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Mar 15, 2025Ides of March

As Shakespeare wrote in his play "Julius Caesar," "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." Today is the Ides of March, a day steeped in Roman history and tradition. The term "Ides" referred to the midpoint of the month in the Roman calendar, often marking the full moon. It was a time of celebration, with festivals and public gatherings. However, in 44 BCE, the Ides of March became synonymous with political upheaval, betrayal, and an event that would trigger the fall of the Roman Republic. On that fateful day, Julius Caesar, Rome"s powerful dictator, was assassinated by a group of senators. The conspirators, including his close ally Brutus, believed they were saving the Republic from Caesar"s growing authority. Caesar was attacked near the Theater of Pompey, but the tension of that moment echoed through the Roman Forum—the beating heart of Rome"s political and social life.Desktop Version

Apr 20, 2025Happy Easter!

Today is a special day for billions of Christians worldwide—a time of renewal, celebration, and traditions. Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament. It"s also a time for festive traditions, from sunrise services to Easter egg hunts and, of course, the beloved Easter Bunny.Desktop Version

Mar 24, 2025African bush elephants in Namibia

Desert elephants, found in Namibia and Mali, are African bush elephants that have adapted to the harsh conditions of the Namib and Sahara deserts. These extremely arid regions receive less than 2.75 inches of annual rainfall. Compared to other bush elephants, desert elephants have longer legs, broader feet, and slightly smaller bodies. These resilient herbivores migrate between waterholes, following ancient routes based on seasonal food and water availability. Male desert elephants often roam alone over vast areas, while female-led family groups stay near rivers, where food is more plentiful. Their incredible adaptability is showcased by their ability to travel long distances, sometimes 43 miles in a single night, to find their favorite myrrh bushes.Desktop Version

Feb 15, 2025The natural ice wall of Misotsuchi, Chichibu, Japan

Behold the magic of the Misotsuchi no Tsurara (Misotsuchi Icicles) in Chichibu, Japan. This breathtaking natural ice wall, nearly 100 feet wide and 35 feet tall, is formed by spring water freezing as it trickles down a rock face. The attraction is only open from mid-January through mid-February. Colored lights after dark create a scene that feels straight out of a winter fairy tale.Desktop Version

Jul 17, 2024Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany

Welcome to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, or "Red Fortress above the Tauber River," where medieval charm is around every cobbled corner. A self-ruling city in the Middle Ages, this walled Bavarian town once flourished with 6,000 inhabitants, the Holy Roman Empire"s second-largest city at the time. The growth of Rothenburg ob der Tauber slowed in the 17th century, preserving its original character.Desktop Version

Mar 3, 2025World Wildlife Day

What better time to shine a spotlight on nature than on World Wildlife Day? This day serves as a reminder that wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility. This year"s theme is "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet." The events emphasize exchanging ideas, presenting solutions, and diving into how innovative finance can help stop biodiversity loss and create a more sustainable future. Schools, conservation groups, and wildlife parks host events such as nature walks, workshops, art contests, wildlife photography competitions, and conservation talks to raise awareness.Desktop Version

Oct 26, 2024Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany

On Germany"s Baltic coast lies the Gespensterwald, which means "Ghost Forest," seen in today"s image. This spine-tingling forest covers about 445 acres, with its gnarled beech, hornbeam, ash, and oak trees twisting toward the sky. The salty sea air, wind, and the moist climate helped mold the trees" distorted shapes, which look particularly haunting at night. Visitors to this forest in the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania region, can brave the trails alone or sign up for a storytelling session where actors dressed as ghosts bring local legends and folktales to life. Photographers and nature enthusiasts alike find inspiration in the eerie silhouettes etched against the sky, immortalized in countless pictures.Desktop Version

Mar 16, 2025Happy Panda Day!

