year. But never mind that—some trivia is best not to dwell on.Desktop Version
There once was a lighthouse from...
There once was a lighthouse from...
Nantucket is the island home of about 12,000 people. But venture to its sandy northern reaches, composed of narrow sand spits and only accessible via 4x4 vehicles, and you might not bump into many folks on your way to this historic—and still very important—lighthouse.Desktop Version
A sleeping green giant
A sleeping green giant
We"re looking down on Chu Dang Ya, an extinct volcano that last erupted millions of years ago. Located in Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Chu Dang Ya means "wild ginger" or perhaps "tough ginger root" in the local Jarai language. The volcano provides fertile soil for crops such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes, taro, and more. Among the best times to visit this rural gem is at the beginning of the rainy season, in late April and early May, and as the rains wind down in November. That"s when Chu Dang Ya takes it up a notch—its hillsides erupt with sunflower and other wildflower blooms along roadways, dirt paths, and fields.Desktop Version
Why do elephants hide in trees?
Why do elephants hide in trees?
…Because they"re so good at it. Although none are as skilled at self-concealment as this specimen from the Loxodonta genus of African elephants—namely the species laprofolis, better known as the common chia elephant. While it"s the well-known habit of other pachyderms to paint their toenails red and hide in cherry trees, the chia elephant"s defense is even more unique: After a nice roll in the mud, the elephant charges through patches of seeding chia plants, picking up thousands of seeds that stick on its grooved hide. In under a week—just add water!—the seeds sprout and develop into dense, leafy growths that allow the elephant to conveniently camouflage itself as it wanders the savanna. The curious creature has even been reported to disguise itself as a houseplant, duping homeowners into hosting a literal elephant in the room.Desktop Version
It s Computer Science Education Week
It s Computer Science Education Week
Are we looking at some sort of steampunk time machine? Not quite, but these clock-like rotors did help alter the course of history. The action took place during World War II at England"s Bletchley Park, a country estate that served as a top-secret facility. An assembled team, including the pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing, developed this device, known as a Bombe machine. It was instrumental in cracking the Germans" "uncrackable" Enigma code, which was used for encrypting secret messages in German war operations. The Enigma code was itself generated by a rotor-driven machine that re-scrambled the code each day—so the Bombe mirrored those mechanics to keep up with the changing encryption. Insights the Bombe and other programmable machines provided into enemy military plans helped to speed the Allies" eventual triumph—some even argue that the codebreakers" efforts won the war.Desktop Version
Making it work—in Norway
Making it work—in Norway
Springtime is high-fashion season for the ruff. In wetlands across northern Europe and Asia, these medium-sized waders gather in marshes to form leks, which are small breeding areas used for courtship displays. Dominant males (also called independents) like the fancy fellow on our homepage, fluff up their colored and intricately patterned capes and collars and mock fight with each other. Their aim? Each wants to secure a prime spot on the lek to showcase his finery and entice watching females to choose him as a mate.Desktop Version
Paradise, found
Paradise, found
If your dream is to experience a tropical paradise that"s still largely untouched by people, you could do worse than a trip to Raja Ampat, an archipelago in the province of West Papua, Indonesia. Most of the region"s 50,000 inhabitants live on or around its four main islands, Batanta, Misool, Salawati, and Waigeo. The remainder of Raja Ampat is made up of roughly 1,500 smaller islands, cays, and shoals—astonishingly, hundreds of these tiny islands have yet to be explored by humans.Desktop Version
A sizzling summit hides in the clouds
A sizzling summit hides in the clouds
Seen here with its explosive summit socked away in the clouds, Mount Etna towers over the Italian isle of Sicily as the tallest volcano in Europe—and maybe the crankiest, given its near-constant eruptions. The island peak has been highly active for perhaps half a million years and can still be counted on for a spectacular eruption now and then. This photograph shows Etna erupting in 2013, but it blasted back into life again in February 2021, sending lava, ash, and smoke into the sky for weeks.Desktop Version
Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta
Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta
