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In celebration of cats
In celebration of cats
Not that anyone needs an excuse to feature a cat on the internet–but today is both World Cat Day and Scottish Wildcat Day, and that calls for a picture of this rare breed. The Scottish wildcat may resemble an ordinary tabby, but it’s twice the size and said to be virtually untamable. Unfortunately, that means we probably can’t snuggle with one anytime soon. But you can still get your feline fix by browsing cat videos on the web. In fact, we’ll be right back…Desktop Version
A treaty for science
A treaty for science
Twelve nations signed the Antarctic Treaty System on December 1, 1959, establishing the ice-covered continent as a place for scientific study open to all nations and banning any military activity there. Since then, additional countries joined in the treaty—now 53 nations participate in activities at the various research stations there. Our photo shows the northernmost part of Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula, south of Chile and Argentina.Desktop Version
Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
Humpback whales are found in virtually all the world’s oceans, though they don’t swim in the extra-cold waters of the Arctic. This pod is breaching the surface of Lynn Canal in the Alaska portion of the Inside Passage, where the whales return in summer for the feeding season after sensibly wintering in warmer tropical waters.Desktop Version
Perfect timing
Perfect timing
If the first day of daylight saving time doesn"t have you springing for joy, this towering timekeeper might be more your speed. The astronomical clock at Lyon Cathedral in France was built in 1660, centuries before daylight saving time was widely adopted in the 20th century. The clock"s intersecting hands and dials don"t just tell time, they form a flattened model of our planet that tracks the positions of the sun and moon relative to Earth. The zodiac dial, offset to account for the planet"s rotational tilt, shows the star sign currently in season.Desktop Version
Happy Father s Day
Happy Father s Day
These lions in southern Africa’s Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park probably aren"t heading out for Father"s Day brunch. Cubs are usually protected by their mothers, while their fathers merely tolerate them in most cases. While stereotypes might suggest that the same holds true for humans, a Pew Research study showed that dads are just as likely as moms to say that parenting is extremely important to their identity, and dads are much more involved in child care than they were years ago. It took dads a while to earn this day. Father"s Day was first celebrated in 1910 in Washington state. While it gained popularity over the years, it didn"t become a national holiday until President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972. Mother"s Day got a proclamation in 1914, but let"s not get competitive here—today"s about dad.Desktop Version
A bison preserve
A bison preserve
Once 60 million strong, bison were nearly wiped out from the North American plains in the 1800s. Then, in 1893, the owner of Antelope Island in Utah’s Great Salt Lake reintroduced 12 bison to the island as the foundation herd for a hunting operation. But the project failed, and without wolves on the island, the bison had no natural predators, so they thrived. (Incidentally, antelope brought to the island did not survive a similar effort.) Today, a herd of 550 to 700 bison roams here, protected as one of the attractions at Antelope Island State Park. Happy Bison Day!Desktop Version
Computer science on the page
Computer science on the page
Computer Science Education Week begins today, and because the field can seem daunting to the uninitiated, we’re showing a very relatable document that humanizes the work behind computer science. The notebook in this photo contains equations and ideas crafted by Alan Turing, the British mathematician and early computer scientist who helped the Allies win World War II when he cracked the code of Nazi Germany’s Enigma machine. In 2015, Turing’s notebook, written while he was working on the Enigma code, was sold at auction for more than $1 million.Desktop Version
Celebrating Helsinki’s birthday at the Kiasma Museum
Celebrating Helsinki’s birthday at the Kiasma Museum
Greetings from Helsinki, the capital of the world’s happiest country. Edgy-looking sites like the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art—shown here—sure make the city look young for its 468 years. This year Helsinki has twice the reason to celebrate, as Finland received a #1 ranking in the 2018 World Happiness Report, a UN publication that ranks countries based on characteristics like income, health, freedom, and social support.Desktop Version
The puffin-rabbit connection
The puffin-rabbit connection
Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives at sea—either flying over the surf as they migrate and search for fishing spots, or diving into the water to gobble up fish. But in spring and summer they come ashore to nest, meet up with their mates, and with any luck, raise a chick or two. Puffins can dig their own burrows, as they prefer to build nests underground atop seaside cliffs. But if there are rabbit warrens around, the puffins have no problem moving into empty burrows. They’re not even above kicking a rabbit out to take over.Desktop Version
