Chipmunk Game Theory 101
January 10, 2020
The latest installment of "The Outside Story," sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, explains how eastern chipmunks have evolved to be energy maximizers, seeking to strike the optimal balance between energy gain per cheek-pouch load of food and number of trips back to the burrow.
Tick-borne diseases on the rise
May 2, 2019
In the latest installment of "The Outside Story," sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund: Ticks are more abundant than ever before in northern New England, and tick-borne diseases are on the rise. Read more about why, and how to stay safe while still enjoying time outside this summer
Why animals’ eyes shine at night (but people’s don’t)
March 15, 2019
In the latest installment of "The Outside Story," sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund, learn about eyeshine in animals, which is produced by a membrane called the tapetum lucidum (“tapestry of light”), a reflective surface located behind the retina
“The soul of a dead woodsman”
November 30, 2018
The latest installment of "The Outside Story," sponsored by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation's Wellborn Ecology Fund, explores the folklore and natural history of the gray jay
Cutest moth ever?
August 29, 2018
The latest installment of The Outside Story, sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, solves the mystery of the fuzzy, pastel-hued Rosy Maple Moth.
Ice-out data adds to knowledge about climate change
February 9, 2018
The latest installment of The Outside Story, sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, explores local data showing ice-out coming earlier, lilacs blooming sooner and predictions of shorter sugaring seasons
Once in a blue supermoon
January 26, 2018
A blue supermoon will rise on January 31 — a rare occurrence indeed. The latest installment of The Outside Story, sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, explores the science...and encourages you to go out and take a look
Bears make their beds for winter
October 27, 2017
The Outside Story, sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund, explains how black bears 'go to bed fat and strong and wake up skinny and strong'
Summer’s last exhale
September 15, 2017
The Outside Story: Common nighthawks are neither common, nor nocturnal, nor hawks. But they are really cool
A dragon devours the sun
August 17, 2017
A partial social eclipse will be visible in New England on Monday. The Outside Story explores the mythology and science of these dazzling astronomical events
Summer house guests
August 4, 2017
Phoebes take up residence every summer under awnings and atop porch lights, seemingly unperturbed by our presence
The hermit thrush: nature’s flute
June 9, 2017
The Outside Story, sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund, offers a primer on the most beautiful song in our northern New England woods