The Sapphire Tower plant blooms at the San Diego Botanic Garden in 2019. (Photo: Zareksiegel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)

Many beautiful things prove exceptionally worth waiting for. Among these, and particularly among the slow-moving wonders of nature, is the Sapphire Tower plant. This large plant is native to the footlands of Chilean mountain regions, growing in elevations of up to 2,200 meters (about 7,218 feet). It can also be found in greenhouses and botanical gardens around the world—including one specimen at The Birmingham Botanical Gardens in the UK. The Gardens, which have housed their Sapphire Tower plant for 20 years, recently announced an exciting and rare occasion: the blooming of the turquoise flowers.

The Sapphire Tower plant is scientifically known as Puya alpestris, a species among the bromeliad family of plant. It generally takes up to a decade for these plants to flower in nature. “It is very slow-growing, so to witness its spectacular blooms is both exciting and rare,” the Gardens’ senior glasshouse horticulturist Alberto Trinco explains in a statement. The flowers typically attract hummingbirds in the wild who serve as pollinators for the plant. However, the specimen in the Arid Glasshouse of the Gardens required an alternate solution for pollination. The Gardens set about pollinating the flowers by human hand using a small paintbrush.

This uniquely man-enabled process is in effect because the plant will soon die after its flowering period is complete. “Each flower only lasts a few days, giving us a limited window of time to give nature a helping hand,” Trinco explains. “In the absence of its natural pollinators, we will attempt some hand pollination instead.”

The gardening expert adds, “Hopefully, pollinating the flowers with the brush to obtain seeds will allow us to secure the presence of this amazing species in our collection for future generations to come and admire.”

For a very limited time, visitors will be able to catch a glimpse of the blooms at the Gardens, and it is advisable to check and see if blooms are still open before visiting. The next blossoming likely won’t occur until 2034. Like a solar eclipse, it’s a special and elusive sight to behold. If you get a chance to visit the Gardens, you can also check out their other magnificent plants and stop for tea at the tearoom to celebrate the Sapphire Tower plant.

The Sapphire Tower plant takes 10 years to flower, and this rare event is in progress at The Birmingham Botanical Gardens in the UK.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Birmingham Botanical Gardens UK (@bhambotanicalgardens)

h/t: [IFL Science]

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READ: Rare Sapphire Tower Plant Blooms for First and Last Time After 20 Years

Volcanos are fascinating geological structures. They essentially serve as vents, allowing the warmer inner materials of the Earth to emerge in flowing lava. Mount Etna, located in Sicily, is even more interesting than your average volcano though. Known as a stratovolcano for its steep cone-shape, Mount Etna's eruptions have been watched and recorded by humans since 1500 BCE. The mountain is particularly known for producing smokey vortex rings, which look almost mythical—and the mountain has been belching these at a swift rate recently.

Mount Etna is generally extremely active. The name Etna actually may originate in the Latin and Greek words meaning “to burn,” or potentially Phoenician for “furnace.” Vortex rings are Mount Etna's specialty. They are created when vents open up, allowing hot gasses, vapors, and smoke to emerge from the hotter volcanic material below. Differences in speed as the gaseous material is ejected creates a vortex, a high speed swirl. The gaseous ring then floats off, eventually fading.

In April 2024, Mount Etna has produced more rings than any volcano on record, according to The New York Times. Despite this unprecedented pace, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a big explosion is on the way. For now, the hyperactivity is a mesmerizing piece of nature. Even if you’re not in Sicily right now, you can watch the video above. The Straits Times has captured footage of the hypnotizing smoke rings floating through the sky.

The active volcano is currently a protected park. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site that has a unique ecosystem on its slopes, where plants and animals live. One can explore Mount Etna via hiking trails and scenic viewpoints, and perhaps will even catch sight of a vortex ring. You can also follow the explosions and flows through a webpage maintained by The Smithsonian.

Mount Etna, a volcano in Sicily, has been blowing out smoke rings at an unprecedented rate this month.

