Nature

January 6, 2025

How the “Igloo Effect” Helped a Swedish Man Survive Two Months Trapped in a Frigid Snowed-in Car

As a Nordic country, Sweden withstands winters that are long, cold, and dark every year. Umeå, a city in northeastern Sweden, is no exception: its mean minimum temperature in January hovers at a frigid -10.7°F. It’s incredible, then, that a 44-year-old man managed to survive in these kinds of conditions while stranded in a snowed-in car for two months.

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December 6, 2024

Scientists Discover the World’s Largest-Known Coral in the Waters of the Solomon Islands

Sometimes, the biggest surprises in the natural world are hidden in plain sight. A team of scientists recently discovered the world’s largest-known coral in the waters of the Solomon Islands—part of a region known as the “Coral Triangle” due to its diversity and abudance of coral. At 112 feet long, 105 feet wide, and 16 feet high, it's so big it can be seen from space.

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September 29, 2024

Tourist Causes a “World Changing” Event by Dropping Cheetos Into North America’s Largest Cave

Heading to the wilderness to enjoy nature is a great decision. Leaving behind processed foods in delicate cavern environments, not so much. A tasty snack like Cheetos can damage an entire ecosystem when not disposed of properly, according to the staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In early September 2024, a guest dropped an unfinished bag of cheesy treats off the trail, causing a cascade of ecological responses that imbalanced the local food chain.

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September 4, 2024

Rainbow Lightning Captured Over Minnesota Twins Baseball Game Amid Extreme Weather

Bad weather is baseball's worst enemy. Unlike other sports that can be played in the rain, baseball has to stop, with games even having to be resumed days later. But in Minneapolis, the inclement weather that brought a Minnesota Twins game to a halt kept fans entertained with a thrilling display up above. A rainbow appeared in the stormy red sky, as lightning struck over the city skyline, highlighting the colors of the entire scene.

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