Monica is a Writer and Editor

Discover Magazine • 20th April 2022

How The National Park Service Is Working To Prevent Wildfires

The Joshua tree is a symbol of the Mojave Desert. After all, it only grows in this region of the world. It's unique, picturesque, bizarre, resilient and a yucca, which means it's a member of the asparagus family!

Joshua trees take hundreds of years to mature and have co-evolved with the yucca moth. Because they are so fascinating, Joshua Tree National Monument was created in 1936 and became Joshua Tree National Park in October of 1994. The nearby Mojave National Preserve was also established in

Discover Magazine • 18th April 2022

5 U.S. National Parks with Fascinating Features

Happy National Park Week! With a diversity of photo-worthy environs including high deserts, rainforests, mountains, beaches and historical sites, there’s a National Park or monument for everyone. In honor of the holiday, here's a list of some of the striking features that you can find throughout the country:

If you’re heading to Utah to check out the Mighty Five, chances are Arches National Park is at the top of your list — along with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. This park

Discover Magazine • 25th March 2022

True Crime: A Not So Strange Addiction

If your go-to conversation starter is serial killer factoids or you spend Friday nights binging shows on the ID Network, you may get some raised eyebrows and concerned looks. But obsessing over true crime isn’t as strange of an addiction as one may think, especially if you identify as a woman. Instead, fascination with this grisly genre of murders, kidnappings and deceits may just help you prepare for the worst. (Though, to be clear, the worst is unlikely to occur.)

What Started It All?

The Am

Discover Magazine • 8th March 2022

Before Horses, Hybrid Donkeys Were Once Used For Battle

History regales us with tales of mighty armies swooping into battle on large, armored steeds. But before warhorses, Sumerians in southern Mesopotamia may have used donkey hybrids in battle, according to new research.

Depictions of battle wagons drawn by equids — a family of mammals that includes horses, zebras, donkeys and their now-extinct kin — can be seen on the “Standard of Ur” a famous 4,500-year-old Sumerian mosaic that dates nearly 500 years before the introduction of domestic horses to

Discover Magazine • 1st March 2022

Why Are We Afraid of Bugs?

Insects and arachnids are among the top things that people fear most. They’re creepy, crawly and some can even be dangerous, from having poisonous venom to carrying deadly diseases — like the tsetse fly, which can carry the parasites that cause East African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, a fatal illness if left untreated.

For the most part, though, insects and arachnids are harmless. So why are we so afraid of them? Spiders and insects may take the cake when it comes to the critters tha

Discover Magazine • 14th February 2022

Why Are We Addicted To Love?

People have fought wars, crossed oceans and died in the name of love. Epics have been written about it. And you could sink a ship with all the poems, books, movies, operas and songs that have been centered on this theme. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “everyone loves a good love story.” And it’s true, most of us love the idea of love. But, why?

One answer is simpler than you think. Love is addicting. We talked with Helen Fisher, an anthropologist and Senior Research Fellow at The Kinsey Inst

Discover Magazine • 14th February 2022

Why Do We Give Red Roses On Valentine’s Day?

For centuries, the red rose has been a symbol of love, passion and romance. The delicate yet thorny flower has an ornate history when it comes to its association with deep intimacy — especially on Valentine’s Day. But it’s also an emblem of secrecy. Stemming from ancient mythology and Roman conquest to secret marriages and discreet messages, the symbol of the rose has followed a long road to become the staple of a Valentine’s Day bouquet.

A Rose By Any Other Name…

Fossil records indicate that

Discover Magazine • 10th February 2022

New Study Links Traffic Pollution to Pediatric Asthma

Traffic-related pollution is likely a major driver of pediatric asthma, according to a new study from George Washington University. The research, which evaluated more than 13,000 cities around the world, suggests urban areas pose a higher risk for this condition and states that “mitigating air pollution should be a crucial element of public health strategies for children.”

The results, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, found that nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gas commonly found in vehicle e

Discover Magazine • 8th February 2022

8 Amazing Black Scientists and How They Changed History

Sometimes, all it takes is one person to shape the world we live in. With a spark of imagination and a little bit of courage, amazing things can be achieved. Unfortunately, some of those achievements can be overshadowed and innovations taken for granted; history is full of amazing scientists who were often overlooked because of their race and gender.

In honor of Black History Month, we’re highlighting 8 amazing Black scientists and the ways that they changed history.

Born into slavery in 1864,

Discover Magazine • 26th January 2022

Less Sleep Linked to Increased Sugar Consumption in Teens

While skipping a few hours of sleep each night might seem like it'll help you accomplish more tasks in a day, it comes at a high cost to the body and mind — especially if you're a teenager.

We're all guilty of overlooking the importance of sleep for our wellbeing. While we sleep, our minds and bodies recharge and repair. Our hormones balance out, which is key to maintaining a healthy weight, our muscles repair themselves, and our brains rest and prepare for the day ahead.

Although everyone sho