A Mount Etna smoke ring in August 2023. (Photo: PSomol via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)

h/t: [Colossal]

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READ: Mount Etna Blows Mesmerizing Volcanic Smoke Rings Into the Sky

During the winter, Yellowstone National Park sees its sweeping greenery turn into a snowy landscape. Filmmaker Drew Simms traveled to the area, considered to be the first national park in the U.S., to document its oneiric beauty. As the home to the largest public herd of American bison in the United States, Simms focused his camera on these majestic animals, turning them into the main characters of this tale of endurance.

The result is a powerful short film titled -37F Winter in Yellowstone National Park. In his beautiful footage, Simms takes a poetic approach to capture how winter looks in the natural landscape. Tiny human figures contrast with the tall columns of the Old Faithful geyser as snowy trees dot the scene. Meanwhile, the steady bison make their way through the snow, flakes piling up on their rugged fur.

“I was lucky enough to spend just over a week around Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming last winter. Weather was brutal with temps reaching almost -40F!” Simms writes.”I spent time photographing and filming some of my all-time favorite wildlife experiences. Including frozen bison, multiple coyotes, mountain goats, big horn sheep, and many of the geysers around the park. Hands down one of my most memorable winter camping trips of my life.”

Simms conveys the allure of winter at Yellowstone with hypnotic visuals, and in doing so, captures the true heart of the park. And while it's universally appealing, those who have experienced it firsthand commended the filmmaker's work. “I’m a snowcoach driver/guide in the park. I take people in to see this stuff every single day. You did an incredible job capturing the beauty and quiet simplicity of this landscape in winter,” writes YouTube user @wattswildlifephoto. “Yellowstone is amazing year-round, but when 10 feet of snow meets boiling, steaming thermal energy from deep underground, the park becomes otherworldly.”

Drew Simms: Website | YouTube
h/t: [The Kid Should See This]

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Drones allow videographers to get some daring shots, especially in hostile natural environments. However, as close as they can get us to action, there are always risks. Just ask filmmaker Danny Mcgee. During a trip to Iceland, he decided to get close-up shots of the volcanos in the area. Down to his last SD card and drone battery, he sent his drone on one last round, only to nearly lose it to the lava.

In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Mcgee shows what could have been his drone's final minutes. As it approaches the crater, one can hear the gurgling lava below. The explosions grow bigger, and Mcgee lowers the drone to shoot them in all their glory. However, bright orange drops of lava suddenly engulf the drone. While the device is capturing great visuals, it is simultaneously hit by incandescent material as it spins in the air “Oh, no! I lost it,” Mcgee can be heard saying.

In what can only be described as a miracle, the drone manages to escape the crater. Since some of its propellers have been hit by lava, it struggles to make it back to Mcgee's side—but it does. “These are completely shattered and like, melted,” says Mcgee showing the charred parts. He smiles big with relief and excitement. “I thought for sure I was not getting the drone back. She's a warrior.”

The intrepid footage was then used in one of his short films, offering the viewer a firsthand view of what it looks like to almost fall in a pit of lava. Scroll down to watch the video below.

Filmmaker Danny Mcgee nearly lost his drone to an Icelandic volcano, but got some mesmerizing footage of the lava.

Danny McGee: Website | YouTube

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Photo: vad_1/Depositphotos

Even though snow can be inconvenient, there is something magical about seeing those chunky flakes fall from the sky. Especially the larger snow crystals that boast beautiful symmetry and unique designs. But have you ever thought about how big a snowflake can get? There is actually a Guinness World Record for exceptionally large snowflakes, but it's not as straightforward as it sounds.

“On the night of 27 January 1887, a fierce winter storm dropped snowflakes described as ‘larger than milk pans’ over the Clark Fork River valley, in the vicinity of a ranch owned by Matt Coleman, near Missoula in Montana, USA,” writes the Guinness World Records. “Reports suggest that they were up to 1 ft 3 in (38 cm) wide and 8 in (20 cm) thick.” That reads like a monstrous ball of ice, but it is important to separate snow crystals from snowflakes. The former comes from water freezing from a gas to a solid without first becoming liquid. This gives them those six-fold symmetric designs—their pattern being determined by environmental conditions. On the other hand, snowflakes can be any clump that comes down from the wintery sky.

