Psychologist Thomas Suddendorf argues the importance of identifying the similarities and differences between humans and other animals.
Category Archives: Finding Ourselves in Nature
11 scientific reasons you should be spending more time outside
This article lists eight advantages, including benefits for your health and mental well-being, of spending time in nature.
Biomimicry: technology inspired by nature
This article provides examples of past, present, and future technology inspired by nature.
As Grand Canyon National Park turns 100, a man hikes the entire length to save it
After hiking the 750-mile length of the Grand Canyon, photographer and filmmaker Pete McBride reflects on the silence of the canyon and draws comparisons to his noisy life.
‘Rainbow Lightning’: One of Mother Nature’s Rare Shows
Photographers wait hours at a time to capture this phenomenon. This article explains the science behind it.
Bucket lists are a good way to ruin the experience of nature
Writer and researcher Tom Winterbottom argues that the key to enjoying nature is to slow down.
What Can Bees Teach Us About Gang Warfare?
In Los Angeles, an anthropologist is using equations to teach police about how street gangs operate.
Scientists create scarily strong drones inspired by wasps
Researchers study wasps to figure out how to create a drone that can move and lift other objects.
Poetry and the Environment
Read about the difference between nature poetry and environmental poetry and explore a curated colletion of poems.
The Perks of a Play-in-the-Mud Educational Philosophy
Researcher Conor Williams questions how to balance outdoor play with academic learning.
‘The Abundance,’ by Annie Dillard
Critic Donovan Hohn profiles the work of nature writer Annie Dillard as he reviews her latest book, The Abundance, a curated anthology of her essays.
What if nature, like corporations, had the rights of a person?
Anthropologist Chip Colwell suggests thinking about natural sites as people would help legal institutions better respect the culture of Native Americans.
John Muir’s legacy questioned
The work of environmentalist John Muir helped create the national parks system and preserve the natural beauty throughout the country. Now some question whether his view of nature is relevant to today’s challenges.
We Are Wired To Be Outside
Reporter Simon Worrrall talks to Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, about the postive effects of spending time in nature.
Nature: Closer Than It Seems
Writer and scientist Amanda Baker argues that getting out into nature isn’t as hard as some people think.
Today’s movement toward sustainable living echoes the not-so-distant past
In this radio piece, author Kate Daloz discusses her childhood growing up in an off-the-grid geodesic dome and other “back to the land” communities of the 1960s and 1970s.
Women Writing About the Wild: 25 Essential Authors
This list describes how 25 women were inspired by nature and used it heavily in their writing.
Naturally Curious Introduces City Kids to the Great Outdoors
A teacher inspired by research that showed the benefits of nature for childhood development, started a curriculum that introduces kids to the outdoors.
Do Michael Pawlyn’s nature inspired creations hold the key to designing buildings for the future?
Architect Michael Pawlyn recently presented an exhibition of architectural structures that use the power of nature’s designs. See how plant tissue and marine organisms could influence buildings in the future.
What Animals Taught Me About Being Human
Helen Macdonald, author of the best-selling memoir H is for Hawk, wonders about the desires and needs of animals. She suggests we can only imagine what they can be through our own lens of human experience.