Sand Cats Thrive in Deserts as Tiny yet Fierce Hunters

by Chelsea Zheng, age 12

Despite being smaller than a common house cat, the sand cat is a fearsome predator. Unlike most other cats, this cat lives in the harsh desert and has accumulated various adaptations to survive in these areas.

The sand cat's large ears help it detect prey. This feature is necessary because these cats are nocturnal. Their ears are low on their head so they can stay hidden in the barren landscape. Their sandy-gray fur helps them blend in with their surroundings, which leaves them unnoticed by predators and prey. The sand cat’s fur also protects its paws from the hot sand.

Sand cats are the only cat species that primarily live in the desert. With their powerful limbs, they can dig burrows to escape the sun’s heat. These cats weigh 6.6 to 8.8 pounds, while an average house cat weighs between eight and 12 pounds. Sand cats mature in 14 months and can live up to an average lifespan of eight years. [Read More]

How Do Freshwater Lakes Exist Deep in the Sahara Desert?

by Oliver Zink, age 13

In the middle of Earth's harshest desert lies a group of freshwater lakes that get their water from a single underground aquifer. These lakes, known as the Lakes of Ounianga, were originally filled with water when the Sahara was a much wetter region. The lakes are located in northeastern Chad, within the Ennedi Plateau region, in a basin near the Tibesti Mountains. The site became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012.

According to UNESCO, the lakes are in a scorching and arid desert that receives less than two millimeters, or much less than an inch, of rainfall per year. There are 18 lakes, divided into two groups: Ounianga Kebir (four lakes) and Ounianga Serir (14 lakes). The lakes vary in depth, chemical composition, and coloration.

The climate history of these lakes is connected to human migration that occurred at the end of the most recent ice age, around 11,000 years ago. During that time, large monsoons fed a massive lake, which diminished over time as the desert returned to the area around 5,000 years ago. This process left the lakes of Ounianga with their current size and appearance. [Read More]

How the Nile River’s Changing Waters Affect Life in Africa

by Sofia Zapata, age 14

The Nile River, one of the longest rivers in the world, is an important transportation and trade route, but in recent years it has faced new problems.

The river flows around 6,600 kilometers and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. It flows from south to north through eastern Africa, starting from rivers that flow into Lake Victoria. The Nile River runs either along the border or through ten African countries. The river also has provided a source of irrigation to help transform dry areas around it into lush, agricultural land.

The Nile River provided ancient Egypt with fertile soil and water for irrigation, as well as a means of transporting materials for building projects. The banks of the river contain rich soil, thanks to annual flooding that deposits silt. This silt builds up in a delta, which is the soil between the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea. Every time the Nile River drains away, it leaves rich silt on the previously flooded plains. This makes the soil along the Nile River extremely fertile, enabling farmers to enjoy good harvests year in and year out. For thousands of years, Egypt’s food was cultivated in the Nile region. Ancient Egyptians created irrigation methods to support their communities and grow a variety of crops for storage and trade. Along with agriculture, Ancient Egyptians utilized the Nile River for bathing, drinking and recreational activities. [Read More]

Why are Baby Giraffes Born So Tall?

by Amelia Pearson, age 14

Baby giraffes, also known as calves, are impressively tall compared to other young animals, typically standing about six feet tall. Female giraffes are typically smaller than their male counterparts.

Baby giraffes weigh approximately 75 pounds and grow quite fast. By their first year, they nearly double in height.

Mother giraffes tend to only have one calf at a time, but twins have been reported. When a baby giraffe learns to stand, it immediately starts to suckle its mother's milk. Baby giraffes rely on their mother’s milk for up to nine to 12 months. They begin eating leaves and solid foods around four months old. [Read More]

Bush Vipers Are Camouflaged Predators with a Venomous Bite

by Gerardo Sanchez Ramirez, age 10

Bush vipers are incredible snakes that have unique physical features and characteristics.

The scales of a bush viper are ridged and help the snake grip to surfaces. Their scales range in many colors from green and brown to yellow and black. These snakes rely on their color and scale patterns to camouflage and avoid detection. Bush vipers have large round eyes with vertical pupils. Their eyes are well adapted to help them find prey in dim lighting. Bush vipers have broad triangular heads; this head shape helps accommodate the space needed for their large salivary glands that produce and store their venom. Similar to other snakes, the bush viper uses its tongue to track its prey. It occasionally flickers its tongue to capture the scent molecules emitted from other creatures.