“During very calm conditions, these puffballs can grow into pancake-shaped agglomerations as large as a dinner plate, although this is exceedingly rare,” writes Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht, Professor of Physics and an experienced snow researcher. With this distinction in mind, and over 20 years of experience studying snow, Libbrecht set out to find the largest possible snow crystal. “The largest individual snow crystal measured was 10 mm (0.39 in) from tip to tip, as documented by Professor Kenneth Libbrecht (USA) in Cochrane, Ontario, Canada, on 30 December 2003,” notes the Guinness World Records. By comparison, regular snow crystals are usually two to four millimeters in diameter.

“I have only seen large snow crystals like this twice; both times in Cochrane, Ontario. The temperature was near -15 C (5 F)—just right for making fernlike stellar dendrites—and the air was dead calm,” Libbrecht writes. “Both times, I saw these large snow flowers falling only briefly, for about ten minutes.” However, with a little luck, this record can be broken. Libbrecht estimates that about a million billion snowflakes fall each second, averaged over a typical year. “That's enough snow to make one snowman for every person on earth every ten minutes.” If you live in any of the places where he describes as getting the “greatest snow on Earth” be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the next giant snow crystal.

According to Guinness World Records, the biggest snowflakes on record were 1 ft 3 in (38 cm) wide and 8 in (20 cm) thick, yet the largest snow crystals ever photographed were 10 mm (0.39 in) from tip to tip.

Photo: style-photo/Depositphotos

h/t: [IFL Science]

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Photo: ponsulak/Depositphotos

Cherry blossoms are a popular sightseeing event in Japan. But as much as we love these pink flowers, they are not around for long. To make the most out of the cherry blossom season, the forecasters at Weather News have shared a helpful map that shows when the cherry blossoms will begin to bloom across Japan.

According to their first sakura forecast for the spring of 2024, Weather News predicts that blossoms will arrive quite a bit earlier than usual this year. The pink flowers are expected to make their debut in Tokyo on March 17, seven days earlier than the average, based on data from 1991 to 2020. This forecast also predicts that the first region to experience the bloom will be Fukuoka, where the cherry trees are expected to blossom one day earlier on March 16. On the other hand, some areas of Hokkaido are not expected to see sakuras in bloom before May.

The differences in dates across Japan is attributed to a phenomenon known as “sakura front.” Since the weather is much warmer in southwestern Japan than in the cold northern regions, they get to enjoy the pastel pink flowers much earlier. Still, these blooms are known for transforming landscapes all over Japan, offering their fans even more chances to marvel at their beauty.

If you are planning a trip to Japan to catch a glimpse of the cherry blossoms, this is a great place to start. However, be mindful that the dates marked on the maps are when the buds are expected to begin blossoming. Most of the time, it takes anywhere between a few days to a week for them to fully bloom. On top of that, this is just the Weather News' first forecast, and an updated version will likely come out before the spring, which could provide more accurate dates. To stay up to date with Weather News' predictions, you can visit their website.

To make the most out of the cherry blossom season, the forecasters at Weather News have shared a helpful map that shows when the cherry blossoms will begin to bloom across Japan.

The first region to experience the bloom will be Fukuoka, where the cherry trees are expected to blossom on March 16.

Weather News predicts that blossoms will arrive quite a bit earlier than usual this year.

The pink flowers will make their debut in Tokyo on March 17, seven days earlier than average, based on data from 1991 to 2020.

On the other hand, some areas of Hokkaido are not expecting to see sakuras in bloom before May.

h/t: [Sora News 24]

All images via Weather News except where noted.

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Sycamore Gap Tree before it was cut down (Photo: adfoto/Depositphotos)

The UK recently lost one of its iconic natural wonders—the Sycamore Gap Tree. The picturesque tree decorated the Northumberland countryside for hundreds of years, occupying unique space between two hills and just beside the ruins of Hadrian's wall. It was discovered purposefully felled a couple of months ago, in September, breaking the hearts of people everywhere. However, some good news has emerged, suggesting that a part of the 200-year-old tree will live on.

