From late September through October, volunteers collected more than 3,311 pounds of acorns and seeds from locally evolved trees — more than five times the amount collected in the 2022 season! Acorns and tree seeds from White Oaks, Northern Red Oaks, and Black Walnuts topped the list of donations, while 27 varieties of tree seeds were donated in total. More than 200 volunteers contributed to the regional effort, delivering acorns to eleven collection sites scattered throughout Maryland, Virginia

Visitors to Japan can experience rich history without sacrificing modern amenities thanks to the traditional locales preserved amid the glass and steel of the country’s cities. Tokyo and its northern neighbor Saitama Prefecture abound with historic sites, modern buildings and lush greenery, while carrying on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This article examines some of the nearly countless things to see and do in these areas. It’s been more than two years since Tokyo hosted the

In the past, I've only visited Tokyo in transit. My entire experience was confined to airports, shuffling between flights. Last month, I was lucky enough to spend three day in the world's largest city.

Last month, I spent a day train-hopping through Japan's Saitama Prefecture, just north of Tokyo. While the eastern edge of the prefecture blends into the outskirts of metropolitan Tokyo, moving westward, Saitama becomes more rural, wilder, gradually rising into the thickly forests peaks of the Okuchichibu Mountains.

The once-abundant wild parrots vanished mysteriously in the early 20th century. Now scientists are closer to solving their disappearance.

These former rail routes feature generally easy grades, lots of rich history, inviting pit stops and plenty of fall foliage. The Appalachian Mountains were the first formidable obstacle to America’s railroading boom—a vexing challenge for engineers. Still, by the late 1800s, the region was crisscrossed with rail lines, linking remote, mountain-cradled communities and expediting the extraction of the region’s natural resources—especially coal and timber. But, this railroading boom was relatively

Flowing more than 400 miles from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River shapes a wide variety of habitats, winding through a landscape rich in biodiversity. For centuries, the wide array of plant communities along the river has been vital for sustaining regional wildlife, from monarch butterflies to black bears. The seasonal availability of wild fruits, grains, seeds, and nuts provides essential calories for wildlife at critical times of the year—for instance

Dark skies are scarce in the United States, especially east of the Mississippi River, where light pollution hinders views of the cosmos, particularly in urban areas. Nationally, about 99% of the population experiences a phenomenon known as sky glow, the illumination of the evening sky over inhabited areas. In the United States, there are 85 Dark Sky Parks certified by the International Dark Sky Association, an Arizona-based nonprofit that seeks to preserve the night sky by reducing light pollut

Trees and forests are at the forefront of the climate crisis. Forced to contend with increasingly frequent droughts, wildfires, and severe storms, forests are profoundly affected by the warming planet. But, they are also one of the best ways to help combat the effects of a changing climate—locally as well as globally. In the Potomac River region, the climate crisis is already altering weather patterns, causing heavier precipitation and higher seasonal temperatures. For instance, in Washington,

Outdoor recreation can be joyful, challenging, and deeply rewarding—and comes with incredible physical and mental health benefits that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. In fact, just last year, the United Nations General Assembly even adopted a resolution officially proclaiming ‘access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment’ to be a universal human right. But, is spending time outside for fun truly accessible to everyone? According to the Conserving and Restoring Am

In the summer of 2019, Rue McKenrick set off on an epic hike. His plan was simple: walk a counterclockwise lap around the continental United States.

Just 50 years ago, the town of Davis seemed likely to become a ghost town. The story of the West Virginia hamlet read similar to other coal towns in the US: once-rich natural resources were depleted until the land ran dry and no work was to be found. But the region’s natural assets saved Davis once again. Thanks to its high altitude and abundance of snow, Davis went from a coal town to a ghost town to a thriving ski town. Perched at 3,100 feet, it’s probably no surprise that this highest town in

America’s national parks preserve some of the country’s most spectacular natural assets. And these protected areas also often have a rich past – but sometimes, that past is terribly tragic. Morbid historical events in many of these parks have inspired spooky legends that endure today, from tales of murder to mysterious illnesses. Though these haunted trails are great for Halloween hiking, they’re also fascinating places to check out year-round, especially for hikers on the hunt for spooky spect

DURING THE SUMMER OF 1995, a sluggish air mass settled over the Midwest for a week, smothering the region with a stifling combination of high dew points and blistering temperatures. For five days in mid-July, temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat index peaked at more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicago was the epicenter of the disaster. At the end of the heatwave, more than 700 of the city’s residents had died of heat-related illness. The majority of the fatalities were