A massive, tree-covered island drifted into view on British Columbia’s Williston Lake last summer, vanished without a trace, and then reemerged, leaving residents and scientists guessing about its origins and safety risks. In late July 2026, a boater on Williston Lake noticed something unusual: a huge, forested island floating in the vast reservoir. The sight […] The post Mysterious floating island vanishes and reappears in British Columbia's Williston Lake appeared first on American Almanac .
A massive, tree-covered island drifted into view on British Columbia’s Williston Lake last summer, vanished without a trace, and then reemerged, leaving residents and scientists guessing about its origins and safety risks. In late July 2026, a boater on Williston Lake noticed something unusual: a huge, forested island floating in the vast reservoir. The sight stunned locals, as the island appeared to be nearly the size of two football fields and covered in mature trees, with birds and other animals making it their temporary home. Satellite images confirmed its presence on July 21, showing a green mass about 150 yards long and 75 yards wide. Rocky Avery, a local resident and friend of the boater, posted photos and video of the floating…Open
A South Carolina aquarium is calling it the "Lucky Seven" after hatching seven critically endangered African penguin chicks since May, a bright spot for a species running out of time in the wild. Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach announced that five African penguin chicks hatched in June and July, following two earlier arrivals in May, […] The post Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach hatches seven African penguin chicks in banner breeding year appeared first on American Almanac .
A South Carolina aquarium is calling it the "Lucky Seven" after hatching seven critically endangered African penguin chicks since May, a bright spot for a species running out of time in the wild. Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach announced that five African penguin chicks hatched in June and July, following two earlier arrivals in May, UPI reported . The aquarium's animal care team collectively dubbed the group "the Lucky Seven" in a news release marking the milestone. The first two chicks, named Vic and Chel, arrived in May and were introduced to guests at the aquarium's Penguin Playhouse exhibit. Five more followed over the next two months. Those five had not yet been named as of the September 3 announcement. Seven chicks from one…Open
Scientists captured more than 2,000 marine animals from 15 species feeding together at a protected monument off Massachusetts, raising fresh questions about a federal rollback of fishing restrictions just months earlier. A New England Aquarium survey plane flew over the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument on August 16 and documented a scene researchers […] The post More than 2,000 ocean predators spotted off Cape Cod — weeks after feds reopened the waters to commercial fishing appeared first on American Almanac .
Scientists captured more than 2,000 marine animals from 15 species feeding together at a protected monument off Massachusetts, raising fresh questions about a federal rollback of fishing restrictions just months earlier. A New England Aquarium survey plane flew over the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument on August 16 and documented a scene researchers called extraordinary: dolphins, whales, whale sharks, and manta rays all congregating near the surface of a nearly 5,000-square-mile ocean preserve roughly 130 miles southeast of Cape Cod. The sheer number of animals, and the presence of several species classified as endangered, landed the survey squarely in the middle of a policy fight that has bounced between…Open
U.S. officials say the ever-growing population of wild horses that roam federal lands in Colorado is depleting natural resources. But some activists say efforts to remove the horses are inhumane.
Sunflower sea stars are critically endangered in the Pacific Ocean. University of Washington researchers are working with the Samish Indian Nation to bring this 24-armed creature back from the brink of extinction.
AI:Researchers from the University of Washington are collaborating with the Samish Indian Nation to combat a devastating crisis in the Pacific Ocean where billions of sea stars have perished. The initiative focuses on saving the critically endangered 24-armed sunflower sea star through targeted conservation efforts aimed at bringing the species back from the brink of extinction.Open
AI:An eight-year-old boy fishing in a Pennsylvania lake managed to land a piranha, an invasive species that should not exist in these inland waters. This bizarre occurrence highlights the complete breakdown of environmental oversight and ecological stability as non-native predators infiltrate local ecosystems. While the sensationalist media focuses on the shock factor, the underlying reality is a failure to manage the biological security of our natural resources.Open
The pristine white sand dunes of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park are bordered by thick jungle on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Thousands of lagoons fill up after the rainy season.
At a time of increased conflict between elephants and humans, as elephant habitats are converted to intensive agriculture, the Hurulu Eco Park is a place where the animals can graze unimpeded.