Weeder
Source: Orion Magazine
Read about a man whose occupation—harvesting seaweed from the ocean—keeps him immersed in the rhythms of nature.
Science & Nature
Feasting and Fighting: The Long-Lost Secrets of Beowulf
Source: The Independent
Archaeologists in Denmark have excavated the sixth-century great dining hall at the center of the epic poem.
The Teen Brain: It’s Just Not Grown-Up Yet
Source: NPR
Teenagers are ready for more responsibility, but that doesn’t mean they function like adults. Listen to or read the transcript of this short radio story on the way adolescent brains are still developing.
Life After People
Source: History
Some human creations, such as the pyramids of Egypt, have lasted for millenia; however, most are considerably more fragile. This History® television series explores what might happen to what humans have built if nature had its way.
Kira Salak
Source: National Geographic Adventure
Kira Salak has traveled to almost every continent and has led expeditions to places such as Libya, Burma, and Iran. Learn more about this daring modern explorer.
How MRI Works
Source: How Stuff Works
If you’re afraid of small, confined spaces, spending time inside an MRI scanner might terrify you. Still, this incredible invention has changed the face of medicine forever. Learn how MRI scanners “see” inside patients, why doctors use them, what it took to develop them, and much more.
From Walden to the White House
Source: The Sierra Club
In this blog entry, Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, explains why his organization is undertaking its first campaign of civil disobedience.
The Emotional Lives of Animals
Source: PBS
Have you ever wondered if your pet has emotions? What connections do animals feel to people and to other animals? Read this excerpt from Marc Bekoff’s book The Emotional Lives of Animals. Then, explore the site for the PBS film Animal Odd Couples to learn about the special bonds animals form with unlikely partners.
Metamorphosis: Animal Shape-Shifters
Source: BBC
A human can’t change into an insect, but the process of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly is mysterious and fascinating enough. British university professor Stuart Reynolds explains how it happens.
Housing the Victims of Natural Disaster
Source: inhabitat
It’s very difficult to build affordable homes that can withstand earthquakes. Read this article on the Pinwheel house, a revolutionary design from MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning. The home is designed to withstand even the most powerful of quakes and eventually may cost only $1,000 to build.