UNIVERSE OF NATURE – Wildlife, Science & Space Facts.

The southern Taihang Mountains (mainly Henan and Shanxi provinces, China) are home to some of the most valuable naturally recovering forest ecosystems in northern China. These forests create distinctly different microclimates under their canopies — small worlds of cooler air, higher humidity, abundant negative air ions , and healing volatile compounds called phytoncides .   Modern forest therapy (known in Japan as shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing”) is built on these very properties. Spending time in such environments produces measurable improvements in stress hormones, immune function, blood pressure, sleep quality, and psychological well-being. Four Main Forest Types – Four Different Natural Medicines The southern Taihang hosts four ecologically and therapeutically distinct forest types: Deciduous broad-leaved oak forests (Quercus variabilis, Q. aliena, Q. liaotungensis) Mixed broad-leaved forests (birch, maple, linden, ash, hor...

What is the Merlin Bird ID App? Merlin Bird ID is a free application developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that helps anyone identify birds using three main methods: Sound ID — real-time recognition of bird songs and calls (the most popular feature) Photo ID — automatic identification from photos Step-by-step quiz — classic mode for complete beginners Most importantly — after downloading regional bird packs, the app works almost completely offline . Why Sound ID Became a Cultural Phenomenon The real revolution started in 2021 with the launch of the advanced Sound ID feature based on deep neural networks. As of late 2025 Merlin confidently recognizes songs and calls of more than 1,300 bird species across the planet — and the number is growing every six months. The moment millions of people discovered they could simply raise their phone at dawn and instantly see...

The search for life on Earth is accelerating, not slowing down. In an era when we often hear about species extinction, scientists are revealing the opposite trend in discovery: each year, more than 16,000 new species are formally described by the scientific community. This figure, confirmed by recent studies published in late 2025, shows that our planet still holds vast biological secrets waiting to be uncovered. This golden age of species discovery demonstrates how much biodiversity remains hidden — especially among insects, deep-sea organisms, microbes, and fungi. Every new finding not only expands our understanding of life on Earth but also opens doors to breakthroughs in medicine, biotechnology, and nature conservation. Why Are We Finding More Species Now Than Ever Before? For decades, experts predicted that the rate of new species descriptions would gradually decline as the “easy” and more accessible organisms were documented. Reality proved the opposite. M...

In November 2025, Ireland achieved a landmark moment in its clean energy journey: the country officially surpassed 2 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, reaching approximately 2.1 GW according to data from Solar Ireland and ESB Networks. By December 2025, rooftop solar alone crossed the 1 GW threshold — a powerful symbol of how both large-scale farms and everyday households are driving Ireland's transition to sustainable, alternative energy sources. This rapid growth — from virtually zero utility-scale solar in early 2022 to over 2 GW in less than four years — positions solar as a core pillar of Ireland's renewable energy mix, complementing its traditional strength in wind power and supporting national goals of 80% renewable electricity by 2030. The Explosive Growth Behind the 2 GW Milestone The journey began modestly. The first major grid-connected solar farm came online in April 2022. By the end of May 2025, Solar Ireland's "Scale o...

Starlink Hits Historic Milestone: Over 9 Million Active Users in 2025 In one of the most impressive growth stories in modern technology, SpaceX's Starlink has officially surpassed 9 million active users worldwide. This landmark achievement was announced in late December 2025, just weeks after the service crossed the 8 million threshold. What makes this number truly remarkable is the pace: Starlink is currently adding approximately 20,000 to 21,275 new subscribers every single day . This hyper-growth demonstrates that high-speed satellite internet has transitioned from a niche solution for remote areas to a mainstream global connectivity option. But what exactly is Starlink, how did it reach this point so quickly, and what does the future hold? Let's dive deep into the numbers, technology, and impact. The Explosive Growth Trajectory of Starlink Subscribers Starlink's subscriber base tells an extr...

December 26, 1898 marks one of the most important dates in the history of science. On this day, Marie Curie, together with her husband Pierre Curie and collaborator Gustave Bémont, presented to the French Academy of Sciences their discovery of a new, extraordinarily powerful radioactive substance — radium . This announcement followed their earlier discovery of polonium in July 1898 and forever changed our understanding of the atom, energy, and the medical world. Yet this groundbreaking achievement came at a terrible personal cost: the very radiation Marie studied would slowly poison her body and lead to her death decades later. The Origins: From Becquerel's Rays to the Curies' Obsession The story begins in 1896 when French physicist Henri Becquerel discovered that uranium salts emit mysterious rays capable of exposing photographic plates even in complete darkness. He called this phenomenon "uranium rays." Marie Sklodowska-Curie, a brilliant Polish-born student...

