CATEGORIES

Controlling the River

Seasonal flooding is a natural event for a river. When a river floods, it spills beyond its banks into nearby low-lying areas.

Riverboat Pilot

Twenty-one-year-old Samuel Clemens decided he needed a change. He would leave his dull job as a printer and head to New Orleans. From there, he would get passage on a ship to South America. He hoped to have great adventures and become a wealthy businessman.

First Peoples

Prehistoric North American peoples traveled in small nomadic family groups.

A Famous Mud Pie

There are many versions of Mississippi mud pie. Some recipes call for creating a pie with five different layers, which might include layers of brownie, custard, pudding, or meringue.

Who Invited You? - When Species 'Invade'

Marauding camels from Afghanistan, India, and the Middle East overrun Australia. The "invaders" flatten fences, topple into wells, and devour native plants. Meanwhile, toxic toads originally from Central and South America multiply without mercy and poison Aussie critters to near-extinction.

A Fiesta of Flavors

There's no denying that Puerto Rico has a wealth of culture, a captivating past, and an abundance of scenic wonders. It should come as no surprise, then, that the island's food is also rich in fun and flavor. Traditional Borinquén fare has influences from around the world. It is rooted in native tastes. But it was blended with African cooking styles, refined with Spanish flavors, and later zested by Dutch, Irish, Italian, and even Chinese elements. No wonder the cuisine is nicknamed la cocina criolla, or "the creole kitchen!"

Which Octopus Arm is Best?

Are you a righty? A lefty? This octopus is a second-arm-from-the-front-y.

PLANT A MILKWEED GARDEN

You can help monarch butterflies!

STATEHOOD

Independence, statehood, or status quo? Puerto Ricans have tried to address that question and their relationship with the United States-for more than 100 years. The island has held six referendums about the issue in the second half of the 20th century.

The United States Step In

By the early 1800s, the once-vast Spanish Empire was fading. Many of its original colonies in the Americas had fought for and won their independence. But Spain was determined to hold on to its few remaining territories. Puerto Rico was one of them.

Sailing by Stars and Waves

DISCOVERING THE SCIENCE OF POLYNESIAN NAVIGATION

Getting Started

Puerto Rico is a small island with a big presence. Its rich heritage is pulled from a combination of Indigenous Taino people, Spanish conquerors, enslaved Africans, and its relationship with the United States. Most Puerto Ricans speak Spanish, but the island's official languages are Spanish and English.

THE EPIC JOURNEY

The Pacific Gray Whale's Long Path to Recovery

Spanish Conquest

The promise of gold and a sea route to India. Those were the two J main reasons why Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella backed Christopher Columbus's voyages.

FLIGHT OF THE FRUIT BAT

The sky blazed orange as the Sun sank beneath the horizon. Screeching cries echoed across the savannah as shadowy tree silhouettes began to shudder.

Tiny Critters Massive Migration

The largest migration on Earth happens across all its aquatic habitats, from ponds to the ocean, every single night.

Secrets of Animal Navigators

USING SUPER SENSES OF SIGHT, SOUND, MAGNETISM, AND A WHOLE LOT MORE

EARTH'S MAGNETIC PERSONALITY

Humans can’t sense our planet’s magnetosphere, but many animals can.

SAN JUAN: Puerto Rico's Caribbean Jewel

When the Spanish settled San Juan in 1521, they quickly recognized the value of Puerto Rico's capital city. It became an important port, outpost, and gateway for exploration of the Americas. Spain's enemies, primarily the British and the Dutch, coveted its strategic military location. Its excellent harbor was one of the largest and best in the Caribbean.

REMEMBERING ROBERTO CLEMENTE

Since baseball was introduced to the people of Puerto Rico in the 1890s, it has become the most popular sport on the island. Puerto Ricans brought the sport home after learning to play while visiting the United States. Baseball's popularity grew after the Spanish-American War in 1898. U.S. soldiers stationed in Puerto Rico played games against local clubs. By the 1930s, the island had its own professional league.

Zoo Knew?

Animal news and fun facts!

A Son of the Revolution

Dark clouds of smoke spiraled into the sky over Breed's Hill as cannon roared.

Old Man Eloquent and the GAG RULE

The Speaker of the House punctuated his shouts with the banging of his gavel. Across the marble-columned U.S. House of Representatives, enraged southern congressmen howled and shook their fists.

Life of Service

Even for a person of John Quincy Adams's remarkable credentials, the practice of law was challenging.

MR. PRESIDENT

The Democratic-Republican party was the dominant U.S. political party in the first two decades of the 1800s.

At Home in Quincy

Today, the National Park Service (NPS) oversees three historic residences connected to the Adams family.

Fight For Freedom

Locked in a crowded Connecticut jail cell in the winter of 1841, 11-year-old Kali was a world away from Mendeland (present-day Sierra Leone).

Which of These Low-tech Islands Would You Visit?

It may seem like the internet and cell phone service are everywhere.

PIG PARADISE: WHERE PIGS SWIM

Peering at Earth from space, astronauts often find their eyes drawn to the Bahamas. The Bahamas is located just to the east of Florida and Cuba near the Caribbean. "The stunning Bahamas were a real treat for us," says NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik of his 138-day mission in 2017 aboard the International Space Station. "The vivid turquoise of the water over the reef was absolutely captivating."

SHAPING SOUNDS

A light beam skims the surface of a table strewn with geometrical objects.