“[We] are encouraged by positive signs of life, and are hopeful that over 30% of the mature seeds and half of the cuttings (scions) will be viable,” says Andy Jasper, the National Trust's director of gardens and parklands. He and a team will continue nurturing seeds and cuttings until they become healthy saplings. There is also still hope that the trunk of the sycamore gap tree will regrow, but it will be many years before it fills out the space left behind. Still, the news that not all is lost in such a beloved landmark is welcome after a tragic incident.

Although a teenager, two men in their 30s, and one man in his 60s were arrested at different points of the investigation, the police have released no further details on any of the suspects. Whoever is accused will face criminal charges for not only the tree, which belonged to the National Trust and Northumberland National Park, but also for damages to Hadrian's Wall, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Currently the National Trust and Northumberland National Park are working together on the best way to regrow the tree and also make a tribute to the one that was lost.

h/t: [NPR]

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“Between the stars” by Tibor Litauszki (Hungary). Grand Prize.
“I photographed this moment underwater. I was able to do it by putting my camera in an underwater case, attaching it to a metal weight and placing it all under the eggs. I waited nearby for it to be dark, and when the newt appeared, I lit it with an LED lamp. I started the camera with a homemade wired remote release. It turned out 1-2 sharp pictures.” (© Tibor Litauszki/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

The Nature Conservancy has announced the winner of its 2023 photo contest, which features images that help us connect to the power and peril of the natural world. After doubling the number of categories, the contest saw an explosion in the number of entries. In fact, entries nearly doubled over last year, with more than 80,000 photographers from 191 countries submitting over 189,000 photographs for consideration.

In the end, Tibor Litauszki from Hungary won the Grand Prize for his underwater photo of a newt eating freshly laid frog eggs. Litauszki was able to capture the underwater moment by attaching a metal weight to his camera and placing it underneath all of the eggs. It was a clever move that paid off when the newt came to feed.

Twelve category winners and a special celebrity judge award were also named. From Agnieszka Wieczorek‘s stunning aerial photo of a Polish village surrounded by yellow rapeseed fields to Benjamin Salb‘s close-up look at a wolf spider and her children, the photos show the true gamut of what makes our world extraordinary.

“Our annual photo contest is an inspiration. Photographers from all walks of life helped give voice to nature by showing us what mattered to them,” shared Alex Snyder, 2023 global photo contest director and judging coordinator. “The judges and I were taken on a visual journey as we reviewed thousands of images from amateurs and professionals alike. These impactful images underscored not only the power of photography but the importance of The Nature Conservancy’s global efforts in conservation.”

Check out 25 of the winning images below, which only lend support to the work that The Nature Conservancy carries out. Since 1951, this non-profit has worked with its members, over 400 scientists, and staff to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends, either through direct action or partner organizations.

Here are the incredible winners of The Nature Conservancy's 2023 photo contest.

