Claytonia rosea

Why are pink spring beauties varying shades of pink?

May 17, 2023

Pink spring beauties are ephemerals that sustained the earliest Americans, and selection pressure may hold the clue to color variation.

Image of white buffaloes

What the White Buffalo Calf tells us about Indigenous history

May 11, 2023

Native Americans have been associated with bison in North America for more than 15,000 years.

sage

Sagebrush has an arsenal of defenses for an army of herbivores

March 15, 2023

That potent aroma prized by humans serves many functions for the plant.

snow-covered mountain with trees

Why rain on snow in the California mountains worries scientists

March 15, 2023

Another round of powerful atmospheric rivers is hitting California, following storms in January and February 2023 that dumped record amounts of snow. This time, the storms are warmer, and they are triggering flood warnings as they bring rain higher into the mountains – on top of the snowpack. Professor Keith Musselman, who studies water and climate change at the University of Colorado’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, explained the complex risks rain on snow creates and how they might change in a warming climate.

Image of the Colorado Plateau

Mormon tea has no flowers or leaves but lots of history

March 3, 2023

Mormons used the plant to make a caffeine-free hot drink, and Native Americans used it to relieve congestion.

big shroom

On the trail of big, ugly mushrooms

Feb. 7, 2023

Aspen boletes build physical connections for mutualistic exchanges with quaking aspen.

wildfire on the hillside

Western wildfires destroyed 246% more homes and buildings over the past decade

Feb. 1, 2023

Scientists explain why wildfires are happening, why we can't put out every fire and how to move forward in an ever-changing climate.

Prehistoric animals including a reptile and large bird.

How we cracked the mystery of Australia’s prehistoric giant eggs

Jan. 26, 2023

Ancient eggshells remained unidentified until AI directed researchers toward an answer.

Wood Nymph on a leaf.

Common wood nymphs have sensory surprises

Jan. 17, 2023

The common wood nymph tastes with its feet and hears with its wings.

Ukraine Flag

Putin’s plan to stop Ukraine from turning to the west has failed

Jan. 6, 2023

After interviewing hundreds of participants, our survey shows support for Nato is at an all-time high.

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