Let"s celebrate one of nature"s fluffiest treasures: the giant panda. Native to China, these iconic black-and-white bears are more than just adorable. They play a crucial role in their bamboo forest ecosystem by dispersing seeds and fostering new vegetation growth, which benefits countless plants and animals.Desktop Version

May 31, 2024Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales National Park, England

In Yorkshire Dales National Park, the ancient village of Gunnerside is brimming with English charm and history. Picture yourself strolling through its narrow lanes, surrounded by rolling hills, lush pastures, and stone cottages, with the roar of the Swale River your only soundtrack. Designated in 1954, the national park is spread across 841 square miles, and there are over 1,000 farms in this area. One of the area"s most distinctive features are its dry stone walls; built without any kind of mortar, they can last hundreds of years. There are thought to be over 5,000 miles of these walls in the Dales.Desktop Version

Apr 26, 2025Redwood National and State Parks, California

Step into a world where trees touch the sky. The redwood groves of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) in California are home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, soaring over 370 feet high. The combined RNSP contain Redwood National Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Some of these redwoods were alive when the Mayans built their temples, and the Great Wall of China was under construction. Protected since 1968, the park preserves nearly half of the world"s remaining old-growth redwoods.Desktop Version

May 17, 2024Endangered Species Day

Today, on Endangered Species Day, we unite in a collective effort for conservation. Currently, there are over 44,000 species that are threatened with extinction. Among the world"s most endangered animals are Javan and black rhinos, mountain gorillas, and Hawksbill turtles.Desktop Version

Jun 2, 2024National Gardening Week

It"s time to grab a trowel, roll up your sleeves, and get planting: National Gardening Week is starting today! Taking place in the first full week of June, this event was created by the National Garden Clubs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the joys of horticulture. First celebrated in 1987 this week is all about getting more people involved in gardening and spreading awareness of how important gardens are. Being home to a wide range of trees, flowers, shrubs, and grasses, gardens can help the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide, filtering water, and encouraging insect life. Gardening clubs across the country celebrate this week by organizing workshops, visiting public gardens, or placing plants at public facilities. They"re also great for people; tending to a garden is good exercise, and being outside in the sunshine is a great way to get more vitamin D. Gardening can even boost your mood, helping you to feel more relaxed and peaceful.Desktop Version

May 18, 2024International Museum Day

In the grand Hintze Hall of the Natural History Museum in London, UK, a skeleton named Hope soars overhead—a blue whale caught mid-dive above the heads of awestruck visitors. As we mark International Museum Day, there"s no better time to celebrate our world"s repositories of history, art, and science. The event emphasizes the importance of museums as a means of cultural exchange, the development of mutual understanding, and cooperation among people.Desktop Version

Mar 28, 2025Black-naped monarch

Watch closely; you might catch a glimpse of the black-naped monarch. This bird is part of the monarch flycatcher family, which also includes shrikebills, magpie-larks, and paradise flycatchers. Found across tropical southern Asia, from Iran and Sri Lanka to Indonesia and the Philippines, the black-naped monarch prefers dense forests and other lush, wooded spots. It perches upright on its short legs and spends most of its time catching insects in midair. These birds occupy the dense understory of the forest canopy.Desktop Version

Mar 13, 2025Happy Holi!

Strolling through the streets of India during Holi is like stepping into a kaleidoscope of colors—vivid splashes of blue, green, red, yellow, pink, and orange fill the air. This festival falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Phalguna—usually in late February or March. It is a significant tradition that symbolizes the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Outside India, Holi is celebrated by Hindus in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, as well as by Indian communities around the world, including the US.Desktop Version

Jul 16, 2024Festival of British Archaeology

Archaeology might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of festivals, but the Festival of British Archaeology, July 13-28, is here to change that. Since its inception in 1990, it has evolved into a two-week event. A clever shift from September to July has made it easier for archaeological buffs to explore summer digs and heritage wonders. This year"s theme of "Archaeology and Community" invites enthusiasts across the United Kingdom for an array of in-person and virtual events. Imagine standing amid Skara Brae"s ancient stone houses on Scotland"s Orkney archipelago, pictured here, where Neolithic settlers thrived over 5,000 years ago. Exposed by an 1850 storm, this prehistoric marvel is dubbed the "Scottish Pompeii" due to its astonishing preservation—older than Stonehenge and even the Great Pyramids. So, grab your trowel, and get ready to dig deep into the incredible, storied past. Who knows what you"ll discover!Desktop Version

Dec 30, 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia

At the heart of Tasmania, an island state off the southeastern coast of Australia, lies Mount Field National Park. Covering more than 60 square miles, it"s one of the state"s oldest national parks. As you follow the winding road up through the park, you"ll see a whole range of landscapes, from temperate rainforests full of some of the world"s tallest eucalyptus trees to alpine moorland. These ever-changing views are what give the park its nickname, "the park for all seasons." One of the park"s must-visit sites is Russell Falls, a three-tiered waterfall that plunges 190 feet.Desktop Version

