Amy Hayes
Stories by Amy Hayes
Lost in Time: Exploring 25 Extinct Animals and the Causes Behind Their Extinction
Learn how 25 extinct animals including woolly mammoths, dodos, and Tasmanian tigers vanished due to hunting, habitat loss, and climate change.
The Science of Tree Care and Maintenance: What is an Arborist?
Arborists are tree care professionals who maintain individual trees through pruning, trimming, disease diagnosis, and removal. Entry-level positions require a high school diploma.
Crossing Borders: A Look at the Lives of 24 Animals That Migrate
24 migratory animals from arctic terns flying 25,000 miles to wildebeests crossing 500 miles travel seasonally seeking food, breeding grounds, and optimal climates.
33 Types of Florida Trees to Look for in the Sunshine State
Identify 33 tree species in Florida, from iconic live oaks to hardy bald cypress and rare torreya trees.
Unveiling Nature’s Aerial Acrobats: 23 Types of Hummingbirds
Discover 23 hummingbird species across the Americas with iridescent plumage, rapid wing beats up to 80 times per second, and remarkable migration abilities.
Feathered Rainbow: Delving into All 19 Types of Macaws Found in the Wild
19 macaw species range from giant hyacinth macaws to tiny red-shouldered mini-macaws, with several critically endangered and 2 already extinct.
Man vs Nature: Understanding What Causes Wildfires and How We Contribute
Explore wildfire causes, the fire triangle's fuel-oxygen-heat formula, the 5-level danger scale, and how weather, topography, and fuel drive spread.
Are Turtles Reptiles? A Dive into the World of Turtles
Turtles are reptiles classified in order Testudines; they have shells with scutes, breathe air through lungs, and are cold-blooded.
The Sea’s Most Infamous Predator: What’s the Biggest Great White Shark Ever Recorded?
Deep Blue, a 20-foot female great white, is the largest recorded, though a 1945 Cuban shark weighed 7,100 pounds, and the whale shark grows twice as large.
Invader Alert! Which US States Have the Most Invasive Species?
Invasive species cost the global economy 1.288 trillion dollars over 50 years, with Florida and California having the most.
20 Types of Bumblebees to Look for in Your Backyard
20 bumblebee species pollinate crops and wildflowers across temperate and arctic regions worldwide.
What is the Largest Desert in the World? Discover the Surprising Answer
The Antarctic Desert covers 5.4 million square miles, making it the world's largest desert, despite popular assumptions about the Sahara.
Secrets of the Tapanuli Orangutan: Discovering the World’s Rarest Great Ape and Their Fight for Survival
The Tapanuli orangutan, discovered in 2017, is the world's rarest great ape with fewer than 800 individuals remaining.
Tiger Shark vs Great White Showdown: What Sets Them Apart?
Tiger sharks eat diverse prey from tropical coastal waters; great whites hunt seals from temperate oceans with distinct size, appearance, and habitat differences.
The Science Behind Monster Waves: How Do Tsunamis Form?
Tsunamis form from water displacement caused by earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; can reach 500 mph and travel entire ocean basins.
The Unearthing of Prehistoric Life: When Were Dinosaurs Discovered?
Robert Plot found the first dinosaur bone in 1676; Richard Owen coined Dinosauria in 1842 after identifying 3 specimens.
Unveiling the Ocean’s Deepest Secrets: How Much of the Ocean Have We Explored?
Humans have explored just five percent of the ocean despite water covering seventy-one percent of Earth's surface.
The Classification of Dinosaurs: Are Dinosaurs Reptiles? Exploring the Facts and Science
Dinosaurs are reptiles that lived 245-66 million years ago, defined by upright leg stance and unique pelvic structures. Birds are living dinosaurs.
25 Fascinating Coral Reef Animals: Unveiling Nature’s Most Beautiful Ecosystem
Coral reefs house 25% of marine life across 100+ countries, featuring corals, fish, sharks, and invertebrates in warm shallow waters.
Nature’s Fury Unleashed: Exploring The Key Differences Between Cyclones, Typhoons, and Hurricanes
Cyclones, typhoons, and hurricanes are identical rotating tropical storms named by geography: South Pacific/Indian Ocean = cyclone, West Pacific = typhoon, Atlantic = hurricane. All form over 27°C water and spin opposite hemispheres.
