Nature

PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.

• By Rebecca Worby
• Member Exclusive

Through a series of essays, Miller reminds us what it's like to feel a sense of awe when confronted with nature's beauty.

• By James McWilliams

While imagery of natural objects is often used to inspire climate action, appeals to ego and altruism prove more effective for some.

• By Joshua Parfitt

New research explains why you look so good in that selfie you took at Yellowstone National Park.

• By Tom Jacobs

New research finds third-graders are more attentive after experiencing a class taught on the lawn.

• By Tom Jacobs

After a catastrophic wildfire, what happens to seven million burned trees? And what happens to the people who lived on that land?

• By Lindsey J. Smith

Serious crimes are more likely to occur in neighborhoods downwind of air pollution, according to a new study.

• By Madeleine Thomas

New research links contact with nature to community cohesion and a reduced crime rate.

• By Nathan Collins

The power of Mother Earth is so strong that even distressing nature scenes can have a positive effect.

• By Tom Jacobs

Since the mid-1800s, hunting trophies—taxidermied remains of wild animals—have served as symbolic proof of one’s "manliness."

• By Lisa Wade

Researchers suggest walks in nature—but not in urban areas—may help ease a key component of depression.

• By Nathan Collins

New research suggests seeing the natural world as purposefully created is our default setting.

• By Tom Jacobs

Even if you live in an urban environment, taking some time to correct for plant blindness can provide many benefits, both physical and psychological.

• By Nyree Zerega

The best kind of ranching is likely no ranching at all.

• By James McWilliams

Researchers discuss how human-generated noise affects the natural world—and us.

• By Nathan Collins

New research from France finds strangers are more helpful if they’ve just strolled through a natural environment.

• By Tom Jacobs

New research finds yet another benefit of viewing images of the natural world.

• By Tom Jacobs

Over 100 years ago, Eugene Schieffelin set out to introduce every bird mentioned in Shakespeare's plays to America. Today, one of those birds is causing irreparable crop damage.

• By Scott Keyes & Daniel Karp

To survey for pollinator foraging areas, researchers could tramp around and record what they find. Or a hive of bees could do the legwork for them.

• By John Upton

As Jane Goodall turns 80, Henry Nicholls talks to her about her remarkable career studying chimpanzee behavior, her animal welfare activism, and accusations of plagiarism in her latest book.

• By Henry Nicholls

Scientists are learning more about how we process feelings of gentle touch. New discoveries published Sunday could help restore fading sensations—and ease painful hypersensitivity.

• By John Upton

Natural history collections are consolidating. Lessons are being dropped from biology courses. But amid the apparent carnage, microbiology is rising.

• By John Upton

As part of our week-long series on people who opt out of society, Eva Holland spoke with Tom Kizzia about his new book on the 17-person family that settled down in the ghost town of McCarthy, Alaska.

• By Eva Holland

Many of us probably get our core gender identities as much from our biological origins as we do from our gender educations.

• By Alice Dreger