Browsing: Environment

There are certain sounds that seem to follow us through our entire lives. For me, one of those is the sound of cicadas.

As August begins to give way to September, a familiar splash of yellow starts appearing along Mississippi roadsides, fields and…

I love to forage for wild fruit. I love to eat them right off the plant. But if the pickings are plentiful, I am just as apt to collect what I can to make jelly. And late summer is prime time to collect a number of my favorites, including Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia), the most common of seven species in the southeast. The taste is out of this world.

Gulf Blue Navigator has been recognized by TIME and Statista as one of America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026, placing the Mississippi-based program among the nation’s top-performing startup support organizations.

It’s pollinator season across the great state of Mississippi where bees are buzzing, butterflies are fluttering, and late summer and early fall gardens are starting to bloom. Without pollinators, plants would not be able to produce seeds, so it is time to celebrate them.

Spiders are all around us: in our landscapes, our homes, and even our vehicles. My grandchildren are always excited to report a web or small spider lurking in my vehicle. They all know not to kill them and that Paw Paw will show them the door, or not. Of course these are the spiders in plain view, but many others reside out of sight, like Trapdoor Spiders. Of the spiders that live underground, these critters take concealment to the max.

Yes, I am writing about flies – again. In my previous story, An Ode to Maggots, I acknowledged that larval flies get no respect. For the most part, that is true of adult flies as well, especially the species that bite, buzz your face, or fly up your nose. And yet, may I argue that flies are important in our world, whether we appreciate them or not. In part, I offer a few photos of flies that are less offensive, but beautiful, captured with skill by my friends Curtis and Sharon.

What looks like a mass of yellow spaghetti draped over a plant is, well, another plant – Dodder (Cuscuta spp). It is in fact a parasitic vine that is draining the life out of its host. The name dodder is largely thought to be derived from the German word dotter, referring to egg yolk, a reference that fits it well. But if you look close, this vine has flowers, cute ones at that, and an interesting and successful way of life.

As Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” enters its 38th season, public fascination with apex predators continues to rise. But while television audiences tune in for the drama, two Mississippi State graduate students are part of the network of scientists who help provide necessary data behind the public’s often-varying opinions on sharks.

Maritime industry partners are interested in engaging with teachers and students to provide awareness of the exciting opportunities available throughout the maritime industry.

Finding a click beetle, and watching it flip itself over, is as exciting as it gets with nature, especially for children. The dramatic flip and audible sound that they make when they do is almost always followed by a scream or giggle. And sadly, for the poor beetle, repeat performances are required, at least until it stops on its own. But what are these critters and why do they flip out.

From late spring through summer, turtles begin migrating in preparation for mating season. This annual trek can put the reptiles in great danger when they cross roads. However, there are steps you can take to protect turtles during this time of year. Learn more in the full fact-check below: 

Summertime Nature with Bored Kids – Nighttime Activities  

This is the second in this series of suggested activities for kids to do during summer, besides being glued to screens. In this case, nighttime is a great chance to entice them outdoors to listen and look for nature in the dark. Who knows, it may catch on!

Storm clouds threatened and laughing gulls called as my three children and I made our way to the crowded beach where a portion was sectioned off. This was our second time attending a sea turtle release. The crowd of all ages beamed with excitement and anticipation. Up ahead, a table displayed literature, stickers, and turtle skulls. Staff from the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies were ready to educate, interact, and host this real-world science lesson.

Mississippi researchers will help lead a new $13.5 million national effort to expand U.S. seafood production, positioning the Gulf Coast at the center of aquaculture research and development.

I want to take you back to Tatiana Martin’s beautiful yard in Vicksburg this week to look indoors at her orchids to see that her passion for gardening extends beyond the landscape beds.