“Living inside the yellow fields” by Agnieszka Wieczorek (Poland). First place, Aerials.
“Inspired by yellow color I decided to take a photo with a drone showing an aerial perspective of a small settlement of the city of Swidnica, Poland, which was
built in the middle of a field. In the spring months the buildings are surrounded by beautiful rapeseed fields.” (© Agnieszka Wieczorek /TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Busy builder” by Grzegorz Długosz (Poland). First place, Birds.
“A penduline tit builds its unique nest in the marshes of Biebrza National Park, Poland. The male is shown leaving the nest to bring more material to finish up the build.” (© Grzegorz Długosz/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Stranded” by Raphael Alves (Brazil). First place, Climate.
“Euridice Castro, 33, holds her nephew Otavio, in the window, while her son Aquiles plays in the rising rivers, in Anama, Brazil on May 24, 2021. Anama has been an “amphibian city” for years. Without work, adults stay at home most of the time; children, without classes and without public leisure spaces, are left playing in the flooded areas.​” (© Raphael Alves/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Dry Fish Pond” by Jeanny Tang (Hong Kong). First place, Freshwater.
“The holes dug by fish for spawning can be seen after the pond has dried up.​ Tai Sang Wai, Yuen Long, Hong Kong. (© Jeanny Tang/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Wolf Spider Mama” by Benjamin Salb (United States). First place, Insects & Arachnids.
“This image is a 129 frame focus bracket of a wolf spider with her babies. I encountered her in the middle of an asphalt path during an early morning macro outing this summer. You can usually expect some movement from the kids, which could ruin a stack attempt, but they were all completely still for this set.” (© Benjamin Salb/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Sound and Vision” by Alessandro Carboni (Italy). First place, Lands.
“This picture represents one the most intense moments I could remember during my life. It was September, when after a two-week wait I was lucky enough to experience an amazing mix of extraordinary elements, which I will never forget: the impressive display of the autumn colours at their peak and the first snow of the season.” (​© Alessandro Carboni/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Wolf Trinity” by Siddhartha Ghosh (India). First place, Mammals.
“Here you can see three wolves leaping through the air showcasing their enthusiasm and companionship. It's like a moment in time that captures their nature in the wild. Each wolf exudes happiness and energy with their eyes shining bright from the excitement and their strong bond as a pack. This image serves as a reminder of the elegance and charm of these animals, in their natural environment.” (© Siddhartha Ghosh/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“The Rangiroa gang” by Estebane Rezkallah (France). First place, Oceans.
“These dolphins jumped and played in front of our boat as we crossed Rangiroa, the largest of the Tuamotu Atolls and the second largest in the world. The dolphins play in the waves with each ship that passes by.” (© Estebane Rezkallah/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Wildebeest Breakfast Balloon Safari” by Michael Hegyi (United States). First place, People & Nature.
“A small troop of wild blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) watches from a safe distance as a hot air balloon lands on the Maasai Mara, spills out its breakfast safari tourists and deflates. Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya. July 2018.” (© Michael Hegyi/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“SER*ES –  Lunático” by Jose Pereyra Lucena​ (Argentina). First place, Plants & Fungi.
“El Cardón, venerated by the native peoples of northwestern Argentina, surrounded by myths and legends. It is impossible not to be absorbed by its strange beauty. A direct shot on a winter moonlit night.​ Province of Salta, Argentina, 2021. (© Jose Pereyra Lucena/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

Over 189,000 photographs from nearly 80,000 photographers were entered into this year's competition.

“Alien Portrait” by Irina Petrova Adamatzky (United Kingdom). First place, Reptiles & Amphibians.
“In this photograph, the intricate skin of a Corn Snakelet (Pantherophis guttatus) is showcased in a unique way, using ultraviolet light. Scientifically proven, snakeskin exhibits a glowing effect under ultraviolet light, a phenomenon that herpetologists have utilized since the late 20th century to locate snakes in the dark.”