These snakes have an unknown lifespan however, bush viper females are typically bigger than males and can grow up to 29 inches long. The fangs of bush vipers are their biggest weapons, carrying venom that can knock out prey. They consume a variety of creatures including other snakes, snails, slugs, birds, amphibians, lizards, and rodents. They hunt by lurking in trees and dropping down to catch prey that unexpectedly pass by. [Read More]

Learn About Madagascar's Biodiversity and Landscapes

by Edwin Torres, age 12

There is a country off the coast of Africa with many national parks, plants, and animals that can’t be found anywhere else in the world: Madagascar. When Madagascar separated from Africa about 165 million years ago, plants and animals developed differently because they were on an island and lacked interactions with other species.

In the western part of Madagascar lies a national park named Tsingy National Reserve of Bemarha. Here, limestone points, a type of rock composed of animal shells, rise 100 feet into the air above an area of 60 square miles. While these features are intriguing, residents state that there is a lack of safe flat land to walk around the rocks.

South of the national park lies Morondova. There, rain falls for four months a year. Six species of baobab trees grow in this place. The trees have adapted to the weather conditions of Madagascar by absorbing water during the rainy season and then surviving on the reserves for about eight months until it rains again. In other areas, baobab forests are in danger due to human population growth, and the forests are hard to fix once damaged. In addition, animals damage the forests as well. One animal in particular is the giant jumping rat. They live in western Madagascar and eat the seedlings of the baobab trees. [Read More]

Birds and Humans: A Sweet Collaboration in Honey Hunting

by Sedona Afeworki. age 15

While humans and animals have existed together for thousands of years, cooperation between humans and animals has only been observed in rare occasions and studies now attempt to understand why.

One cooperative relationship that has been documented is the connection between honey hunters in Africa and a small bird called the greater honeyguide. This bird leads honey hunters to beehives located in hard to reach or hidden places of branches or hollow trees. Hunters then proceed to use a bee smoker and other tools to harvest the honey. To thank the birds, the honey hunters give them beeswax as a prize. While this collaboration is beneficial for both humans and the wild honeyguides, honey hunting with these birds is a disappearing practice and only seen by a few ethnic groups in East Africa.

For many years, scientists have been intrigued by this relationship between humans and honeyguides, and recent studies show that the connection is more intricate than previously thought. In fact, honeyguides are capable of learning and reacting to specific sound signals used by different hunting communities and groups. Furthermore, humans have developed a sound system to communicate with the birds. [Read More]

The Sungazer Lizard is a Tiny but Mighty Reptile

by Dagim Abiy, age 7

The sungazer lizard is fast and stubbornly defensive. The small lizard is covered with spikes all over its body that scare away many predators.

Sungazer lizards typically live in southern and eastern Africa. This lizard prefers dry areas and it eats bugs like spiders, beetles, and termites. There are about 20 species of the sungazer lizard.

Although most lizards lay eggs, sungazer lizards give birth to live young. Newborns have a scaly suit of armor and a soft set of spikes. The sungazer has a thick flattened body for wedging walls in their burrows. [Read More]

The Nile Monitor is Africas's Largest Lizard

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 8

The Nile monitor is one of the strongest and most formidable predators of the lizard species. These creatures are the largest lizards in Africa, reaching up to six feet long!

This creature features knife-like claws used for climbing, digging, and capturing prey. The head of a Nile monitor is shaped like a triangle and built with thick bones. It also has a lower jaw with a powerful bite, preying on birds, and small mammals. The feet of a monitor are for gripping which lets them climb on their prey’s back, break them, and then eat them.

These animals mostly bury their eggs somewhere warm near sandy river banks. [Read More]

The Endangered Wild Dogs of East Africa

by Chelsea Zheng, age 11

East African wild dogs are one of the most muscular African canids. They are recognized by their dark coat, yellow patches, and large ears.

They are found in the African countries of Tanzania and Mozambique. The wild dog's shoulder height reaches about 24 to 30 inches. Its head and body length reaches 71 to 28 to 44 inches. Female African wild dogs weigh 45 to 55 pounds, which is 3-7% smaller than males, which can weigh up to 80 pounds. African wild dogs are lean, tall, and one of the largest canid species, falling behind the grey wolf. However, they are among one of the most endangered mammals in the world.

African wild dogs mostly live in Savannah and dry lands. They also stay away from forested areas as they need large open spaces to see and chase down their prey. They hunt during daylight in packs that consist of 27 adults and yearling pups. The wild dogs are also known to hunt medium sized antelopes. African wild dogs stalk their prey, then approach it silently to then chase it up to 41 miles per hour. [Read More]

Muons Reveal Hidden Void in Egypt's Great Pyramid

by Alejandro Berrueta, age 11

A nebulous void has been discovered in Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza with the help of muons. This void was first discovered in 2016 by scientists on the pyramid’s north face. The muons’ measurement helped identify the size and shape of this void.

