Big pool, tiny fish

Few swimming pools offer bathers potential encounters with a live fish, especially not an endangered one. And Balmorhea State Park’s pool is the only one in the world occupied by the tiny endangered Comanche Springs pupfish. Read more about it here. 

West Texas Rockets

The remoteness of tiny Van Horn, Texas, makes it a great place to see starry skies. The nearby Blue Origin launch site means it is also a place where you might see a rocket launch. Read about how some of the first launches changed the town.

The Insect Apocalypse

 Insects are disappearing, and we will miss them. Here are some ways you can help. 

Enjoy night skies indoors

At a planetarium, you can enjoy constellations, planets and other astronomical wonders from a comfy chair with no worries about light pollution from cities or satellites, cloudy skies, heat or cold, bugs, or the hard ground. And Texas has at least 15 to choose from. Read more in this piece for Texas Co-op Power Magazine. 

Kayaking in the City

Paddle a kayak on one of the waterways that flow through cities in Texas. These user-friendly boats are a great way to enjoy nature, wildlife, skyline views, history and more. Read about paddle outings and tours across the state in this piece for Texas Parks & Wildlife.  

Debunking Myths about Oysters

 One of those myths is that you can only eat oysters from September to April (months with an 'r' in them). But now that Texas allows oyster farming, we can enjoy this coastal delicacy year-round. Read all about it here. 

Bottled water versus tap

Bottled water sales are way, way up, thanks in part to marketing claims that it is cleaner than tap water. But drinking from plastic poses a real danger, according to experts and studies. Read about it in this piece for The Revelator. 

What to know about poison ivy

Texas has an amazing variety and abundance of plants, from towering pines to rolling prairie grasses and desert cacti. One plant no one wants to encounter, though, is poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). Read what you need to know about it in this piece from Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine.

Incredible journeys: Whooping cranes

 A population of whooping cranes migrates between Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, and the Texas coast. These highly endangered birds have slowly but surely been increasing in numbers, but they need protection along their route and at both ends. Read more in this piece for The Revelator. 

Black-tailed jackrabbits

Ears that can stand 7 inches tall help jackrabbits dissipate heat and listen for predators like hawks and coyotes. Hind feet that are just as long enable speeds up to 40 mph to escape them. Read more about these animals - actually hares and not rabbits - in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine.

Replacing disposable plastics with reusables

 This piece in my series on the problems of plastic pollution for The Revelator looks at efforts to replace single-use plastics with reusable items. 

Incredible Sea Turtle Journeys

 Research is filling in the blanks on the incredible migrations of sea turtles around the world, making conservation efforts more effective. Read more in my piece for The Revelator. 

Restoring Florida's Mangroves

Hurricanes and changes to natural hydrology have hammered Florida's mangroves, but restoration efforts are seeing some success. Read more in this piece for The Revelator, one of the publication's 15 most newsworthy articles in 2025. 

Hammerhead Sharks in the Gulf

 Critically endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks are one of the 10 most common shark species in Texas waters, often caught by beach anglers. These sharks also help maintain the overall health of the Gulf. Read more about them in the December issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. 

Storing the World's Data in DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA theoretically could fit all the data generated by humans in your coffee cup–and store it for thousands of years. Several hurdles to making this technology a reality remain, primarily the expense of generating the DNA, but scientists aren't giving up. Read more in this piece for Popular Mechanics. 

Making better plastics

 To help solve the problem of plastic pollution, scientists are trying to make "better" plastics. This piece for The Revelator explores the pros and cons of these materials. 

Responsible marine wildlife watching

Encounters with marine animals like whales and dugongs can be profound, even life-changing experiences for divers, benefit local economies, and provide opportunities to educate people about wildlife and the environment. But unless done right, these encounters can negatively affect the animals. Read how to do them right. 

Tracking the Migrations of Sharks

Scientists are learning more about the incredible migrations of shark species in order to help protect them. Read about some of the latest research in this story for The Revelator. 

Dutch Oven Cooking

At Lake Tawakoni State Park near Dallas, birdwatch, fish, hike, camp and learn how to cook just about anything Dutch oven style as part of the Texas Outdoor Family workshops. 

Birds and more at Brazos Bend State Park

Brazos Bend State Park is a birding hotspot, with hundreds of species living here or passing through on migrations. Visitors can also spot alligators and other wildlife, hike miles of trails, or check out the Houston Museum of Science George Observatory.