How does fracking work? - Mia Nacamulli
Adults NatureDeep underground lie stores of once-inaccessible natural gas. There's a technology, called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," that can extract this natural gas, potentially powering us for decades to come. So how does fracking work and why is it a source of such heated controversy? Mia Nacamulli explains the ins and outs of fracking.
Why wildfires are necessary - Jim Schulz
Adults NatureOur early ancestors relied on lightning to cause forest fires, from which they could collect coals and burning sticks to help them cook food and clear land. Yet, it wasn't just humans who benefited from these natural phenomena. Even as they destroyed trees, fires also helped the forests themselves. Jim Schulz outlines the benefits of wildfire.
Why are sloths so slow? - Kenny Coogan
Adults NatureSloths spend most of their time eating, resting, or sleeping; in fact, they descend from their treetops canopies just once a week, for a bathroom break. How are these creatures so low energy? Kenny Coogan describes the physical and behavioural adaptations that allow sloths to be so slow.
Why do animals have such different lifespans? - Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
Adults NatureFor the microscopic lab worm C. elegans, life equates to just a few short weeks on Earth. The bowhead whale, on the other hand, can live over two hundred years. Why are these lifespans so different? And what does it really mean to 'age' anyway? Joao Pedro de Magalhaes explains why the pace of aging varies greatly across animals.
The three different ways mammals give birth - Kate Slabosky
Adults NatureAll mammals share certain characteristics, like warm blood and backbones. But despite their similarities, these creatures also have many biological differences - and one of the most remarkable differences is how they give birth. Kate Slabosky details the placental, marsupial, and monotreme methods of giving birth.