earth notes

The Bradford pear was one of the most widely planted ornamental trees in North America. But it's now largely considered invasive and outlawed in several states.

High summer temperatures make Flagstaff’s thin air feel even thinner. Density altitude affects your body, turning a simple mountain hike into a tough physical workout.

The San Francisco Peaks volcanic system includes some tiny residents — small, rare plants that grow in difficult terrain. Citizen scientists are trying to document them.

Have you ever noticed a large, fuzzy, brightly-colored ant moving rapidly along the ground? Commonly called velvet ants, these aren’t ants at all. They’re actually wingless wasps.

Three decades ago, the use of cloud seeding to enhance precipitation over the region was tested as part of a large field experiment.

Paleontologists exploring the Zuni Basin of western New Mexico in the 1990s uncovered a turtle fossil shell that was later determined to be an entirely new species.

Quicksand can form in rivers and washes across the Colorado Plateau. Conditions beneath the surface can create unstable ground and potential hazards.

Prairie dogs, squirrels and even the family dog exhibit a behavior called “splooting" to help regulate body temperature.

Jaguars are usually associated with the tropics of Central and South America, but historical records show they once prowled as far north as the South Rim of Grand Canyon.

How did Southwest Tribal people protect and store their food before the days of refrigeration?