What Would Happen If You Never Saw The Sun?

Sometimes, it seems hard to go outside and face the day. But what would happen if you never saw sunlight?

How to Clear Your Mind

Your brain is hard-wired to do all sorts of things when you are not consciously thinking about something. But just because it’s normal for your mind to wander doesn’t mean that it’s always good! Luckily, once you know how it works, you can find ways to control it.

How Plants Tell Time - Dasha Savage

Morning glories unfurl their petals like clockwork in the early morning. A closing white waterlily signals that it’s late afternoon. And moon flowers, as their name suggests, only bloom under the night sky. What gives plants this innate sense of time? Dasha Savage investigates how circadian rhythms act as an internal timekeeper for flora and fauna alike.

Lesson by Dasha Savage, animation by Avi Ofer.

Lack of Sunlight Exposure Linked to Depression and Poor Sleep

Aside from getting your daily dose of Vitamin D, there is now another reason why you need to have yourself exposed to sunlight, our natural light. A new study published by Chronobiology International reveals that the lack of natural light exposure increases the risk of developing depression and having a poor quality of sleep.

Healthy Trees...Healthy People

The relationship between trees and human health.

Walk for Health: The Best Medicine

Most doctors agree, walking for health is the right thing to do. Listen in as these physicians explain the benefits of walking: how it can reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, help increase muscle tone, and keep your weight in check. Plus, getting out there and moving gets the blood flowing which can help with heart and respiratory issues, increase bone health--and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Check out this free advice and start enjoying the benefits of walking today.

How Stress Affects Your Brain - Madhumita Murgia

Stress isn’t always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes.

Lesson by Madhumita Murgia, animation by Andrew Zimbelman.

NATURE | The Benefits of Friendship

Primatologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Lauren Brent discusses her research on the social behavior of nonhuman primates and the benefits of friendship.

Mental Health Benefits of Getting Outside

A simple walk or hike has more than just physical benefits.

Tallest Tree Height Comparison

'
Features:

Dwarf Willow, Salix herbacea, Smallest Tree (5cm/2in)
Venus Fly Trap, Dionaea muscipula (20cm/8in)
Rafflesia, Rafflesia keithii, Largest Flower (1m/3.3ft)
Imperial Bonsai, Crassula ovata, Largest Bonsai (2m/6.7ft)
Cherry Blossom, Prunus serrulata (7m/23ft)
Dragon Blood Tree, Dracaena cinnabari (9m/30ft)
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, Pinus longaeva, Oldest Living Tree (12m/39ft)
Tallest Cactus, Pachycereus pringlei (19m/63ft)
Largest Willow Tree, Salix nigra (23m/76ft)
Tallest Baobab Tree, Adansonia grandidieri (30m/115ft)
Montezuma Cypress Tree, Taxodium mucronatum, Largest Girth (40m/131ft)
Tallest Oak, Quercus alba (44m/145ft)
Tallest Palm Tree, Ceroxylon quindiuense (55m/180ft)
Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata, Tallest Cedar (60m/197ft)
Karri Tree, Eucalyptus diversicolor, Tallest Tree in Europe (73m/239ft)
Sugar Pine, Pinus lambertiana, Tallest Pine (83m/272ft)
General Sherman, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Largest Tree (84m/275ft)
Centurion, Eucalyptus regnans, Tallest Ash (99m/325ft)
Coast Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Tallest Fir (101m/331ft)
Hyperion Tree, Sequoia sempervirens, Tallest Tree (116m/381ft)
Hometree, Fictional Tree from Avatar (150m/492ft)
Thimmamma Marrimanu, Banyan Tree (Area: 1 hectare/2.5 acres)
Pando Aspen Tree (Area: 43 hectare/106 acres)
World Tree, Mythological Tree (Size: ???)