Something incredible happens overhead each spring—and most of us barely notice it. From Central America's tropical rainforests to Canada's forests, billions of migratory birds travel northward on instinct alone. Among them are some of our most familiar songbirds: warblers, orioles, grosbeaks, and tanagers. Thanks to scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology , we now have an eye-opening way to witness this journey: an animated map showing the spring migration paths of 15 bird species, compiled from thousands of observations and radar data. When Do Birds Migrate Near You? Different species move through different regions at different times, and peak migration windows can last just a couple of weeks. Fortunately, BirdCast has mapped this too. Source: Dr. Kyle Horton / BirdCast , Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Colorado State University AeroEco Lab This map shows when your area sees the highest volume of migratory birds. If you're in Texas, mid-April is your moment. Northerne...
We often talk about record heat , especially in the context of climate change. But on the flip side, our planet also experiences cold so extreme it defies belief—temperatures that can flash-freeze exposed skin and halt life as we know it. These are not just numbers on thermometers; they’re snapshots of how Earth's atmosphere behaves under specific conditions—altitude, wind patterns, and location far from the moderating effects of oceans. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth? That title goes to Vostok Station in Antarctica, where scientists measured a bone-cracking −89.2°C (−128.6°F) on July 21, 1983. Located on the East Antarctic Plateau, Vostok is more than 1,000 kilometers from the South Pole and sits atop about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) of ice. It’s isolated, dry, and high—three ingredients that make for perfect deep freeze conditions. The world map below created by VividMaps shows the lowest temperature ever recorded by country. The Coldest Inhabited Place on Earth...