Ila Bonczek

The Spix’s macaw, with fewer than 200 living members — all in captivity — may be the world’s rarest bird.  Due to poaching and habitat destruction, Spix’s macaw is on the verge of extinction. Despite...

Regarding Independence Day, most Americans would agree that we owe our freedom largely to The Declaration of Independence, a document written nearly 250 years ago that officially separated us from England; yet another document may...

Re-thinking your lawn? You’re not alone. Homeowners across America are looking to improve the environment, starting with their own backyard. Whether you want a lower maintenance walking surface, a pollinator-friendly green space, or an edible...

Brain fog is a cloudy-headed feeling that makes it hard to focus or think clearly, and easy to forget. Brain fog itself is bad enough, but the ensuing frustration from reduced cognition may also lead...

First discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, spotted lanternflies—an invasive species called Lycorma delicatula originating from parts of China—have spread to and infested most of the Garden State, with 13 of New Jersey’s 21 counties quarantined...

Would you like to declutter? For various reasons, most of us have more stuff than we need. Due to impulse buying, social customs that call for obligatory—yet unnecessary—gifts, and the phenomenon of items outliving their...

Given a little good soil and a lot of bright sun, most herbs are fairly easy to grow. Herbs don’t need a lot of space, and can even be grown on a balcony high above...

Municipalities in New York and New Jersey are attempting to address a growing threat to migrating birds that is compounded by the fact that they lie directly in the birds’ migratory path. Hudson Valley and...

Many animals are very intelligent and can learn human skills that not only fascinate us, but can also be extremely useful. For instance, one clever dog, a pet Husky in eastern China, understands his owner—a...

The importance of understanding emotions became widely recognized in 1995, with the publication of journalist Daniel Goleman’s best-selling book Emotional Intelligence. Understanding emotions is an valuable social skill that is rarely taught, but can be...

Learning is an essential life skill that brings great inner satisfaction. Mastering a new skill or finally understanding some complicated concept can boost our self esteem and give a great sense of achievement, pride, and...

Cracker-like foods have long served travelers of all sorts as a virtually non-perishable form of sustenance that was easy to carry. Unlike these scrumptious seed crackers, the original crackers were very basic and bland: water...