Glimmering in aquamarine tones, Lake Louise rests amid the Canadian Rockies in Alberta"s Banff National Park. The Indigenous Nakoda people refer to the lake as Ho-run-num-nay, meaning "lake of the little fishes." It was later renamed by settlers, inspired by Britain"s Princess Louise, whose husband was governor general of Canada between 1878 and 1883. The adjoining hamlet is also called Lake Louise and, at an elevation of almost 5,200 feet, is Canada"s highest community.Desktop Version
Celebrating Flag Day: ‘O long may it wave’
Celebrating Flag Day: ‘O long may it wave’
June 14 is Flag Day, which commemorates the official adoption of the American flag in 1777. Our nation’s first flag had 13 stars and 13 red and white stripes to represent the original 13 colonies that broke from British rule. The stars were arranged on a blue background to represent a ‘new constellation.’ In 1795, as Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union, two more stars and two stripes were added. It was this version that served as muse to poet Francis Scott Key, who penned the poem that would later serve as the lyrics for ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ He wrote the words after watching the flag fly over the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. The flags in our image are rippling over Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.Desktop Version
An inland ocean
An inland ocean
When the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta opened in 2005, it was the largest in the world. (China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom now takes the prize.) If you are spending time in Atlanta, even on a layover during holiday travel, make your way to the amazing exhibits in the Georgia Aquarium. Perhaps the most distinctive of the aquarium’s exhibits is its giant tank of whale sharks. The 6.3-million-gallon tank houses four whale sharks—the world’s largest fish—as well as four manta rays and thousands of other fish. The tank is so massive, the rest of the aquarium was designed around it.Desktop Version
A lofty lighthouse and a little ocean spray
A lofty lighthouse and a little ocean spray
The Farolim de Felgueiras (Lighthouse of Felgueiras) you see here has withstood relentless waves for around 135 years. It offered its solitary warnings to ships approaching Porto, Portugal"s second-largest city, beginning in 1886 until it was finally deactivated in 2009. Even though it"s no longer operational, it"s still a well-known local landmark. It offers sightseers a beautiful view, and maybe a little ocean spray, from its perch overlooking the mouth of the Douro River where it flows into the Atlantic.Desktop Version
Mexican giant cardon cactus
Mexican giant cardon cactus
In the world of cacti, they don’t get any bigger than the cardon. Also known as ‘elephant cactus,’ this species can grow upwards of 60 feet and weigh in at 25 tons, with squat trunks and many branches. Despite the cardon’s massive size, it’s quite sensitive to frost, a trait which limits its range. The cardon primarily grows in the Baja Peninsula, where its night-blooming flowers attract species like the lesser long-nosed bat.Desktop Version
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge near New Plymouth, New Zealand
Te Rewa Rewa Bridge near New Plymouth, New Zealand
This pedestrian and cycle bridge lets residents and visitors in the North Island city of New Plymouth cross the Waiwhakaiho River while marveling at the span’s artistic design. Said to resemble both a breaking wave and a whale skeleton, the bridge is meant to invoke the sacred relationship of the indigenous Māori people with the land, sea, and wind. On one side is an old Māori burial ground, so great care was taken in the design and structure of the bridge—an attempt to interfere as little as possible with the Māori site. From the view in this photo, Mount Taranaki lurks in the background.Desktop Version
Speed skaters in the Gangneung Oval, Pyeongchang, South Korea
Speed skaters in the Gangneung Oval, Pyeongchang, South Korea
The Gangneung Oval in Pyeongchang, South Korea, is where all the speed-skating action of the 2018 Winter Games will happen. Long-track skaters wear spandex suits to help reduce friction and maybe skate just a bit faster as a result. But the short-track skaters at the games wear Kevlar suits to protect against cuts from other skaters’ blades. Those tight turns can result in collisions, so the cut-proof suits are true lifesavers.Desktop Version
Here there be dragons
Here there be dragons
Welcome to Indonesia’s Komodo National Park, founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon—a monitor lizard that evolved in this insular environment to be much larger "scale" than its fellows. Found only on the islands we see here—Komodo and Padar—and a handful of others nearby, it"s the biggest lizard walking the Earth today. Not only walking but sprinting: Since adult Komodo dragons often prey on swift Timor deer, you"ll sometimes see a dragon in a dead sprint after its would-be dinner, reaching up to 13 miles an hour.Desktop Version