Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Earth.
Mammals seen in British coastal waters
The relatively small islands of Great Britain can boast a coastline that stretches for more than 10,000 miles due to all its “ins and outs” and the huge number of even smaller outlying islands. The coasts therefore provide environments for a variety of sea mammals, especially in the more remote areas where food is plentiful and human interference less so. Mammals that can often be seen from the shore, or better still from a boat, include:
By John Welford5 years ago in Earth
5 Ways To Cut Costs And Help Protect The Planet
Often, making changes to your lifestyle can positively change both of these things. And, there are many ways to cut costs at home, and some of those switches also help protect the planet. Sustainable living is more important than ever, and living sustainably saves money. Here’s what you can do to start making a difference.
By Luke Fitzpatrick5 years ago in Earth
Let There Be Light
I've already talked a lot about sunlight, and it’s turned out to be an extremely important factor in the forest. This should come as no surprise. After all, trees are plants and need to photosynthesize to survive. But because enough sun usually shines on our garden beds and lawns, in the home garden, water and fertile soil tend to be more decisive factors for plant growth. In our everyday lives, we don’t notice that light is more important, and because we like to apply our own situations to others, we overlook the fact that an intact forest has completely different priorities. In the forest, there’s a battle for every last ray of sunlight, and each species is specialized to grow in a particular niche so that it can soak up some energy, however paltry the amount might be. In the upper story—the executive offices— the mighty beeches, firs, and spruce stretch out and soak up 97 percent of the sunlight. This behavior is cruel and inconsiderate, but doesn’t every species take what it can? Trees have won this competition for the sun because they grow such tall trunks. But a plant can grow a long sturdy trunk only if it lives for a very long time, because an enormous amount of energy is stored in its wood. To grow its trunk, a mature beech needs as much sugar and cellulose as there is in a 2.5-acre field of wheat. Of course, it takes not 1 but 150 years to grow such a mighty structure, but once it’s up there, hardly any other plants—except for other trees—can reach it, and the rest of its life is worry free. Its own offspring are designed to survive in what light remains, and of course, their mothers feed them as well. That is not the case for the rest of the rank and file, and they must come up with other strategies for survival.
By Rainbow Tree5 years ago in Earth
World Post the Covid Pandemic-Nature’s Reclamation
While the ongoing global crisis engulfs humans, nature seems to be healing itself, rare animals being spotted, cleaner air and marine water, marine life reviving, Ozone layer fixing, and animals freely strolling the empty streets. It seems highly likely that the post-pandemic world will also have a shift towards nature and that the world will never be the same again.
By Sana Anwer5 years ago in Earth
Reducing is the Transition
I’m not interested in “small steps to sustainability,” because those steps fall short. What I am interested in is a complete overhaul of human life and behaviour, and that is what I’ve dedicated my life to. I am committed to looking past the shallow solutions that are being offered to us, to live a life that I choose for myself.
By Maeple Fourest5 years ago in Earth
Tree or Not Tree?
The dictionary defines it as a woody plant with a trunk from which branches grow. So the main shoot must be dominant and grow steadily upward or the plant is classified as a shrub, which has many smaller trunks—or rather branches—that originate from a common rootstock. But what about size? Personally, I’m always bothered when I see reports about Mediterranean forests that look to me like a collection of bushes. Trees are, after all, majestic beings, under whose crowns we seem as insignificant as ants in the grass. But then again, on a journey to Lapland, I stumbled upon completely different ambassadors of the tree family that made me feel like Gulliver in Lilliput. I’m talking about dwarf trees on the tundra, which are sometimes trampled to death by travelers who don’t even know they are there. It can take these trees a hundred years to grow just 8 inches tall. I have to say that science doesn’t recognize them as trees, and it doesn’t accord tree status to the Arctic shrubby birch, either (as you can tell by its name). The latter can grow little trunks up to 10 feet tall, but mostly they remain below eye level and, therefore, are clearly not taken seriously. But if you were to apply the same measure to other trees, then small beeches or mountain ash wouldn’t count as trees either. These two are often browsed on so heavily by large mammals such as deer that they grow multiple shoots like bushes and hold out at a height of 20 inches for decades.
By Rainbow Tree5 years ago in Earth
restART: The ART of rest
We constantly make strategic moves throughout the day. How often do we consider how far those moves get us towards our goal? There is a saying, the only thing constant in life is change. How often are we assessing and aligning with our goals? Sometimes going backward and making a few u-turns gets you right where you need to be. How often do we acknowledge success is NOT linear? I believe success is infinite with a little restART.
By Lukey Loose Leaf5 years ago in Earth
How My Love Story Made Me Earth Conscious
Many would classify me as someone who "lives with their head in the clouds". Maybe they are right. Although, I can't say I mind the stereotype. One that many get labeled for the mere fact they have actual hope for life. I can find hope in just about any situation, and once I finally got introduced to what a carbon footprint is there was no going back. My hope had already grown attached to the idea of bettering the Earth and deepening my connection to it. Seeing everything as a “we” instead of an “I” changed my perspective forever.
By Stephanie Bojanek 5 years ago in Earth
