A global celebration of light, culture, community, and our shared connection to the natural world Every year on June 21, people around the world celebrate a special moment in Earth’s journey around the Sun: the solstice. Since 2019, the United Nations has officially recognized this occasion as the International Day of the Celebration of the […]
Today is the perfect day to celebrate biodiversity: it’s the International Day for Biological Diversity! But why should biodiversity matter to you? Here are five big reasons (according to our friends at Conservation International): The ecosystems we all rely on cannot survive and thrive without wildlife. Humans cannot stay healthy without intact biodiverse systems. It is […]
International Day of Plant Health: Protecting Plants, Protecting Life As you tend your vegetable garden, choose your vegetables and fruits, or prepare your meal, take some time to consider where your food comes from and what you can do to protect biodiversity to feed yourself, your family, and your community. Healthy Plants, Healthy Planet Today, […]
Why animal intelligence isn’t just cute and matters for us all When we think of “IQ,” most of us picture humans taking standardized tests. But intelligence isn’t exclusive to our species. Across the animal kingdom, creatures like crows, pigs, dolphins, and many others demonstrate remarkable cognitive powers. By studying their problem-solving, memory, social learning, and […]
Before photos, there were drawings. They ranged from cave drawings of animals like lions, bison, mammoths, horses, and warty pigs, to illustrations in early Victorian botanical journals of the natural world, portraying meticulously described species that served to document life on earth. These drawings brought living things in distant and close destinations to all those […]
In the quest to solve the plastic pollution crisis, organizations of all types are working on solutions. The Good Times has highlighted a few on these pages in the past, such as the Ocean Cleanup removing plastics from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative to remove microplastics from water, bacteria that have […]
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, most commonly known simply as the Appalachian Trail or AT, is the “longest hiking-only footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,190 miles.” As many as 3,000 people attempt to hike the entire trail each year, which takes between 5 and 7 months. Yet only 1 in 4 actually succeed in walking […]
Have you ever heard of forest therapy or forest bathing? Do you know anything about phytoncides? These are all about making you healthier in an incredibly simple way. Forest therapy is “healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments.” It’s about allowing your body and psyche to be at peace in the […]
How can you improve your immune system to better resist diseases and infection? Follow this effective, simple and evidence-based advice: Look after your skin. The epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, contains a network of Langerhans cells that provide a physical barrier against infection. Because skin serves as the interface with the external environment, one […]
There is good news surrounding the COVID-19 crisis. It has brought out the best in societies: solidarity among neighbors, colleagues and health professionals, and emergency relief and treatments. And its lessons are clear, despite taking hundreds of thousands of lives and creating the worst economic recession since the 1930s, resulting in lost employment, income, health, […]
