Articles by Kirsten Brooker

Quails are small birds that live all over the world. They spend most of their time on the ground because their stout, plump bodies make it difficult to take long flights. A quail is in the same family as the… Read More

Sept. 24 is set aside each year to honor punctuation. It may seem odd, but punctuation is a valuable tool that clarifies writing and reduces confusion and misconception. The earliest known use of punctuation is found on the Mesha Stele… Read More

Polar bears are large, carnivorous mammals that live in parts of Canada, Greenland, Alaska, Norway, and Russia. Global warming is negatively affecting the beautiful animals’ habitat, as they prefer cold, icy temperatures. As ancestors of the brown bear, polar bears… Read More

Light pollution is artificial light that is unwanted and usually excessive. The bright lights that help keep homes, barns, and businesses safe and functioning around the clock may be disrupting natural patterns of birds. Apparently, those lights throw off the… Read More

Thirteen different species of otters are globally recognized. Each species is part of the Lutrinae subfamily, a branch of the Mustelidae (weasel) family. An otter’s characteristics vary based on the mammal’s species. However, every type of otter is known to… Read More

A group of Japanese and Taiwanese scientists wanted to learn what it was like to travel by sea back in the old days and tested it on a 30,000-year-old sea expedition. They wanted the experiment to be as accurate to… Read More

The Earth’s oceans are home to many fish and other aquatic species. Some have rather odd-looking features, especially the narwhal. It is known as the unicorn of the sea because of the strange and noticeable tusk, or tusks (some have… Read More

For decades, young people have sought love, marriage, and a family. Now, though, priorities seem to be shifting as nearly half of the Gen Z crowd admitted in a survey that they yearn for money more than love. But why?… Read More

Macaws are beautiful and playful birds that live in the rainforests and tropical jungles of Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, and other areas of Central and South America. They live an exceptionally long life, sometimes well beyond 60 years, even in… Read More

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making its debut, and it is outdoing humans in nearly every category. From video games to artistry and even medicine, AI is proving to be a remarkable tool. As with nearly everything, AI poses concerns as… Read More

Llamas are most commonly found in parts of South America. Often called the friendliest animals in the world because of their sweet disposition and seemingly empathetic personality, scientists categorize them as “charismatic megafaunas” that appeal to humans. Several other animals… Read More

The Magna Carta, meaning “Great Charter,” is an important document that helped shape the development of democracy. Issued in 1215, it was designed to limit the power of the English monarch and allowed “free men” to have rights as individuals…. Read More