FROM THE WILD14 stories
From the Wild

Before the Big Bang Was a Story, The Evolving Narrative

Guido Tonelli's book *Genesis*, traces humanity's enduring quest to understand the origins of the universe, from ancient mythological narratives found across diverse cultures to the revolutionary scientific methods pioneered by Galileo. Tonelli argues that modern science, while demanding complex language and specialised knowledge, ultimately offers an origin story more astonishing and coherent than any myth, driven by particle physics and cosmological observation. Crucially, he highlights that two seemingly separate scientific paths — exploring the infinitely small through particle accelerators and the infinitely large through supertelescopes — converge on the same account of how the universe began.

6 June 2026

Every Spice in Your Kitchen

The article, excerpted from *Delicious: The Evolution of Flavor and How It Made Us Human*, explores why humans began using spices despite the fact that most spice plants evolved strong-smelling and bitter chemicals specifically as defences against being eaten. The authors explain that humans learn to enjoy these flavours partly through prenatal and early-life exposure, as fetuses and infants become conditioned to prefer aromas present in their mothers' diets. Archaeological and experimental evidence suggests that spices were likely adopted for practical reasons — particularly their antimicrobial properties, which helped preserve food — before becoming culturally and culinarily significant across human societies.

5 Jun 2026Read →

The Road That Vanished — And What Came Back in Its Place

When the Hindhead Tunnel opened in 2011, it allowed the old section of the A3 road that cut through Hindhead Common and the Devil's Punch Bowl to be removed entirely, triggering one of southern England's most successful rewilding projects. The National Trust restored the landscape's natural contours, replanted native species, and reconnected habitats, leading to the rapid return of protected species such as nightjars and woodlarks. The project also significantly improved local air quality, with pollution levels falling below legal limits within two years of the tunnel's opening.

4 Jun 2026Read →

A New Volcano Is Tearing Open the Floor of the Bismarck Sea

A submarine volcanic eruption began on May 8, 2026, in the Central Bismarck Sea near Papua New Guinea, detected by seismometers and confirmed through satellite imagery showing plumes, discolored water, and pumice rafts. Scientists believe the eruption is occurring along the Titan Ridge, though little is known about the specific vent due to the lack of high-resolution seafloor maps of the area. Researchers are now monitoring the event closely, with the possibility that a new island could emerge, and are using multiple satellite platforms to track its development.

3 Jun 2026Read →

Every Full Moon, This Satellite Stops Watching Earth and Turns to Face the Moon Instead

Once a month during a full Moon, Landsat 9 turns away from Earth to image the lunar surface, using the Moon's stable and predictable reflectivity to detect and correct any drift in its sensors. This calibration process helps ensure that Landsat's Earth observations remain accurate and consistent across its decades-long data record. Along with lunar scans, engineers also cross-check data against uniform ground sites and on-the-ground measurements to maintain the reliability of Landsat imagery.

2 Jun 2026Read →

Stone, Concrete, and Chlorophyll: The Quiet Revolution Reshaping England's Cities

England's towns and cities are increasingly embedding green infrastructure into urban planning, driven by Natural England's Green Infrastructure Framework, which helps reduce air temperatures, support nature recovery, and improve community wellbeing. Key initiatives in early 2026 include a landmark 500-hectare regional park in west London, an ambitious green and blue routes network across Greater Manchester, and a knowledge-exchange visit to Bristol by Lithuanian urban planning experts. Natural England is also gaining international recognition, with its approach to urban greening drawing praise from European partners at a network meeting in Bonn.

1 Jun 2026Read →

The Rarest Flower in the Forest Has One Last Chance

Somewhere beneath the canopy of an ancient Scottish pinewood, a plant is clinging to existence by the thinnest of threads.

