Florence Williams

Dec 2, 2024 | outsideonline.com | Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan |Rick Marin |W. Hodding Carter |Florence Williams

Reeling from her husband’s request to divorce after 25 years of marriage and two kids, Florence Williams was experiencing debilitating grief. An accomplished reporter, she decided to explore the science of heartache to see if she could find a cure. In this excerpt from her new book, ‘Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey,’ she heads out for a 120-mile solo paddle on Utah’s Green River, with a too heavy portable toilet and a shattered heart.

Jul 19, 2024 | outsideonline.com | Christine Byrne |Florence Williams |Brad Stulberg |Gloria Liu

These days, screen-addicted Americans are more stressed out and distracted than ever. And there’s no app for that. But there is a radically simple remedy: get outside. Florence Williams travels to the deep woods of Japan, where researchers are backing up the theory that nature can lower your blood pressure, fight off depression—and even prevent cancer.

Jul 25, 2023 | outsideonline.com | Florence Williams

Reflecting on my passage through the galaxy of wildflowers, it’s hard to tell whether the sensation I was feeling was on par with sadness or amusement, or something more like an altered state. Recent neuroscience suggests it might be both. A heightened awe experience stimulates the vagus nerve, which calms us, and releases a pleasant rush of dopamine and oxytocin, increasing a sense of connection. It also dramatically shifts which brain networks are firing up.

Jul 25, 2023 | yahoo.com | Florence Williams

This article originally appeared on OutsideMichael Amster arrived at the Flying J truck stop in Lebec, California, carrying a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread. His orange puffer vibrated in the wind as he climbed into the Toyota Tacoma that would ferry us up into the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains of the Central Valley. We buckled up. A wintry mix of rain and snow lashed the windshield. The bread wasn't warm, but it was soft. "It's gluten-free!" he announced.

Jul 12, 2023 | yahoo.com | Florence Williams

Oops!Something went wrong. Please try again later. In this article: Oops!Something went wrong. Please try again later. William ShatnerCanadian actorThis article originally appeared on OutsideOUTSIDE: We're thrilled to speak with you about one of our favorite shared subjects: awe. Let’s start with outer space. When did your fascination with it begin? At a summer camp outside Montreal. I was a city boy, and I was sitting on a log. It was night, and I was looking up into the stars.