What is a Pukwudgie?

Little wild man of the woods that vanishes.

Pukwudgies are mythical creatures from Native American folklore, particularly among the Wampanoag and Algonquian-speaking tribes of the northeastern United States, including the regions of New England and the Great Lakes. These creatures are known for their mischievous and sometimes malevolent behavior.

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Raccoons

International Raccoon Appreciation Day takes place on October 1st every year.

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are medium-sized mammals native to North America. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a masked face, ringed tail, and dexterous front paws. Raccoons are highly adaptable and have successfully expanded their range to urban, suburban, and rural areas, making them a common sight in many parts of North America.

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Constants

What Is Planck’s Constant?

What is a constant? In mathematics and science, a constant is a fixed value that remains unchanged throughout an equation, experiment, or mathematical operation. Constants are pivotal in providing stability and consistency to calculations and observations, playing a fundamental role in various fields of study.

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Yellow-Legged Hornet

The yellow-legged hornet poses a threat to honeybees and other pollinators.

In August 2023, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the University of Georgia, confirmed the presence of a yellow-legged hornet (YLH; Vespa velutina) near Savannah, Ga.

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Why are they called Blowflies?

Blowflies, also known as bottle flies, play an important role in the ecosystem as decomposers.

Blowflies, also known as blow flies, are a type of fly belonging to the family Calliphoridae. The name “blowfly” comes from the old English term “blawan,” which means “to blow or to swell.” The name is thought to be derived from the bloated appearance of carcasses that blowflies often feed on and lay their eggs in.

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What is a Joshua Tree

Joshua trees play a crucial role in the desert ecosystem

A Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia – also known as yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree yucca) is a distinctive plant species native to the southwestern United States, primarily found in the Mojave Desert. It is known for its unique and striking appearance, characterized by its tall, branching stems topped with clusters of spiky, greenish-blue leaves.

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Stellar Nursery

An area of outer space within a dense nebula in which gas and dust are contracting, resulting in the formation of new stars.

A stellar nursery refers to a region in interstellar space where new stars are born. These regions are characterized by dense concentrations of gas and dust, which provide the necessary materials for the formation of stars. Stellar nurseries are important cosmic environments where the process of star formation occurs, leading to the creation of individual stars, stellar clusters, and even entire galaxies.

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Vampire Finch

Strangely the boobies don’t seem to mind the vampire finches drinking their blood. It is believed that this behavior evolved from the vampire finches picking parasites from the feathers of the boobies.

The Vampire Finch or vampire ground finch, scientifically known as Geospiza difficilis septentrionalis, is a fascinating and unusual species of bird found in the Galápagos Islands. It is part of Darwin’s finch group[1], which played a significant role in Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.

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Phil Torres

Lepidopterology is the study of butterflies and moths

Phil Torres is a biologist, science communicator, photographer, and television host known for his diverse range of work in the fields of biology, conservation, and science education. He is based in New York City but is involved in projects that take him all around the world. Phil has a strong affinity for butterflies, and has dedicated a significant portion of his career to studying and advocating for these beautiful insects.

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Europium

A rare-earth metallic element whose salts are light pink. Symbol: Eu; atomic weight: 151.96; atomic number: 63.

Europium is a chemical element with the symbol Eu and atomic number 63. It belongs to the lanthanide series, a group of elements located in the f-block of the periodic table. Europium is a soft, silvery-white metal that is highly reactive and can ignite in air at room temperature. It is the most reactive of the rare earth elements and can react with water to produce hydrogen gas.

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