"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Ecology
The Photic Zone
10/13/2026
“Why does most aquatic life live near the surface?”
Large bodies of water have very strong property variation by depth. The zone near the surface receives the most sunlight, therefore supplying phytoplankton with the resources they need to grow, which in turn provides a food base for complex ecosystems. These Photonic Zones house most aquatic life due to their primary productivity-rich environment.
The Hudson Highlands
09/29/26
“What are the mountains that surround the Hudson River?”
The Hudson River is New York State’s longest river. Surrounding the Hudson in Putnam and Orange Counties in New York State are The Hudson Highlands, a patch of mountains that are a subrange of the Appalachians. The Indigenous Lenape people are the rightful stewards of the Hudson Highlands.
The Hudson River
09/28/26
“What’s so special about New York City’s main river?”
New York City is a metropolis built off water (and stolen Indigenous land/Black labor). Its main river, The Hudson River, has some very special properties. Originating from Henderson lake in the Adirondack Mountains, the Hudson river darts out around 507 km/315 miles through New York State to the Atlantic Ocean. The Indigenous Munssee People called the lower portion of the Hudson (starting from around what’s now Albany) Muhheacannituck, or “the waters that are never still” or, less rigidly, “the river that flows two ways” since the subriver is a tidal estuary. Specifically, Muhheacannituck/the lower Hudson has two high tides and two low tides a day, reversing direction four times a day/every six hours. The Hudson River connects with the Erie Canal to Lake Erie, allowing for sea-based transportation from the Midwest. During the Ice Age, the Hudson River went on for much longer, as evidenced by the Hudson Shelf Valley and the Hudson Canyon.
The Hudson Canyon
09/27/26
“How is it that a submarine trench rivaling the Grand Canyon is directly related to the Hudson River?”
The Hudson River Valley extends underwater through the Hudson Shelf Valley. At the far end of the Hudson Shelf Valley is The Hudson Canyon. The Hudson Canyon is a biodiversity hotspot reaching Grand Canyon-rivaling depths of up to 3,500 meters/10,500 feet below sea level. Concerned individuals are advocating to designate the Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary, which you can learn about here.
Image credit: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/
Vascular Tissue
09/17/26
“How do vascular plants transport water and minerals throughout their body?”
Vascular plants can transport water and minerals over long distances within their bodies through Vascular Tissue. Vascular tissue is a group of cells in a plant dedicated to nutrient transport. Vascular tissues are the reason why vascular plants can grow so large. The skinny vertical gaps in a celery stalk is an example of vascular tissue.
Vascular Plants
09/12/26
“How do we classify plants that can move water and minerals through their bodies using specialized tissues?”
Plants work in all sorts of ways. Some plants have tissues dedicated to moving water and minerals through their bodies. These Vascular Plants can grow to sizes much larger than non-vascular plants because of their quicker intra-body resource transport. Examples of vascular plants include conifer trees and flower-bearing plants.
The Las Vegas Wash
09/11/26
“How does Las Vegas use a 12-mile swampy stream to recycle its wastewater?”
Las Vegas sits in a difficult place for water. The metropolis sits in one of the driest and hottest parts of the U.S., and climate change is expected to bring even less rainfall. But it turns out Vegas has a secret card up its sleeve. The Las Vegas Valley channels its wastewater into a 12-mile swampy stream called The Las Vegas Wash for purification. The plants in the Las Vegas Wash remove contaminants from the (post-treatment plant) wastewater, and the end of the stream ends at Lake Mead to connect back into the water supply system. This advanced water-recycling technique will only become more important as the climate-change-driven drought intensifies.
Image credit: https://www.lvwash.org/
Conifer Trees
09/07/26
“What makes trees that hold their seeds in cones so special?”
Trees are commonly thought to hold their seeds in fruits and flowers. However, some trees hold them in cones. These Conifer Trees are typically (but not always) evergreen and tend to dominate colder-temperature climates. Conifer trees are also a vital food source for many species. Christmas trees and California Redwoods are conifer trees.
Artificial Reefs
09/06/26
“How can we make artificial reefs to provide homes for sea life?”
Reefs provide habitats for all kinds of sea life. But they don’t have to be natural. Artificial Reefs are human-made reefs designed to provide homes for ocean creatures. Common materials for artificial reefs include concrete, sunken ships, and even old subway cars! Artificial reefs also dissipate coastal wave energy, protecting coasts from storm surge and soil erosion.