It s Republic Day in India
It s Republic Day in India
For India"s 70th Republic Day, we"re featuring an uncommon view of the Taj Mahal in Agra. It"s on this day that India celebrates its official beginning as an independent democratic republic after having endured nearly a century of British rule. Republic Day events include presentations of the Padma Awards (national service honors), a Republic Day parade in New Delhi, and other ceremonies.Desktop Version
In Sicily, history is everywhere
In Sicily, history is everywhere
Today we"re in Montalbano Elicona on the island of Sicily. The town is known for the very old castle at the crest of the hill, as well as the quaint medieval village below. It"s no wonder that Montalbano Elicona has been called one of the most beautiful towns in all of Italy. The castle itself was built in the early 13th century by medieval power broker Frederick II of Swabia. He wore many hats, including King of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor, and—as far-fetched as it sounds—King of Jerusalem, a title he claimed after conquering that city during the Sixth Crusade. The castle was originally designed as a fortress, but it also served as a summer residence for Frederick and rulers who followed him.Desktop Version
Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
Roughly 7,700 years ago, give or take 150 years, Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed, creating a massive crater that would become Crater Lake. Fast-forward to this day in 1902, and Crater Lake National Park was established. With a maximum depth of 1,943 feet, equivalent to 3.5 Washington Monuments, Crater Lake is also the deepest lake in the US.Desktop Version
Celebrating Pie Day is as easy as, well…
Celebrating Pie Day is as easy as, well…
Can these frosty apples be salvaged in time for National Pie Day today? The annual event—a simple celebration of the beloved desserts–was created by the American Pie Council (APC), a group dedicated to ‘preserving America"s pie heritage and promoting America"s love affair with pies.’ According to a survey conducted by the APC in 2008, more Americans prefer apple pie over any other, and it’s that variety which inspired our homepage today. But while many things may be as American as apple pie, it’s generally believed that the pie itself originated in England. In fact, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer penned a recipe in 1381 for a pie that includes apples, spices, raisins, figs, pears, and saffron. If you have a favorite pie, it sounds like today’s a sweet day to celebrate.Desktop Version
‘The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever’
‘The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever’
The iconic Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, is chock full of symbolism and details for eagle-eyed observers to discover. Dedicated on this day in 1922, the landmark has 36 columns, representing each of the states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death. The president’s pose was designed to represent both his strength and compassion (one fist is clenched, the other at rest), and even the building materials were sourced from locations significant to his life and legacy. Look closely at the inscription on the wall of the north chamber and you’ll even spot a typo in the text of Lincoln’s second inaugural address, where the sculptor carved ‘EUTURE’ instead of ’FUTURE.’ Oops! The inscription has since been corrected, but the original mistake remains discernable.Desktop Version
A sleeping green giant
A sleeping green giant
We"re looking down on Chu Dang Ya, an extinct volcano that last erupted millions of years ago. Located in Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Chu Dang Ya means "wild ginger" or perhaps "tough ginger root" in the local Jarai language. The volcano provides fertile soil for crops such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes, taro, and more. Among the best times to visit this rural gem is at the beginning of the rainy season, in late April and early May, and as the rains wind down in November. That"s when Chu Dang Ya takes it up a notch—its hillsides erupt with sunflower and other wildflower blooms along roadways, dirt paths, and fields.Desktop Version
Springtime in the Mediterranean
Springtime in the Mediterranean
European bee-eaters really do eat bees, and other insects as well. They catch bugs midair and if the bugs have poisonous stingers, they’ll carry them to a perch and pound them to rub out the venom, making them safe to eat. You can find these jewel-toned birds throughout Europe, especially in nature reserves and parks. These two are enjoying the abundant sunshine in the Extremadura region of Spain, one of the best areas for birdwatching on the continent.Desktop Version
Hiking the High Trestle Trail
Hiking the High Trestle Trail
The unique 130-foot-tall bridge you see here is just a small part of a longer 25-mile trail that connects five small towns in central Iowa. The High Trestle Trail is a rail trail—a decommissioned railroad track that’s been turned into a multiuse trail—and it follows the path of an old Union Pacific Railroad freight line. The rail-to-trail movement began in the 1960s when many railroad tracks began to be removed and people noted that the relatively flat rail corridors were perfect for hiking and biking trails. We can now enjoy thousands of miles of rail trails throughout the US. So today, on National Trails Day, find a trail near you and get outside to celebrate.Desktop Version
