Science & Nature



Bee pollinating purple lavender flowers in a field

A Different Light (Comparing Flowers Under Normal and Ultraviolet Light)

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Roses are red…or are they?
While flowers may appear one way to us, it turns out they are hiding secret patterns that our limited eyes cannot detect. But that’s OK. Those hidden patterns aren’t for us. They are for the pollinating insects flying by.
Hidden in the ultraviolet spectrum of light, this article explains the functions those designs serve and provides examples of flowers in different lighting conditions.


Colorful rainbow smoke on black background

This Impossible New Color Is So Rare That Only Five People Have Seen It

Source: Scientific American (YouTube)

Have you ever seen the color “olo?” Unless you are one of only five people on the planet who have, the answer is ‘no.’
Recently, researchers achieved the unusual feat of stimulating the eye in such a way as to allow it to see a color outside the range of normal human vision. This work is brand new, but scientists hope that it will lead to new vision treatments and help us to better understand how animals see the world.



Sunrise landscape, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN, and Oconaluftee Valley, Cherokee, NC

Seven Places to Get Outside This Summer– and the Environmental Heroes to Thank for Them

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

During these isolating times, outdoor areas can offer a safe space to explore while practicing social distancing and taking proper safety precautions. Skim the article and choose two locations to learn more about.


Haunted house

Evolutionary psychology explains why haunted houses creep us out

Source: The Conversation

An old and dilapidated house being reclaimed by greenery. Creaky floorboards and shifting walls that seem to groan. Intimidating exterior looming in the darkness. All possible elements of a “haunted house,” but what exactly do we find so scary? Read on to discover a psychologist’s take on the subject.