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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. frequently spoke of the immeasurable value of service to various endeavors that strive to make the world a better place. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, millions honor King’s legacy by volunteering for charities and other organizations. And any of us can make that effort—to give the gift of our time so that we might move from words to action. Your work may be a small part of a greater goal, but the march forward only happens when we are brave enough to take that first step. And once we do, we often find that we are not walking alone.
Lionfish off the coast of Indonesia
Lionfish off the coast of Indonesia
Native to the waters of the Indo-Pacific region, the 12 recognized species of lionfish all sport venomous spikes in their fin rays. Their wild coloration acts as a warning to predators: Eat at your own risk. But across the eastern seaboard of the United States, there’s a campaign encouraging humans to eat lionfish. Why? Because at some point in the 1990s, one or more species of lionfish was introduced to the waters of the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. The invasive lionfish will eat nearly anything they can, and as a result, are decimating native fish populations. Would you eat a lionfish? (Properly prepared, of course.)
Train crossing the Tadami River in Japan
Train crossing the Tadami River in Japan
The Tadami flows through three prefectures on Japan’s Honshu Island. This train is crossing the river near the small town of Mishima, in Fukushima Prefecture. Despite the icy, snow-covered scene in our photo, the Fukushima region is famous for the fruit it produces in warmer seasons, especially peaches.
Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
Entoloma hochstetteri mushroom at Lake Mahinapua, New Zealand
Leave it to weird, wild, wonderful New Zealand to be home to a blue mushroom. Fungus enthusiasts can also find Entoloma hochstetteri in parts of India and Brazil, but it’s bountiful enough on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, that it is part of the artwork on the latest iteration of the $50 note. It appears alongside the kōkako, a bird whose blue wattles inspired the Māori name for this mushroom: werewere-kōkako.
Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic
Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic
This ethereal view is of Old Town in Prague, also known as ‘the city of 100 spires.’ Prague is one of the most visited places in Europe, and with good reason. Here you’ll find a rich variety of architecture—hence the city’s nickname—and treasures such as the Prague astronomical clock, a 600-year-old wonder that displays the time, date, and positions of celestial bodies.
Yellow-eyed penguins, Moeraki, New Zealand
Yellow-eyed penguins, Moeraki, New Zealand
The hills are alive with the sound of penguins here on Katiki Point, part of the Moeraki Peninsula on New Zealand’s South Island. This is a significant habitat for endangered yellow-eyed penguins, which are some of the rarest penguins in the world. They are a solitary, vocal bird known as hoiho, or ‘noise-shouter,’ in the Māori language. This winter the birds had a lot to talk about, as scientists discovered evidence of a prehistoric penguin in New Zealand that was human-sized. These prehistoric relatives were given the name Kumimanu biceae--kumimanu means ‘monster bird’ in the Māori tongue.
Red squirrel in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Red squirrel in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
This wee red squirrel looks warm and cozy in its winter coat here in the Scottish Highlands. The red squirrel is the only squirrel species native to the United Kingdom, but its numbers are in decline. It’s estimated there are only 160,000 left in the UK, and 75 percent of the population makes its home here in Scotland, where conservation groups are coming to its aid. The main threat to this group comes from nonnative gray squirrels, which were introduced here in the 19th century and outcompete the reds for food and living space. Perhaps the two species will make amends for Squirrel Appreciation Day, celebrated on January 21.
Fire-damaged forest near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado
Fire-damaged forest near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado
Wolf Creek Pass is a high-mountain route that’s notoriously difficult to navigate in winter, with steep drops in elevation as the road descends from the peak. While these trees were damaged by wildfire—always a threat here in the Rockies—trees in the surrounding forest have been ravaged by a different menace—the spruce beetle. The tiny but deadly beetles have infested up to 90 percent of the Englemann spruce trees in Colorado’s high elevations, including around Wolf Creek Pass, laying waste to large swaths of the forest.
Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
A sliver of the Al-Khazneh temple’s façade is just visible at the end of this path. Like nearly every structure in the ancient city of Petra, the temple was carved directly into the sandstone cliffs that line the valley. Al-Khazneh boasts one of the most ornate, detailed façades of all the buildings here. Within the temple are relics of the past, including an elevated stone urn that was once thought to be the spot where bandits hid their loot. That’s been disproved, as the urn is solid stone. But that legend prompted the nickname of this space: the Treasury.
Bow Bridge in Central Park, New York City
Bow Bridge in Central Park, New York City
Bow Bridge in New York’s Central Park is the site of many a romantic moment–both on screen and off. The cast iron bridge served as a filming location in such movie classics as ‘The Way We Were’ and ‘Manhattan.’ One of 36 bridges and arches here at Central Park, it was designed in 1862, in part by Calvert Vaux, who is famous for co-designing Central Park along with Frederick Law Olmsted. Years later it’s still inspiring romance.
Weaverbird nests at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve
Weaverbird nests at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve
Among the 350 species of birds found here at the Samburu National Reserve, some of the most industrious are weaverbirds. This family of birds is so named for the intricately constructed nests that many of the species weave from twigs, grasses, and leaves. You can see the birds’ handiwork on this acacia tree, where nests hang like ornaments. Some weaverbirds build elaborate nests that house hundreds of birds, with separate chambers for each pair, creating natural apartment complexes in the treetops.
Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Great Fountain Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Two thirds of the world’s geysers are located here at Yellowstone National Park, each with its own unique characteristics. Shown here is the Great Fountain Geyser, which erupts every 9 to 15 hours with sprays that reach 75 feet to over 220 feet in the air. More than just a spectacle, these geysers are evidence of the volcanic activity simmering beneath the surface. Yellowstone’s last major volcanic eruption occurred about 630,000 years ago, and the potential for future activity is the subject of much curiosity—and speculation.
Gardens by the Bay nature park, Singapore
Gardens by the Bay nature park, Singapore
This futuristic nature park is part of Singapore’s vision to transform itself from a ‘Garden City’ to a ‘City in a Garden.’ Constructed in 2012, the 250-acre destination is known for sustainable development, as well as stunning garden exhibits. The Cloud Forest exhibit shown here features the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, cascading down a 115-foot Cloud Mountain that’s covered in plant life. In the park’s Supertrees Grove, you’ll find vertical gardens that use solar energy to light up at night.