Sarah Fowler on a love of identification guides and sharks July 14, 2021 My first experience of a shark, as a small child, was uncomfortably close up. The shark was rolled up inside a sausage of netting, rather like Tom Kitten in the Tale of Samuel Whiskers. Read More
Teaching your mind to fly: The psychological benefits of birdwatching July 13, 2021 It is now a matter of common knowledge—bolstered by significant and growing scientific documentation—that immersion in the natural world can provide measurable benefits to human physical and mental health. Read More
Jaws, lost sharks, and the legacy of Peter Benchley July 13, 2021 Jaws, the mere mention of the movie conjures up images of a large triangular fin cutting through the water, beneath it a large fearsome-looking toothy shark swimming with a sense of authority, a purpose. Read More
Ants as artists and architects June 23, 2021 I have always been an experimental biologist. Ants have been my life, and I have tracked their behavior from above ground for over fifty years. Read More
The trees in your life May 07, 2021 The Earth supports about sixty thousand tree species. I wonder, how many of them would you come across in an average day? Read More
Books for getting outside May 02, 2021 Being outdoors improves well-being in myriad ways, and these selections from Princeton Nature range far and wide in their coverage of the natural world including award-winning photographic field guides, large-format reference books, and authoritative field guides. Read More
Join us in support of our Earth April 15, 2021 With our global commitment to publishing science books that illuminate the nature of the planet, Princeton University Press is delighted to partner with EarthDay.org and the Canopy Project in supporting the ecology and evolution of planet Earth. Read More
Why plant flowers? March 12, 2021 As someone who derives a great deal of pleasure from growing and studying flowers, I would like to suggest that everyone get involved with planting flowers this spring, whether indoors or out, at home or as part of a community beautification program. Read More
Wasps, and their unsung contributions to the ecosystem February 27, 2021 The sting. Pain is what we associate with the word “wasp,” because our definition of wasp is far too narrow. Read More
Can we bring extinct species back? January 05, 2021 Could extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? In How to Clone a Mammoth, Beth Shapiro, an evolutionary biologist and pioneer in ancient DNA research, addresses this intriguing question by walking readers through the astonishing and controversial process of de-extinction. Read More
On horses, goats, and writing October 02, 2020 My mother swears my first word was ‘horsie’. When other little girls were playing with dolls, I was snipping pictures of horses from newspapers and magazines, pasting them on poster board, and taping them to my bedroom walls. Read More
Wenfei Tong on Bird Love August 11, 2020 Bonds of affection can take as many forms for birds as they do for humans, and common evolutionary themes explain many ways birds, like humans, experience and demonstrate “love.” Read More
A highland roadside: Verge and woodland July 17, 2020 Even better than a shady bank scattered with the fresh June fronds of Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis interwoven with bluebells, stitchwort, red campion and spikes of Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum is a roadside verge with thousands of Beech Fern fronds, stretching as far ahead as you can see and spilling down the bank into the woodland alongside. Read More
From Jack-in-the-pulpit to Featherfoil: An appreciation of wildflower names May 13, 2020 Although every plant species known to science has an official scientific name, it is their common names that most people use when speaking of local wildflowers. Read More
Coloring pages for birding enthusiasts May 08, 2020 Therapeutic coloring is loaded with health benefits for its practitioners, including sharper focus, stress relief, and even improved sleep. At a time of uncertainty and high anxiety, we hope these free downloadable coloring pages are as good for your inner birder as they are for your brain. Read More
