The natural world

Magnificent Five-Needle Pines: Join a PCT Community Science Project

By Michael Kauffmann

Western North America’s five-needle pines are, in my opinion, among the most beautiful living creatures on Earth. They are also major contributors to the unique high-elevation aesthetic of the Pacific Crest Trail. A pine tree is a kind of conifer, and five-needle pines along the trail include ... Read more

Those seeds clinging to your hiking socks may be from invasive plants

Here’s how to avoid spreading them to new locations

By Megan Dolman PhD candidate in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Boise State University

[This article was originally published in The Conversation.]

With spring settling in across the U.S. and days lengthening, many people are ready to spend more time outside. But ... Read more