Nature

March 23, 2018

Free “Shazam for Nature” App Identifies Plants and Animals in Your Photos

Released earlier this month by iNaturalist—an online social network for nature enthusiasts—the new app, Seek, is part of an ongoing attempt to involve ordinary people in citizen science projects. Similar to Shazam—an app that allows you to identify music from audio recordings—the Seek app allows you to identify plants and animals from your photos by harnessing image recognition technology.

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December 25, 2017

Gorgeous Turquoise Thermal Pools Glisten in Pamukkale, Turkey

If you seek surreal, out-of-this-world sites, you'll love this turquoise travel destination. Pamukkale (“cotton castle” in Turkish) is a tiny town and UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwestern Turkey that boasts 17 of the most spectacular water terraces in the world.  For thousands of years, people have journeyed to bathe in these hot springs, which range in temperature from 35 degrees Celsuis (95 degrees Fahrenheit) to 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit).

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August 15, 2017

Trees with “Crown Shyness” Mysteriously Avoid Touching Each Other

If you look up toward certain types of towering trees—including eucalyptus, Sitka spruce, and Japanese larch—you may notice a unique phenomenon: the uppermost branches don't touch. Known as “crown shyness,” this natural occurrence results in rupture-like patterns in the forest canopy that seem to perfectly outline the trees' striking silhouettes. Since scientists first started studying the topic in the 1920s, crown shyness has been observed between trees of the same and different species in locations across the globe.

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July 31, 2017

Beautiful Landscape Paintings Emerge from Creatively Carved Wood Frames

Inspired by rustic scenes of wild nature, artist Faith Montgomery of Woodensense creates striking works of wooden art. Featuring breathtaking landscapes framed by creatively carved reclaimed wood, each of Montgomery's pieces exhibits her obvious penchant for painting and her undeniable love of the great outdoors. Presenting beautifully painted peaks of majestic mountains, towering trees, starry skies, and shimmering bodies of water, Montgomery's collection of works offers awe-inspiring views of nature.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.