Articles for author: Annette Uy

New Caledonian Crested Gecko

9 Cool Ways Animals Communicate Without Making a Sound

Annette Uy

In the vast tapestry of nature, communication extends far beyond the spoken word. Animals have evolved a fascinating array of techniques to share information without uttering a single sound. From the rhythmic dance of bees to the colorful displays of cephalopods, these silent signals are as diverse as the creatures that use them. Each method ...

The Chemical Warfare Dilemma

Why New York’s Urban Trees Are Losing the War Against Scale Insects

Annette Uy

Picture this: you’re walking down a tree-lined street in Manhattan on a scorching summer day, seeking refuge under the leafy canopy above. But what if I told you that those very trees providing you shade are fighting a silent, microscopic war that they’re slowly losing? Scales are sap-sucking insects common on backyard trees and ornamental ...

Purple Loosestrife's Pretty Problem: Why Wetlands Across the U.S. Are Losing Ground

Purple Loosestrife’s Pretty Problem: Why Wetlands Across the U.S. Are Losing Ground

Annette Uy

Picture this: you’re walking along a pristine wetland, and suddenly you’re surrounded by towering spikes of vibrant purple flowers swaying in the breeze. It’s breathtaking, almost magical. But here’s the shocking truth – you’re actually witnessing one of North America’s most devastating ecological disasters in action. That beautiful purple carpet is slowly strangling the life ...

Emergency Protocols When Formations Break Down

How Birds Avoid Crashing in a Perfect Flying Formation

Annette Uy

Watch a murmuration of starlings dance across the evening sky, or catch sight of geese cutting through crisp morning air in their signature V-formation. You’re witnessing one of nature’s most spectacular balancing acts – thousands of feathered pilots performing aerial choreography that would make the Blue Angels jealous. But here’s the mind-bending part: they’re doing ...

Foraging

5 Simple Foraging Hacks That Can Help You in a Survival Situation

Annette Uy

Imagine yourself in a dense forest, the sun slowly setting behind towering trees. Your backpack is light, and your stomach growls as you realize you need to find food. Foraging, the ancient skill of gathering wild food, becomes your lifeline. With the right knowledge, nature’s bounty can provide sustenance, even in the most challenging circumstances. ...

Dark Energy's Role in Cosmic Time

Why Time Might Flow Differently at the Edge of the Universe

Annette Uy

Picture yourself standing at the edge of an infinite cliff, looking out into a vast abyss that seems to stretch forever. Now imagine that cliff is actually the boundary of everything we can possibly observe in our universe, and the abyss represents the mysterious regions beyond our cosmic reach. What would happen to time itself ...

Forest ecosystem

12 Ecosystems That Are in Danger: How Can They Be Protected?

Annette Uy

In a world of rapid change and development, the natural environments that house a myriad of species and provide essential services to our planet are under increasing threat. From lush rainforests to vibrant coral reefs, these ecosystems face challenges that threaten their very existence. Understanding the importance of these ecosystems and the measures we can ...

Hayabusa's Treasures: What Japan's Mission Uncovered on Asteroid Ryugu

Hayabusa’s Treasures: What Japan’s Mission Uncovered on Asteroid Ryugu

Annette Uy

Imagine holding a piece of history that’s older than Earth itself – a cosmic time capsule that traveled through space for billions of years before being carefully collected by a Japanese spacecraft smaller than a washing machine. That’s exactly what happened when the Hayabusa2 mission successfully returned samples from asteroid Ryugu in December 2020, marking ...

How the Emerald Ash Borer Is Silently Erasing America's Ash Trees

How the Emerald Ash Borer Is Silently Erasing America’s Ash Trees

Annette Uy

Picture a killer so small it could sit comfortably on your fingernail, yet so devastating it could eliminate an entire species spanning 16 different varieties across North America. This isn’t science fiction—it’s the emerald ash borer’s reality. While you’re reading this, millions of ash trees are dying silently in forests and neighborhoods from coast to ...