“Phantoms Adrift” by Russell Laman (United States). First place, Underwater Life.
“Pacific sea nettles (Chrysaora fuscescens) swarm in the murky waters off Monterey, California. August 2021.” (© Russell Laman/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Peek-a-Boo” by Mike Krehbiel (United States). Second place, Birds.
“This lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) image was taken in western Kansas. I was in a blind overlooking a lek on April 1, 2023. It was a cold morning and by the time the activity died down enough to exit the blind I was shivering. I wasn't sure if it was due to the cold or the excitement of getting an opportunity to witness the non-stop activity of the prairie chicken.​ (© Mike Krehbiel/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Farmland” by Mustafa Binol (Turkey). Second place, Climate.
“Although this is actually an irrigable land, it became dehydrated due to the decrease in the water level as a result of excessive water use. The vehicle, which has deep well drilling equipment, is about to start work to dig a new and deeper well on the land below, which has become ineffective. We must have water for a healthy future with conscious agriculture.​” (© Mustafa Binol/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“A cool drink” by Alan Taylor​ (United States). Second place, Freshwater.
“A bull elk stopping in the Oconaluftee River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to a refreshing drink.” (© Alan Taylor/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Galaxies at My Feet” by Soumya Ranjan Bhattacharyya​ (India).
“A yellow leafhopper came and sat on a spore dispersing bracket fungus. It stayed there until the fungul spore dispersal gained pace. I captured this moment inside the moist deciduous forest of Goa in India.” (​© Soumya Ranjan Bhattacharyya/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Cotopaxi Volcano from the Antisana Glaciers” by Roberto Valdez​, Ecuador. Second place, Lands.
“After several hours of ascending and navigating the vast crevasses of the Antisana volcano's glacier, as the first rays of sunlight began to shine, I spotted the illuminated Cotopaxi in the distance with a massive column of steam rising from it. I carefully positioned myself between crevasses, pulled out my camera, and took the shot with a slow shutter speed, trying my best.” (© Roberto Valdez/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Morning attack” by HJ Yang (United States). Second place, Mammals.
“An orca attacks two seals in the morning on the beach.” (© HJ Yang/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Walking over wildlife” by Mano Aliczki (Hungary). Second place, People & Nature.
“A grey heron (Ardea cinerea) perches in a pond in an urban park in Budapest, Hungary as people walk by; the bird went unnoticed by most of the passers-by, just as we often do not generally notice the creatures living around us in the city. However, we do not need to leave the city to meet wildlife. If we slow down, we can see how many living creatures we share our habitat with.” (© Mano Aliczki/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Snowy Night” by Cai Jialing (China). Second place, Underwater Life.
“Following the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines in early 2020, ocean sediments were stirred up into the water column. During a blackwater dive in Batangas Bay, I encountered a female paper nautilus hitchhiking on floating debris. The particles around it reflected my flashlight, resembling falling snowflakes. Rather than depicting post-disaster chaos, the scene created a serene fairytale.” (© Cai Jialing/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Ghost Mushrooms” by Ashley Sykes (Australia). Third place, Plants & Fungi.
“This is a group of ghost mushrooms, Omphalotus nidiformis. They grow and then disappear quickly on warm nights after a few rainy days, particularly on rotting and decaying tree stumps in coastal forests. This clump I photographed was in a coastal woodland area in Gerroa, New South Wales, Australia. March 21, 2022.” (​© Ashley Sykes/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Scarlet kingsnake” by Joseph Mullica (United States). Third place, Reptiles & Amphibians.
“A scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides) climbing down a pine tree presumably hunting lizards at dusk.” (© Joseph Mullica/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Home bound” by Mostafijur Rahman Nasim (Bangladesh). Honorable mention, Aerials.
“Bangladesh is a densely populated country. The scenario of public transport changes during Eid festival as people leave Dhaka in over crowded transports. In the photo, huge crowded launches (water vessels) are seen in Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka. People took position on the roof of the river trucks.” (© Mostafijur Rahman Nasim/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

“Dawn's Whispers: Graceful Hoopoe Silhouette at Sunrise” by Hermis Haridas (United Arab Emirates). Celebrity Judge Choice.
“A Hoopoe took flight with its wings spread in a smooth motion across the canvas of the early-morning sky that was illuminated by the sunrise's bright hues. I saw that this bird would occasionally grab its prey in the air and other times on the ground. Additionally, I observed that each time it caught its prey, it flew in the same direction to a nearby tree.” (​© Hermis Haridas/TNC Photo Contest 2023)

The Nature Conservancy: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by The Nature Conservancy.

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Photo: nadik29/Depositphotos

After the devastating fires that hit Maui a couple of months ago, one of the biggest questions regarding the community’s cultural heritage was whether Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree would survive. The storied tree, which was first planted in 1873, was severely burned during the wildfires. Now, the arborists working on the tree have shared some uplifting updates. According to those working on the tree, it has sprouted new leaves, raising hopes about its future.

“After not being here for two weeks and looking at the new sprouts, especially on the makai side of the tree it is enlightening and exciting to see all the new growth, but also how high up in the canopy it is,” arborist Steve Nimz, part of the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project, said in a news release.

Nimz explained that one-third of the tree is showing really strong recovery, another third is showing a little progress, and the final third has not shown anything yet. “In my opinion the tree is still in a coma. I relate it to people,” the arborist explains. “They’re in a coma and all of a sudden they blink an eye or move a finger. This tree needs to put out enough foliage and green to be able to feed itself.” According to experts, the soil beneath the tree became extremely hot during the fire, which altered the ground’s ability to absorb water.

