Stefan Lovgren

1 week ago | nationalgeographic.com | Stefan Lovgren

Every year fiesta lovers across the United States gather to celebrate the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo—literally "May 5" in Spanish. Some U.S. partygoers may be surprised to learn that Cinco de Mayo history is short on beer, long on bloodshed. Cinco de Mayo is often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, which is actually September 16. On that date in 1810, Mexico declared its independence from Spanish rule. Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates another Mexican army victory.

1 month ago | nationalgeographic.com | Stefan Lovgren

Growing up in Thailand’s northeastern Isan region, Suwimon Chantajohn learned from her grandfather which insects were best to eat. Captivated by his stories of surviving on bugs during his military service in World War II, she spent her childhood scouring the dry fields for crickets, bamboo worms, and scarab beetles hiding in the grass, under bark, or beneath cow dung. As an adult, she wanted to start her own business and traveled the world.

Jan 28, 2025 | sciencenews.org | Stefan Lovgren

For almost a century, migratory flyways have been a cornerstone of bird conservation. Knowing where these aerial highways are helps protect habitats and monitor species through carefully mapped routes that connect breeding, feeding and resting grounds. But birds aren’t the only kinds of animals taking vast treks. Freshwater fish do, too. Unlike birds, whose flight paths are visible to the naked eye, these fish migrations remain hidden beneath the surfaces of rivers.

Jan 8, 2025 | sciencenews.org | Stefan Lovgren

Landscapes in Southeast Asia once thought to stifle biological evolution may instead stoke its fires. Karst ecosystems have been referred to as arks of biodiversity, a term that highlights their biological richness but also implies they merely preserve ancient lineages. These landscapes, with their isolated caves, cliffs and sinkholes, were thought to shelter species from extinction without contributing much to evolution.

Oct 24, 2024 | sciencenews.org | Stefan Lovgren

The “Mekong ghost” fish is a ghost no more. Like the legendary Rip Van Winkle, who wandered into the woods and disappeared for 20 years, the giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus) of Southeast Asia’s Mekong River also seemed to vanish into the depths of myth. The megafish had not been documented since 2005, leading many to believe the species had quietly slipped into extinction. But scientists have now confirmed the discovery of three individuals, caught from 2020 to 2023 in Cambodian waters.