Apr 17, 2024Black bear cub emerging into spring

Welcome to the world, bear cub! After spending the first months of its life inside the den, this little American black bear may be puzzled by the outside world. The cubs are born between January and February and emerge from their dens in the spring, weighing around 5 pounds. By their first birthday, they can grow to about 80 pounds. However, their weight—which ranges between 100 and 600 pounds for adults—depends on their age, sex, the season, and food available in their area. Black bears are the only bears found in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, which provides the setting for today"s image.Desktop Version

Feb 25, 2024Black History Month

Though we are nearing the end of Black History Month, the legacy of Black artists stands tall throughout the year. Today we are highlighting the works of Charles McGee, a painter, sculptor, and educator from Detroit, whose works are found all over the Motor City. The 20-foot-tall sculpture seen here, "United We Stand," represents themes of togetherness, unity, and balance and sits outside the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. McGee"s pieces, which he produced up until his death in 2021, often feature abstract collections of lines, patterns, and allusions to nature, either in striking black and white or vibrant colors. He is one of many Black artists who have left an indelible mark on the great canvas of American art, along with others such as Joshua Johnson, Edmonia Lewis, Jacob Lawrence, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kara Walker, and Kehinde Wiley.Desktop Version

Mar 21, 2025Happy International Day of Forests!

March 21 marks the International Day of Forests, a global observance aimed at celebrating the vital role forests play in supporting biodiversity and combating climate change. First established by the United Nations in 2013, this day encourages worldwide efforts, such as tree-planting campaigns, to raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees for future generations.Desktop Version

Sep 21, 2023International Day of Peace

Every year on September 21, the United Nations celebrates the International Day of Peace, or World Peace Day. Established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly, the day begins with the Peace Bell Ceremony held at the UN headquarters in New York City. The bell was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan and is inscribed with a message of hope: "Long live absolute world peace."Desktop Version

Jun 11, 2024Southern gemsbok in the savannah, Botswana

Horns up, heads high! Featured here is a group of gemsboks, a large antelope, reigning over the sprawling savannas in southwestern Africa. Indigenous to the arid territories of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and parts of Zimbabwe, they thrive mainly within the Kalahari and Namib Deserts. They can survive in extremely dry conditions and can go without water for weeks, getting moisture from the food they eat. Moreover, gemsboks are adept runners, achieving speeds of up to 37 miles per hour. Their distinguishing trait is their notably elongated, straight horns. Although both genders possess these formidable defenses, the females" horns tend to be slightly longer and sleeker while the males" horns are thicker with broader bases. So, if you ever find yourself in the sandy plains of the Kalahari, keep an eye out for these desert gems.Desktop Version

Dec 29, 2024Borobudur Temple, Java, Indonesia

Imagine a colossal puzzle made from over 2 million stone blocks—that"s Borobudur, seen in today"s image. Built during the 9th century in the reign of the Shailendra dynasty—an influential ruling family in Southeast Asia—it"s the world"s largest Buddhist temple, standing tall on the island of Java, Indonesia. This ancient sanctum has withstood centuries of natural challenges, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, thanks to its advanced interlocking stone system. Historically, Borobudur was an important pilgrimage site. After being abandoned for centuries, it was rediscovered in the 19th century by the English lieutenant governor Thomas Stamford Raffles.Desktop Version

Jun 25, 2024Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Amid the arid expanse of the Mojave Desert in Nevada lies Valley of Fire State Park. Named after its red Aztec Sandstone, an Early Jurassic formation made from ancient sand dunes, the park stretches across 46,000 acres. Featured on our homepage is one of its highlights, Fire Wave, a geological marvel that appears like a frozen wave with its red, pink, and white stripes.Desktop Version

Jun 13, 2024Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Gather "round, explorers, as we tiptoe into the Registan Square in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan! Meaning "sandy place" or "desert" in Persian, Registan was the center of activity during the Timurid Empire. The square embodied the essence of the Timurid Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual revival, which spread throughout the Muslim world between the 14th and early 16th centuries CE.Desktop Version

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