Muons are subatomic particles created by high-energy particles from space. These particles are also known as cosmic rays; they fall into Earth's atmosphere and create high-energy muons. Some are absorbed when they fall onto structures.

Scientists from the ScanPyramids team reported to Nature Communications that the void was nine meters long, two meters wide, and two meters tall. In addition to ultrasonic testing and ground penetrating radar, the scientists were able to get detailed pictures regarding the void. They discovered a vaulted ceiling that had not been seen in over 4,500 years. [Read More]

African Dwarf Crocodile Is the World’s Smallest

by Dakota Wilson, age 12

All crocodiles are big and scary, right? Not this one, the African dwarf crocodile is just five feet long, making it the smallest crocodile species.

Osteolaemus Tetraspis or the African dwarf crocodile has many names such as the Black crocodile, the broad-nosed crocodile, and the Dwarf crocodile. These crocodiles are covered by black bony plates that form coarse armor on their skin. They also have yellow underskins and blunt short muzzles. The hatchlings are identified by light brown stripes on their tail and body and yellowish markings on their head.

Dwarf crocodiles are carnivores and solitary hunters. They mainly hunt during the night, preying on small animals such as crabs, insects, snakes, and lizards. Black crocodiles are cold-blooded; they constantly have to maintain their body temperature. To stay cool in the heat, the crocodile will lay in the water and ambush any prey that stumbles on its path. In the cold, they usually tend to sunbathe. [Read More]

The Dead Sea's Lifelessness, Ancient Wealth, and Healing Wonders

by Kevin Chen, age 15

Though the Dead Sea sounds like a scary place, the same reasons this body of water can not support plant or animal life made it a valuable resource in the ancient world. Back in the Roman era (476 C.E.), salt was considered highly valuable, so much so that Roman soldiers would be paid in salt, instead of money. The Latin word “salary” came from the word “salt”.

The Dead Sea, actually a lake, has had different names throughout history such as the Salt Sea and the Sea of the Plain. It is one of the four saltiest bodies of water in the whole world, containing up to 10 times as many minerals and salts as most oceans. Due to its high salinity, there are not any plants or animals that inhabit the Dead Sea. This excessive amount of salt and mineral concentration is because of the warm climate which causes water to evaporate. This drastically reduces the water-to-salt ratio in the lake. The lake is so salty that people can float on it.

The Dead Sea has also been known to have healing powers. The salt and minerals in the lake can be beneficial for skin diseases. The oxygen rate is 5% higher than most places on Earth, which can also help those with asthma and arthritis. The black mud found around the Dead Sea was once used as soap in ancient Greece because it could penetrate pores and nourish the skin. Now, multiple hotels around the Dead Sea provide an opportunity to try the benefits of the world’s first health resort. [Read More]

Earth’s Smallest Fox Species Lives Deep in the Sahara Desert

by Dilma Attidekou, age 8

The fennec fox is an efficient animal that survives in the depths of the Sahara Desert. Although small, this creature can eat a lot and is known as the smallest canid species.

The fennec fox is a nocturnal animal that does much of its hunting during nighttime. Its diet consists of insects, birds, small rodents, and even smaller mammals. Despite its cute features to humans, it is scary to its prey. The fennec fox has sensitive hearing that allows it to hear prey crawling underground. [Read More]

The African Bongo: Big Horns? Low Branches? No Problem!

by Oliver Zink, age 12

The bongo is Africa's most colorful antelope. They can weigh up to 892 pounds and have spiral shaped horns which can grow up to 39 inches long. The bongos’ big ears help with hearing the slightest noise from predators.

Bongos have patterns in their coats which makes it easier to spot each other in shaded areas. This patterns is also broken up across the bongo’s coat, making it especially helpful for camouflage. [Read More]

Rare Zebra Species Struggles to Survive Drought

by Allison Torres, age 14

In September 2022, Kenya experienced one of its worst droughts in the last four decades. This was a direct result of climate change.

The drought has especially impacted the East African country’s wildlife, affecting even the most drought-resistant animals, such as the camel, which is known to survive relatively long periods of time without water. Suze van Meegen, an emergency response manager for the Norwegian refugee council in East Africa told CNN, “Camels are a valuable resource for many people in this region.”

Kenya has lost two percent of the world’s rarest zebra species as well as many elephants. The drought has also jeopardized the country’s wildlife food sources by drying up plant life which has drawn the attention of conservationists. [Read More]

Scientists Find More Trees in Africa than Previously Thought

by Kelly Vazquez, age 17

In the past, a large area of the Sahara Desert in West Africa was recorded as having almost no trees. A team of scientists from all over the globe decided to count the trees again – this time using new technology, but not expecting a big difference.

