Traffic jams are a growing problem in Maine and elsewhere. Maine students and their robots are part of the solution. This past August I found myself parked in the left lane of I95 on a usually lonely stretch of pavement between Bangor and Waterville. Stuck in a traffic jam that would extend my driving time […]

The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced the creation of a new national wildlife refuge in southern Maine this week. Called the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), new conserved lands will maintain grass- and shrub habitats in coastal regions of New England and New York. Areas targeted for Refuge lands are concentrated in the […]

Just over a year ago, the largest known chestnut tree in North America was found in Western Maine. About 150 years ago, giant chestnut trees were fairly common in New England, where they were a favorite tree to plant in cities. Chestnuts were largely wiped out in the US after an invasive fungus swept the […]

Whether we like it or not, summer is coming to an end. Soon windows will be shut, kids will be back in school and the post-Labor Day respite from tourist-traffic will be punctuated by camera-wielding leaf-peepers. Picking the right time for leaf-peeping can be tough: if you head out too early, colors can be underwhelming; […]

In the northeast, we have an old habit of giving plants, fungi and animals misleading names. Poison ivy is actually in the sumac family, Spanish moss is really a lichen and nighthawks are only distantly related to hawks (and are active at dawn and dusk – not at night). In many cases these names make […]

With summer upon us, it is finally lake season again in Maine. Even the most timid among us are now venturing – slowly but surely – into the water. You may have noticed that not all lakes are created equal: some Maine lakes are incredibly clear, while others are so murky you can barely see […]