31 May 2026Read →

The Hornet That Wasn't: What the Data Shows About Spain's Invasive Vespa velutina

A study by researchers at the University of the Balearic Islands found no evidence that the spread of the invasive yellow-legged hornet (*Vespa velutina*) in Spain has led to increased deaths from stinging insects, despite alarming media coverage. Analysing official death records from 1999 to 2023, they found no clear rise in mortality linked to the hornet's presence, even in areas where it is well established. The researchers stress the importance of accurate public communication, distinguishing genuine epidemiological risk from perceived threat, while calling for continued surveillance of non-fatal health impacts such as allergic reactions.

31 May 2026Read →

Where Solar Panels Meet Singing Birds: The Solar Farm Rewriting the Rules

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper visited a solar farm in Essex, where he observed how clean energy generation and nature recovery can successfully coexist, with the site achieving an 80% biodiversity net gain alongside producing electricity for thousands of homes. The article argues that the assumption clean energy infrastructure must come at the expense of nature is a false choice, highlighting how good design, early environmental planning, and measures such as wildflower meadows and hedgerow enhancements can deliver strong ecological outcomes. Natural England encourages developers to engage with them from the earliest stages of project design to maximise benefits for both nature and the UK's clean power goals.

30 May 2026Read →

The Stork Question: Should We Be Releasing Ancient Birds Back Into England's Skies?

Natural England has clarified the legal and conservation framework surrounding the release of white storks, black storks, and other vagrant bird species in England. While white stork releases are currently legal without a licence due to their established visiting presence, black storks require a licence as they are considered neither resident nor regular visitors, and neither species is recognised as native under Natural England's definition. Any proposed releases must follow the national Reintroductions and Conservation Translocations Code, including feasibility studies, risk assessments, and stakeholder engagement, with Natural England expressing caution about prioritising such projects.

29 May 2026Read →

The Giants Are Coming Back: White-Tailed Eagles Are Returning to Exmoor

Natural England has issued a licence allowing the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England to release up to 20 white-tailed eagles in Exmoor National Park over three years, building on the successful Isle of Wight reintroduction project. The licence followed a thorough evidence-based assessment that considered ecological impacts, biosecurity, and socio-economic concerns, including fears from farmers about livestock predation — fears which six years of Isle of Wight monitoring data have not supported. Key safeguards including GPS tracking, farming sector representation on a steering group, and long-term monitoring commitments are built into the licence conditions.

28 May 2026Read →

The Quiet Revolution Happening in Backyard Gardens — and Why Birds Are Noticing

The Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, founded in 2005 by Kathy Kramer in the East Bay, has grown to its largest year yet with 74 participating gardens, reflecting a broader mainstream shift toward native plant gardening. Homeowners like Stefanie Pruegel and Valerie Matzger have transformed their yards into wildlife habitats using California native plants, attracting growing numbers of birds and insects while forgoing pesticides and fertilizers. The movement is driven by concern over declining bird populations and habitat loss, with research highlighting the ecological importance of native plants in supporting the insects that birds depend on.

27 May 2026Read →

No Mow May: Good Idea, But Maybe Think Bigger

No Mow May is an initiative by the charity Plantlife that encourages gardeners to reduce grass cutting during May, allowing wildflowers to bloom and support pollinators, insects, and small mammals. Now in its eighth year, the campaign is growing in popularity, with 32% of 2025 participants joining for the first time. Rather than simply skipping mowing for one month, the article advocates for a longer-term approach — such as dedicating a permanent wild patch or cutting pathways through uncut grass — to provide sustained benefits for wildlife beyond a single month.

24 May 2026Read →

What's Turning California's Waves Purple? Meet the Weirdest Creature in the Ocean

Purple waves at Point Reyes have been identified by marine scientists as likely caused by a bloom of doliolids — tiny, barrel-shaped sea creatures with an extraordinarily complex five-stage life cycle that allows a single individual to multiply into thousands within just 23 days. These organisms can dramatically reshape marine ecosystems by consuming nearly everything from microbes to phytoplankton, and their carbon-rich waste pellets play a role in storing climate-warming carbon. While doliolids are fascinating, their fragility makes them difficult to study, leaving researchers with limited ability to predict when and where such blooms will next occur.

24 May 2026Read →