The banyan fig, which now stands 60 feet tall, was first planted in the 19th century when it was an 8-foot-tall sapling. It was placed in downtown Lahaina by the sheriff to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Protestant mission. Despite the attachment the community has to it, the Ficus benghalensis is not a species native to Hawai'i. It was actually shipped from India, becoming a symbol of Hawai'i's burgeoning multicultural exchange.

The historic banyan tree is not the only plant the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project is taking care of. With the help of volunteer construction companies, they've been watering the banyan tree as well as numerous ulu (breadfruit trees), kukui nut, and Royal palm trees. “We’re also taking care of a lot of other historical trees in Lahaina, but most of them have been charred pretty bad,” Landscaping business owner Chris Imonti told CNN. “I mean, everything is gone. We’re running around watering a few trees in town and that’s all that’s left.” Since most landmarks were destroyed, the landscaper describes the tree as “your only compass in town.”

While the locals have more pressing matters as they rebuild their life following the fire, those looking after it know it can be a good vehicle for change, and a symbol for the resilience of those who call Maui home. “People see it as a sign of hope,” Imonti says. “A sign of new beginnings.”

After the devastating fires that hit Maui a couple of months ago, one of the biggest questions regarding cultural heritage was whether Lahaina's 150-year-old banyan tree would survive.

Photo: PiKappa/Depositphotos

Now, the arborists working on the tree have shared some uplifting updates. According to those working on the tree, it has sprouted new leaves, raising hopes about its future.

“It is enlightening and exciting to see all the new growth, but also how high up in the canopy it is,” says Steve Nimz, an arborist part of the Lahaina Treescape Restoration Project.

“In my opinion the tree is still in a coma. I relate it to people. They’re in a coma and all of a sudden they blink an eye or move a finger. This tree needs to put out enough foliage and green to be able to feed itself.”

Signs of #hope:

the historic banyan tree burned during the #Lahaina fire last month has sprouted new leaves, showing signs of resilience and recovery pic.twitter.com/z2oPnP91e3

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 20, 2023

h/t: [CNN]

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READ: Lahaina Banyan Tree Has Sprouted New Leaves Since the Devastating Maui Wildfires

Photo: surangastock/Depositphotos

The Northern Lights are one of the most fascinating phenomena of the natural world. Typically, the best chances to see it are from very remote Arctic locations during the coldest months of the year; however, soon it may become easier to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis. Sunspot observations, a key predictor for the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights, have increased since the end of last year, and could continue to grow. This means that the natural phenomenon will not only appear more frequently, but they could also be seen from more places.

As NBC News explains, every glimmer of the Northern Lights begins as a spot on the Sun’s surface. According to the The Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, a group of scientists that forecasts sunspot activity, the next 18 months will bring the strongest Northern Lights activity of both the coming decade and the past 20 years if the upward trend continues.

The latest prediction model points to a steady increase of sunspot observations until fall 2024, when the probability of a visible aurora borealis, reaches its peak. “Skywatchers are excited,” says Mark Miesch, a research scientist at the University of Colorado – Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

So far, the increase has brought some promising opportunities. Earlier this year, some cities in the continental U.S.—including Minneapolis, MN; Lansing, MI; and Portland, ME—were able to marvel at the aurora. While it may still sound pretty northern, the views they got were previously reserved for Alaska and upper Canada.

But even with improved chances to spot the Northern Lights, there are certain things you must consider. The best time to catch the aurora is “within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time),” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Getting away from city lights and any light pollution is also key to enjoying the aurora at its best.

“Auroras are a spectacular sign that our planet is electrically connected to the Sun,” states NASA. “These light shows are provoked by energy from the Sun and fueled by electrically charged particles trapped in Earth's magnetic field.” Hopefully, they could soon be easier to see for more people around the globe.

According to scientists, sunspot observations (a key predictor for the likelihood of seeing the northern lights) have increased since the end of last year, and could continue to grow.

Photo: Johann/Depositphotos

This means that the Northern Lights will not only appear more frequently, but they could also be seen from more places.

Photo: AlexGukBO/Depositphotos

h/t: [Interesting Engineering]

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READ: Upcoming Northern Lights Will Be Most Intense in Years and Can Be Seen From More Places