Replica of a Viking home in Dublin National Botanic Gardens, Ireland
Replica of a Viking home in Dublin National Botanic Gardens, Ireland
One of the more recent additions to the National Botanical Gardens in Dublin is this Viking house. This structure was hand-built in 2014 using 11th-century tools and represents what a typical Vikiing home looked like in this region. The home is roughly 340 square feet, a typical dwelling in Dublin 1,000 years ago.Desktop Version
Colorful cows of the reef
Colorful cows of the reef
These brightly colored parrotfish are swimming off the coast of Negros Oriental province in the Philippines. There are dozens of species of parrotfish and they live in abundant numbers in the world"s tropical seas. These thick-bodied fish have large scales and a beak of fused teeth they use to diligently scrape delicious algae from reefs and rocks. Some also eat coral, which they grind up with plate-like teeth in their throats. Researchers say parrotfish play a critical role in the health of coral reefs by eating algae that can choke off coral growth. They also help replenish the white sandy beaches near these tropical reefs. How? After parrotfish digest the edible parts of coral, they excrete what"s left as sand—a lot of sand. In some species, a single parrotfish can poop almost 1,000 pounds of pearly white sand each year. But never mind that—some trivia is best not to dwell on.Desktop Version
Aerial view of the Colorado River Delta in Mexico
Aerial view of the Colorado River Delta in Mexico
For centuries, the Colorado River emptied into the Gulf of California between the Baja Peninsula and the mainland of Mexico. But dams and diversions have reduced the delta to a trickle, resulting in the desert-like landscape seen in this image. Conservation efforts on the parts of Mexico and the United States are helping to return the Colorado Delta to its former condition.Desktop Version
It s Computer Science Education Week
It s Computer Science Education Week
Are we looking at some sort of steampunk time machine? Not quite, but these clock-like rotors did help alter the course of history. The action took place during World War II at England"s Bletchley Park, a country estate that served as a top-secret facility. An assembled team, including the pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing, developed this device, known as a Bombe machine. It was instrumental in cracking the Germans" "uncrackable" Enigma code, which was used for encrypting secret messages in German war operations. The Enigma code was itself generated by a rotor-driven machine that re-scrambled the code each day—so the Bombe mirrored those mechanics to keep up with the changing encryption. Insights the Bombe and other programmable machines provided into enemy military plans helped to speed the Allies" eventual triumph—some even argue that the codebreakers" efforts won the war.Desktop Version
‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’
‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’
At Ecola State Park, a part of the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks, you can walk in the steps of Meriweather Lewis and William Clark, who arrived at the Pacific in mid-November in 1805. It was 1 year, 6 months, and a day after leaving St. Louis, Missouri, with the Corps of Discovery on their mission to explore the Pacific Northwest. Upon seeing the ocean, Clark wrote in his journal: ‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’ Shortly after arriving on the west coast, the expedition voted to spend the winter near present day Astoria, where they constructed Fort Clatsop. These historic locations remain popular attractions for visitors to the scenic Oregon coast.Desktop Version
Frozen fun in the Canadian cold
Frozen fun in the Canadian cold
Not far downriver from Montreal, where the banks of the St. Lawrence River widen as it approaches the Atlantic, lies Quebec"s picturesque and often chilly capital. Quebec City, one of the continent"s oldest European settlements, is often called the most European city outside Europe. It"s the only North American city outside Mexico whose fortified walls still stand, and its winding streets showcase a French-tinged exemplar of old Romantic architecture (typified by the steep-roofed Château Frontenac in the photo"s foreground).Desktop Version
Mercury in retrograde
Mercury in retrograde
Today we"re traveling to outer space to catch a glimpse of the Caloris Basin on the planet Mercury. This small planet—about the size of Earth"s moon—is riddled with craters, but none as spectacular as the Caloris Basin. One of the largest impact craters in the solar system, Caloris is about 950 miles across and ringed by mile-high mountains.Desktop Version
There once was a lighthouse from...
There once was a lighthouse from...
Nantucket is the island home of about 12,000 people. But venture to its sandy northern reaches, composed of narrow sand spits and only accessible via 4x4 vehicles, and you might not bump into many folks on your way to this historic—and still very important—lighthouse.Desktop Version