Trail of Tears | Life & News

Friday, April 24, 2026

Politics

Joel Roberts Poinsett: Namesake of the poinsettia, enslaver, secret agent and...

Staff Writer - December 19, 2023

Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, Miami University If people know the name Joel Roberts Poinsett today, it is likely because of...

EXPLORING NATURE

A pipe carries water and raw sewage into the C&O Canal, parallel to the Potomac River. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Environment

Washington DC’s 240 million‑gallon sewage spill is a symptom of nationwide trouble

Staff Writer - April 16, 2026

Marccus D. Hendricks, University of Maryland When 240 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River in...

Gray whales have unique markings, making it possible to track each one in the bay. Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images

Gray whales are dying in San Francisco Bay at an alarming...

April 13, 2026

This composite image shows the Geminid meteors, captured in 2020 using Global Meteor Network software. Aleksandar Merlak

I found a new meteor shower, and it comes from an...

April 10, 2026

The Denver suburb of Castle Rock, Colo., limits water use in future developments. Homeowners are embracing water-efficient yards. RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Water conservation works, but climate change is outpacing it: Phoenix, Denver...

April 8, 2026

The Salton Sea is shrinking and releasing toxic dust from its lake bed. Jennifer Davis/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Toxic dust from California’s shrinking Salton Sea is harming children’s lung...

April 5, 2026