Meet the Common Octopus: A Deep Ocean Genius and Master of Camouflage
Common octopuses are highly intelligent deep-sea creatures with color-changing abilities, blue blood, three hearts, and exceptional problem-solving skills.
Exploring 13 Types of Wetlands: A Deep Dive into Nature’s Remarkable Ecosystems
Discover 13 wetland types including marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens. Highly productive ecosystems vital for wildlife and flood control.
Endangered Hotspots: US States with the Most Endangered Species
Discover which 10 US states host the most endangered species and learn about critical habitats protecting over 1,200 imperiled species.
Why Are Sea Turtles Endangered? Face-to-Face with the Biggest Threats
Seven sea turtle species face extinction from fishing nets, plastic pollution, and climate change. Discover conservation efforts protecting these ancient marine reptiles.
Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? Exploring The Colorful Science of Fall Colors
Shorter fall days trigger deciduous trees to break down chlorophyll, revealing hidden pigments in leaves, creating the season's iconic orange, red, and yellow hues.
From Dormant to Deadly – What Causes a Volcano to Erupt? Uncovering the Secrets of These Explosive Natural Phenomena
Explore the science of volcanic eruptions, from tectonic plate movement and magma formation to the deadly VEI scale measuring eruption intensity.
A World of Cuteness: 55 Cute Animals That’ll Make You Smile
From fennec foxes and quokkas to leaf sheep slugs and elephant shrews, 55 adorable animals span African savannas, Asian rainforests, and desert burrows. Each possesses unique features,big ears, tiny size, leaf-like appendages,that make them irresistibly cute.
Stay Warm & Dry: Essential Clothing Tips for Whitewater Rafting
Layer moisture-wicking base, insulating middle, and protective outer gear; avoid cotton; wear PFD and water-appropriate footwear.
Meet the Barbary Macaque: The Only Primate Found Outside of Asia
The Barbary macaque is the only macaque species living outside Asia and north of the Sahara, with fewer than 10,000 individuals remaining in North Africa and Gibraltar.
The Black Snub-Nosed Monkey: A Unique Endangered Primate
Discover endangered black snub-nosed monkeys of China: rare high-altitude primates with wooly fur surviving on lichens at 14,700 feet.
How High Are Clouds? A Fascinating Exploration of the Sky’s Wonders
Cloud heights range from ground level to 65,000 feet in troposphere; cirrus reach 40,000 feet, polar mesospheric 279,000.
How to Read a Compass: Expert Tips for Successful Navigation
Learn compass navigation by understanding magnetic declination, orienting the needle to true north, and using base plate, lensatic, or digital compass types.
What Are Altostratus Clouds and How Do They Form?
Altostratus clouds are featureless mid-level clouds forming between 6500-20000 feet that allow sunlight to pass through their thin layers.
Nimbostratus Clouds Unveiled: Discover the Science Behind Rainy Skies
Nimbostratus clouds are dense, gray sheets that bring continuous rain and block out sunlight without producing lightning.
Snakes in Oklahoma: All 48 Types of Snakes Found in Oklahoma
Oklahoma hosts 47 snake species across prairies, woodlands, forests, and cypress swamps, with 7 venomous species and many harmless types.
What Are the Chances of Getting Struck by Lightning?
Lightning strikes happen at 1 in 15,300 lifetime odds; positive lightning is 10 times stronger than negative, heating air to 60,000 degrees.
Discover the Bald Uakari: The Amazon’s Red-Faced Primate Marvel
Bald uakaris are red-faced primates living in Amazon floodplains; their bright red face indicates health status and sexual fitness.
What is an Avalanche? Discover the Types, Causes, and Dangers of These Snowy Disasters
Avalanches are large snow masses that rush downslope at extreme speeds, triggered by slope angle, snowpack instability, and weather. Slab avalanches are deadliest.
Meet the Golden Langur: A Rare Primate’s Secrets
Learn about golden langurs, critically endangered leaf-eating primates living high in Bhutan and India's forest canopies.
What Do Bees Eat? Discover their Secret Menu
Bees eat pollen and nectar from flowers, convert nectar to honey, and queen bees feed on royal jelly throughout their development.