The new technology – a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI), satellite images, and one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers – surprised researchers. They discovered a significantly greater number of trees exist in the Sahara Desert than previously thought.

Martin Brandt, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Copenhagen, says that the 10% of the Sahara that was observed, "...had quite a few hundred million more,” instead of the substantially fewer they expected. [Read More]

Remarkable Ancient Texts Preserved in Remote Libraries Deep in the Sahara Desert

by Zainab Yahiaoui, age 14

An ancient and remote village in the middle of the Sahara Desert is home to many sacred texts from libraries that were built more than 1,000 years ago. Now the world’s greatest desert threatens to engulf the history and the libraries of this remarkable place.

The village of Chinguetti was a stopping off point for pilgrims on their way to Mecca. These travelers would stop in Chinguetti to study religion, astronomy, mathematics, and law. All these topics were included in the texts and kept in the libraries at Chinguetti. People could read and study at the libraries as part of their pilgrimage to Mecca.

Until the 1950’s there were still about 30 family-owned libraries open to tourists and travelers. Today, that number has dwindled to only five as tourists lost interest and the desert closed in. And the sand and dry air of the Sahara is taking a toll on the ancient texts. [Read More]

Learn the Difference Between a Cheetah and a Leopard

by Max Moreno, age 9

People may easily mistake a cheetah for a leopard. However, there are many differences to look for that can help you tell these two species apart.

Did you know that cheetahs prefer to hunt in the day, whereas leopards prefer to hunt at night? A leopard at regular speed can run 37 miles per hour and up to 40 miles per hour when in danger or hunting. Leopards are known to be the shortest of all big cats, however they can be seen and described as bulky. They are also known to be good swimmers and climbers. The leopard is more aggressive than a meek cheetah and although leopards are smaller, they are stronger.

Another obvious difference between the cheetah and the leopard is that a leopard has rose-shaped spots on its fur and the cheetah has almost perfectly round spots. Cheetahs mostly hunt gazelles in their home of South Africa. They are the fastest running animals when hunting, making their speed 75 miles per hour, which is 35 miles per hour faster than the leopard’s fastest speed! [Read More]

A Land and a Culture: Why I Love Eritrea

by Hanna Eyobed, age 15

If it is true, that home is where the heart is, then Eritrea is my rightful home. Eritrea is located on the Horn of Africa, along the Red Sea, and it neighbors Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Sudan. Eritrea became a sovereign country only in 1993, after a 30-year war for independence.

When referring to incredible places, many people tend to speak of big bustling cities or spectacular landscapes. I think of the interconnected community, the unseen martyrs who fought for our independence and the beautiful traditions and sacred entities that inhabit the country. Both my parents, Asmeret and Eyobed, are from Asmara, the capital and largest city in Eritrea. So, my family’s link to our home country is strong.

When it comes to national customs, Eritrean people are known for their gratitude and care of tradition. Even with simple things, such as eating, unity is a prominent character trait. When eating, Eritreans share a big plate and incorporate different dishes into a meal that is widely known as Injera. Conversations like marriage, religion, social issues, family, and everyday lives are shared. [Read More]

Why You Should Stay Away From Nile Crocodiles

by Chelsea Zheng, age 10

Have you ever heard of the Nile crocodile? It is a big and dangerous creature, and hundreds of people are killed by it annually.

The Nile crocodile is an apex predator, which is defined as the top predator of any given region or ecosystem. These predators generally do not fear other predators; they are also particular about their prey, which primarily consists of birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles alike. When hunting for prey, the Nile crocodile always awaits the perfect opportunity to strike, which can take hours, days, and sometimes weeks at a time.

The Nile crocodile waits in freshwater bodies, such as lakes and rivers, for potential prey. In the water, the reptilian creature remains still, waiting for their target to come near. Luckily, they are able to successfully hold their breath for up to two hours. [Read More]

The Nile: Egypt's Most Important River

by Sol Saray, age 10

Did you know that the Nile River is allegedly the longest river on Earth? Historically, the Nile River was considered the longest river in the world, however, Brazilian scientists recently discovered that the Amazon River is longer than the Nile by 284 kilometers.

The Nile River is not only important because of how long it is, it also has great involvement with human history. For example, the ancient civilization of Egypt built human cities near the Nile, mainly for agriculture purposes. The Egyptians would exhaust the river to grow crops and export items.

The White Nile and the Blue Nile are both tributaries of the Nile, meaning they are separate rivers that flow into a larger river. In respect to the Nile, when these two smaller rivers coincide, they form a confluence, which is the Nile. The White Nile is home to Lake Victoria in Eastern Africa. [Read More]