Ever wondered how igloos keep people warm in extreme Arctic cold? When a small fire is lit inside, it gently melts the inner snow layer. The freezing temperatures outside instantly refreeze it, creating a hardened, airtight shell that locks in warmth. This clever natural insulation can raise the inside temperature to around 60°F, even when it’s –50°F outside! Ingenious shelters like these have protected Inuit and other Arctic peoples for centuries, showing just how brilliantly traditional knowledge adapts to nature’s harshest conditions.

Artur Korneyev's photo of the Elephant's Foot, 1996. The Elephant's Foot is the nickname given to a large mass of corium and other materials formed underneath the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near Pripyat, during the Chernobyl disaster of April 1986, notable for its extreme radioactivity.

🪱 The Silent Soil Crisis: Why Earthworms Matter 🪱 Why Healthy Soil is a Big Deal Earthworms aerate soil, making it easier for roots, water, and air to penetrate. Just 1 acre of healthy land can support up to 1 million worms, processing 10 tons of soil a year! Without worms, soil becomes compacted, nutrient-poor, and drought-prone. A healthy underground network = a thriving garden above. What’s Harming Earthworms Heavy machinery and foot traffic crush soil structure and tunnels. Leaf removal starves worms and exposes soil to extreme weather. Pesticides & fertilizers kill worms and vital microbes. Bare winter soil leads to deeper freezing and worm die-off. How You Can Help Leave the leaves – mulch garden beds naturally. Create a leaf compost zone – slow-feed the soil over time. Avoid walking on wet soil – protect fragile structure. Feed the soil organically – use compost, not chemicals. Earthworms can live up to 8 years in a healthy environment — or die within weeks in a compacted one. They’ve been enriching earth for 300 million years — let’s not undo their work!