Across the shimmering lagoons of Africa, the winding deltas of Asia and the salt marshes of southern Europe, a graceful figure emerges—poised delicately between water and sky. The black-winged stilt, with its long slender red legs, moves with quiet elegance through the shallows. At times their presence carries a sense of intimacy—two birds drifting close, their movements mirroring each other in a delicate choreography as if sharing a secret only the wetlands can hear. They hunt with patient precision, gently picking insects, larvae and tiny crustaceans from the water"s surface. Every movement reflects a subtle mastery of their environment, shaped by patience and instinct.Desktop Version
What do invisible gases, vintage hairspray and satellites have in common? They all played a role in one of the greatest environmental comebacks in history. Seen from over 350 kilometres above, the Gulf Coast glows like a constellation—clusters of light scattered across the dark. But what truly makes this view possible can"t be seen: the ozone layer, silently shielding everything below from the sun"s ultraviolet rays. By the 1980s, that shield was thinning fast—damaged by chemicals once used in refrigeration and aerosol products. The solution? A global pact. The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, led to a swift phase-out of ozone-depleting substances. Today, satellites show that the hole over Antarctica is shrinking. Scientists believe it could be fully healed by mid-century.Desktop Version
He may be young, but these antlers speak of future battles. In Denali National Park, Alaska, United States, a young bull moose lifts his head above the shrubs. At this stage, his antlers are more crown than weapon—still covered in velvet. But even now, they hint at a life shaped by instinct, sparring and the quiet pull of dominance.Desktop Version