jessicahester1's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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citizen science

Scientists Want Your Help Stalking Billions of Cicadas

The Brood X bonanza is almost here, and ecologists will have a lot of work—and bugs—on their hands.
April 22, 2021
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paleontology

The Thorny Problem of Tallying Every T. rex to Ever Live

Here’s why it’s really, really hard to count how many of the apex predators once stalked Earth’s surface.
April 19, 2021
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pandemic

We're Finally Getting a Picture of How Dangerous PPE Is for Wildlife

More than a year into the pandemic, scientists are seeing the impact of disposable gloves and masks on ecosystems.
April 7, 2021
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dissection

The Mystery of 'Harriet Cole'

In 19th-century Philadelphia, an anatomist dissected and mounted a human nervous system. Now researchers are trying to figure out whose remains are stretched out in a glass case.
March 18, 2021
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ecology

The U.S. Government Is Begging You to Destroy Moss Balls

Zebra mussels showed up in imported aquarium accessories across 32 states. Ecologists want your help killing them.
March 11, 2021
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bogs

These Bronze Age Bog Beetles Look Like They Just Died Yesterday

Thanks to waterlogged ground, sturdy bodies, and a little luck.
February 26, 2021
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why is this like this?

Lovely 'Lake Stars' Shine in Winter's Chill

In search of otherworldly sights? Just find the right icy pond.
February 19, 2021
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lizards

California’s Elusive Urban Lizards Can’t Hide From Citizen Scientists

Researchers mined crowdsourced photos to figure out how city life suits the southern alligator lizard.
February 12, 2021
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trash

Snails, Leeches, and Other Critters Are Right at Home on River Trash

Garbage doesn't belong in water, but in some of Britain's urban areas, it makes for a surprising habitat.
February 11, 2021
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paleontology

In Other Election News, Massachusetts Just Voted on a State Dinosaur

Meet Podokesaurus holyokensis, a prehistoric resident of the Commonwealth.
February 5, 2021
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paleontology

Enter the Lair of an Enormous, Ancient, Predatory Worm

Trace fossils are useful paleontological allies—but they can't tell us everything.
February 4, 2021
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pollution

Brooklyn's Putrid, Beloved Gowanus Canal Has Been a Horror for Centuries

A new $1.5 billion cleanup effort is underway, targeting its "black mayonnaise" of pollutants.
January 14, 2021
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orchids

Meet the World's Least-Charismatic Orchid

This newly described species has been dubbed "the ugliest."
December 31, 2020
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underground railroad

Solving the Mystery of Harriet Tubman's Family Cabin

In Maryland, archaeologists raced rising waters to find traces of the past.
June 7, 2022
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coral reefs

How Do Stressed-Out Corals Smell?

The answer could help researchers detect bleaching events before they happen.
December 11, 2020
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sewers

We Shouldn’t Have Been Surprised to Find a Sculpture of Hermes in a Sewer

Filthy infrastructure has long been a site of artistry and civic pride.
December 4, 2020
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50 states of wonder

Thanks for Joining Our Tour of All 50 States of Wonder!

It's not too late to explore the weird and wonderful all over America.
November 16, 2020
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auctions

The Fossils That Get Away (From Scientists)

A high-profile T. rex sale is a reminder that paleontologists get stressed when fossils vanish into private hands.
November 13, 2020
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crime

How to Give Stolen Artifacts Back to Historic Sites

Penitent pilferers can—and should—return their finds.
October 22, 2020
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canada

How Japanese Canadians Survived Internment and Dispossession

A new exhibit traces the experiences of seven narrators before, during, and after World War II.
October 16, 2020
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glowing

The Spectacular Science of the Great Lakes' Glowing Rocks

Under UV light, some of them look downright magical.
October 13, 2020
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abstract wonder

Behold, the Great Salt Lake's Wonderfully Colorful Salt Pans, From Space

Everything looks cool from the International Space Station.
October 9, 2020
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tourism

The Art of Digging a Buried Building Out of Maine's Desert Dunes

The Spring House had been hidden for decades.
October 8, 2020
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pandemic

For Wildlife, Disposable PPE Is Far From Protective

It may take years—even decades—to fully understand the impact of disposable masks and gloves on the environment.
October 2, 2020