How Much Does a Yurt Cost? Understanding the Price of Buying, Building, Maintaining and Living in a Yurt
Yurts cost six thousand to eighty thousand dollars depending on size and amenities, serving as affordable alternatives to traditional homes.
Unravel the Mystery of Cirrocumulus Clouds: Formation, Types, and Impact on Weather
Cirrocumulus clouds form at 20,000-40,000 feet from turbulent vertical currents and contrails, appear as white cotton ball rows, and indicate cold, fair weather.
The 30 Most Common Types of Snakes in Georgia
Georgia has 46 snake species; only 6 are venomous, and diverse habitats from coasts to mountains support high biodiversity.
Moth vs Butterfly: Discover 5 Key Differences Between These Enchanting Creatures
Moths and butterflies are closely related Lepidoptera with key differences in wings, antennae, behavior, and pupation methods.
What Do Elephants Eat? Debunking Myths and Discovering Their Favorite Foods
Elephants eat 200 to 600 pounds of vegetation daily including grasses, leaves, bark, and fruit across their 12 to 18 hour eating day.
Meet 22 Animals That Live in the Desert: How Do They Adapt?
22 desert animals including camels, snakes, scorpions, fennec foxes, and ostriches survive extreme heat above 100 degrees with specialized water-conservation adaptations.
Bear Spray vs Pepper Spray: The Crucial Differences and Their Effectiveness
Bear spray deters charging bears up to 25 feet away with higher capsicum concentration, while pepper spray is designed for self-defense against humans with a 10-foot range.
Reaching New Heights: How Long Does It Take to Climb Mount Everest and What’s Involved
Mount Everest summits require two months of climbing and acclimatization, costing thirty thousand to one hundred eighty thousand dollars with extreme risks.
How Many Rhinos Are Left Today? Learn About the Crisis Facing These Majestic Creatures
Only about twenty-six thousand rhinos remain in the world today across five species, threatened by poaching and habitat destruction.
Virga: Unraveling the Secrets of the Evaporating Rain
Virga is precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground, forming wispy rod-shaped streaks below clouds in dry desert regions.
The Fascinating World of Tortoises: How Long Do Tortoises Live and Why?
Tortoises are ancient reptiles with lifespans ranging from thirty to over one hundred fifty years, depending on species and habitat.
What is a Tornado? A Fascinating Look at the Science and Impact of Tornadoes
Tornadoes are violent rotating storms with wind speeds exceeding 200 mph that form from supercell thunderstorms. Learn their types, causes, and how to stay safe.
The Green Anaconda: A Close Look at the World’s Largest Constrictor
Green anacondas are the heaviest snakes in the world, reaching 550 pounds and 39 feet, native to South America's rainforests and river basins.
Lenticular Clouds: Why Are They Shaped Like UFOs?
Lenticular clouds form lens or UFO-shaped formations over mountains when wind creates standing waves, creating one of nature's rarest cloud phenomena.
What is Subsidence? The Alarming Reality of Sinking Landscapes and Its Effects
Subsidence causes Earth's surface to sink from groundwater overuse, damaging infrastructure and flooding coastal areas worldwide.
20 Types of Sparrows Around the World: Field Guide, Photos + Fun Facts
20 sparrow species span the globe, from Old World true sparrows to New World species more closely related to buntings.
Idaho Wolves: The Challenges and Triumphs of Wildlife Conservation
Idaho wolves were listed as endangered for 30 years before reintroduction efforts restored populations to over 1,500 individuals by 2021.
How Long Do Bees Live? Everything You Need to Know About the Life of a Bee
Bee lifespans vary by type: worker bees live five to six weeks, while queen bees live one to three years, with some carpenter bees living up to three years.
Top 21 Animals With Long Tails Across the World
21 long-tailed animals from spider monkeys with 32-inch prehensile tails to seismosaurs with 70-foot tails use them for balance, grasping, defense, communication.
Top 18 Beautiful Birds of Virginia – Facts + Pictures
Explore 18 Virginia birds including state bird cardinal, eastern bluebird, and peregrine falcon diving at 200 mph with identification tips.
20 Amazing Animals in the Tundra (Facts & Photos)
20 tundra animals including arctic wolves, polar bears, caribou, and emperor penguins survive freezing temperatures below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
