City life driving you nuts? Yeah, it does that.

So, we've all heard about the toll urban development takes on forests and the critters dwelling therein, but have we stopped to think about the concrete horizon's ramifications for the human psyche?
The Boston Globe recently reported on the mind-numbing effects of surrounding ourselves with blaring horns, neon signs, cross walks, distracted pedestrians, and the overall bleak gray vista of the average city. Check it out here, and you'll be ready to book your next nature walk or weekend in the hills.

Ice caps? So what?

Have you ever wondered what people are talking about when they refer to the polar ice caps? Are you unsure of the reason for all the fuss over the melting of these frigid-sounding locales? International Polar Year is a study focused on the nuances of the Arctic and Antarctic regions from March 2007 to March 2009. IPY will allow scientists from 60 countries to research physical, biological, and social aspects tied to the poles.
Check out the website (http://www.ipy.org/) for breath-taking photographs, information on the different studies, and ways to get involved. You can even take an interactive spin around the poles (and track cold-dwelling creatures) using IPY's Google Earth presentation.