Earth Blocks: Cooling Homes & Cutting Emissions in Kenya's Arid Zones In the face of intensifying heatwaves across East Africa, a simple yet powerful building technology is helping communities stay comfortable while protecting the planet: Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) and their advanced version — Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB). Here are real-world examples of CEB/ISSB houses in action — thick, natural walls that keep interiors significantly cooler than conventional construction: What Exactly Are Compressed Earth Blocks? CEB are made by mixing local soil (ideally with balanced clay, sand and silt content), a small percentage of stabilizer (usually 5–10% cement or lime) and just enough water. The mixture is then compressed at high pressure in a manual or hydraulic press to create strong, uniform blocks. Unlike traditional fired bricks that require huge amounts of firewood or fossil fuels, CEB cure naturally in the...

In the ever-evolving landscape of global pet culture, few trends have captured the imagination—and the controversy—quite like the rise of diving pets in China . What was once a rare sight in specialized training facilities has now become a viral sensation across platforms like Douyin and Weibo. From Golden Retrievers navigating crystal-clear pools in miniature scuba suits to cats peering through pressurized glass helmets, the "underwater pet" movement is redefining the boundaries of the human-animal bond. What Exactly Are Diving Pets? The term "diving pets" refers to domestic animals trained to submerge fully underwater using specialized breathing apparatus. Unlike natural swimming, where an animal stays on the surface, this activity involves vertical descent into pools or controlled aquarium environments. In China, this has transitioned from a niche hobby for tech-enthusiasts into a commercial industry involving professional trainers, ge...

Sea urchins, particularly species in the Diadema genus, play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems. These spiny creatures are key herbivores that graze on algae, preventing it from overgrowing and smothering coral reefs. Without them, reefs can shift from vibrant coral-dominated systems to barren, algae-choked landscapes. In recent years, a devastating pandemic has been silently sweeping through sea urchin populations across the globe. Starting in 2022, mass mortality events have decimated Diadema species in regions as diverse as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Canary Islands. Scientists describe it as a "silent ocean pandemic" because it unfolds beneath the waves, largely unseen until populations collapse. What is Happening to Sea Urchins? The affected sea urchins exhibit clear and heartbreaking symptoms. Infected individuals become lethargic, moving abnormally or not at all. They lose responsiveness to ...

In a breathtaking archaeological breakthrough, thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back approximately 210 million years have been uncovered in Italy's Stelvio National Park. This massive track site, one of the largest and oldest in Europe, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of ancient prosauropods during the Triassic period. The discovery was made by wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera in September 2025 while he was capturing images of deer and vultures in the remote Fraele Valley. What caught his eye was a series of unusual patterns on a near-vertical rock wall, high above the nearest road. Upon closer inspection with a telephoto lens, he realized he had stumbled upon an immense collection of fossilized footprints. Paleontologists, led by Cristiano Dal Sasso from Milan's Natural History Museum, confirmed the find as extraordinary. Estimates suggest up to 20,000 individual footprints spread across several kilometers on steep dolomite rock faces. Some prints measu...

For decades, sleep experts have repeated the same rule: adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night to stay healthy. Yet, scattered across the world, there exists a rare group of people who seem to break this biological law. They sleep just four hours per night and wake up alert, productive, and mentally sharp. No coffee dependence. No chronic fatigue. No health collapse.   Are these people lying? Are they secretly napping? Or is human biology more flexible than we once believed? Modern biology and neuroscience now provide answers that surprise even seasoned researchers. The truth is both fascinating and deeply misunderstood. Who Are Natural Short Sleepers? Scientists call these individuals natural short sleepers . They are not insomniacs, night owls forced by work schedules, or people running on stress hormones. Instead, they naturally require less sleep to function optimally. ...

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world’s most treasured natural regions. Its beaches and coastal resorts attract hundreds of millions of visitors every year, while its waters host extraordinary biodiversity shaped over thousands of years. However, intense tourism, urban development, climate change, and pollution place growing pressure on Mediterranean beach ecosystems. Understanding beach ecology and supporting cleanup efforts are essential steps toward preserving these fragile coastal environments for future generations. Understanding Mediterranean Beach Ecology Mediterranean beaches are not just stretches of sand for recreation. They are complex ecosystems where land and sea interact. Sand dunes, rocky shores, seagrass meadows, wetlands, and shallow coastal waters all work together to protect coastlines, filter water, and support wildlife. One of the most important ecological features of the Mediterranean coast is Posidonia oceanica , a seagrass species found only in the Med...

What Is Happening and Why It Matters New Mexico wildlife officials recently captured a gray wolf that naturally dispersed from neighboring Colorado, drawing national attention to the complex relationship between wildlife conservation, state borders, and human land use. This event highlights how recovering predator populations are expanding into historical habitats—and how management policies are struggling to keep pace with nature. The wolf was not part of New Mexico’s official reintroduction program. Instead, it traveled hundreds of kilometers on its own, demonstrating the natural dispersal behavior that is essential for healthy wolf populations. Such movements are biologically normal but politically and socially controversial. Understanding Gray Wolf Dispersal Gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) are highly mobile animals. Young wolves often leave their natal packs between one and three years of age in search of new territories and mates. This process, known as dispersal, prev...