A road in Umeå. (Photo: Shashidhar S via Unsplash)

As a Nordic country, Sweden withstands winters that are long, cold, and dark every year. Umeå, a city in northeastern Sweden, is no exception: its mean minimum temperature in January hovers at a frigid -10.7°F. It’s incredible, then, that a 44-year-old man managed to survive in these kinds of conditions while stranded in a snowed-in car for two months.

On December 19, 2011, Peter Skyllberg was trapped in his car outside of Umeå, only a few kilometers away from the country’s largest highway. Heavy snow draped itself around the car, preventing Skyllberg from escaping, and temperatures plummeted to around -30°C (-22°F) outside.

On February 17, 2012, two men on snowmobiles were traveling across a small forest path, blanketed by a meter of snow. At the very end of the path stood a car that they believed to have been scrapped and abandoned, but they still decided to approach it. As they peered into the vehicle, they suddenly saw something move.

Skyllberg was ultimately rescued 60 days after his disappearance. The two men had discovered him huddling inside a sleeping bag, where he was emaciated, disoriented, and could barely speak or move. Other than Skyllberg himself, the only things inside the car were cigarettes, comic books, and a soda bottle.

“He said that he hadn’t eaten any food since December 19, other than a little snow,” Ebbe Nyberg, a local police officer who responded to the scene, told Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet. “He could speak a little bit, but was doing really badly.”

Given these extraordinary circumstances, how could Skyllberg have survived? Dr. Ulf Segerberg, the chief medical officer at Norrland University Hospital, believed it was due to the natural warming properties of the snow packed up against his car, which effectively functioned as an igloo would.

“Igloos usually have a temperature of a couple of degrees below 0°C (32°F) and if you have good clothes you would survive in those temperatures and be able to preserve your body temperature,” Segerberg told The Guardian.

Another doctor, Stefan Branth, hypothesized that an additional factor in Skyllberg’s survival was his body shifting into a sort of “hibernation mode.”

“A bit like a bear that hibernates. Humans can do that. He probably had a body temperature of around 31°C (87.8°F) which the body adjusted to. Due to the low temperature, not much energy was used up,” Branth explained.

Luckily, Skyllberg only needed treatment at a regular hospital ward and eventually recovered. His case, however, remains unusual, even in a country accustomed to heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

“There have been cases of people caught out in the mountains, and if they can dig themselves down in the snow they are able to survive and be found,” Segerberg noted. “But there must be something special in this case.”

Umeå, located in northeastern Sweden, is known for its frigid winters, with temperatures often dipping into negative numbers.

A snowy forest in Umeå. (Photo: Axel Josefsson via Unsplash)

In 2011, a man was trapped in his snowed-in car just outside of Umeå, where he remained for 60 days.

A snowy forest in Umeå. (Photo: Isak Ingerholt via Unsplash)

The man managed to survive due to the “igloo effect,” wherein the snow packed around his car effectively protected him like an igloo would.

Photo: Marc Wieland via Unsplash

Sources: Fast i snön – i 60 dagar; Swedish man survived in snowed-in car for two months

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READ: How the “Igloo Effect” Helped a Swedish Man Survive Two Months Trapped in a Frigid Snowed-in Car

The monarch butterfly isn’t just a pretty sight—it’s an essential pollinator that keeps our planet healthy. But in the last 40 years, their population has dropped by a staggering 90%, leaving them on the brink of extinction. Jaime Rojo, a photographer and National Geographic Explorer with a background in conservation, has been documenting monarch butterflies for the last 20 years. His series, Saving the Monarchs, delves into their captivating behavior, the challenges they face, and the ongoing efforts to protect them.

Rojo first encountered a monarch butterfly in 2004 after moving to Mexico from Spain, and he was instantly captivated by their beauty and resilience. The photographer recalls, “Since that day, I must have visited the wintering sanctuaries of the monarchs at least 20 times, but it wasn’t until relatively recently that I started to explore the whole migration route in North America, documenting the natural history of the monarchs, the environmental threats, and the people working to protect it.”

One standout image from the Saving the Monarchs series, Single Monarch, was featured on the cover of National Geographic in January 2024. It captures a single butterfly, wings outstretched, nestled among hundreds of others in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán, Mexico.

“A single latecomer joins the others for the night, stretching its wings as it maneuvers to squeeze into the popular roosting spot,” Rojo explains. “The butterflies’ extreme closeness provides them with warmth and protection.”

In another image, titled Streaming Monarchs, Rojo captures hundreds of butterflies mid-flight. “Migrating monarchs winter in the same oyamel fir groves that sheltered earlier generations,” reveals Rojo. “I had to shoot 20,000 frames over the course of three weeks to get this image exactly as I wanted.”

Across North America, scientists, conservationists, farmers, and Indigenous communities are joining forces to protect the monarch’s habitat and secure their future. You can play a part in saving these incredible butterflies by purchasing museum-quality photography prints from Rojo’s Saving the Monarchs series. Sixty percent of all profits support Indigenous communities through Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA) and organizations dedicated to preserving and restoring the monarch population, including Monarch Watch and The Conservation Fund for the Neovolcanic Axis (FOCEN).

Explore the stunning Saving the Monarchs photo series below, and shop prints in varying sizes of your favorite shots on Vital Impacts’s website. Vital Impact is a women-led non-profit dedicated to sharing the challenges and solutions of local communities through art and environmental journalism.

Photographer Jaime Rojo has been documenting monarch butterflies for the last 20 years.

His series, Saving the Monarchs, delves into their captivating behavior, the challenges they face, and the ongoing efforts to protect them.

You can play a part in saving these incredible butterflies by purchasing museum-quality photography prints from Rojo’s series.

Jaime Rojo: Instagram | X

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jaime Rojo.

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READ: Photographer Highlights the Importance of Monarch Butterfly Conservation Through Stunning Images

Photo: photocosma/Depositphotos

In places such as the Pacific Northwest, it seems like it's always raining. But did you know there was a time on Earth were rain poured for over a million years? This episode is known as the Carnian pluvial event (CPE). Thought to have been triggered by unique, volatile conditions, it took place about 232 million years ago—changing the natural landscape forever.

The Carnian pluvial episode lasted one to two million years, bringing one of Earth’s dry spells to an end. It marked a dramatic shift from the arid conditions of the late Triassic period. During this time, all continents were still together as Pangea, which was already prone to monsoons due to its geographical conditions. Sea temperatures were high, and humid ocean air blew inland, cooling and precipitating as heavy rain.

On top of these conditions, scientists have suggested this million-year monsoon could have been triggered by a series of massive volcanic eruptions that took place on the Wrangellia Large Igneous Province, located in what today is Alaska and British Columbia. Volcanic eruptions have been observed to affect the levels of water vapor in the stratosphere, although the opposite has been studied too—that is, intense rainfall resulting in a volcanic eruption.

The Carnian crisis was first studied in the UK by geologists Alastair Ruffell and Michael Simms when the latter noticed something peculiar about the red stone of Somerset’s Lipe Hill. A stripe of grey running through rocks in the area indicated that it had suddenly gone from a period of severe drought to intense humidity. Further evidence was found throughout the late 20th century in places such as the Alps, sparking questions about how this weather episode affected existing life on Earth.

As environments around the world drastically changed, the Carnian pluvial event is regarded as a period of increased extinction. With an increase in humidity and the oceans becoming more acidic, one-third of all marine species, plus a large amount of plants and animals, were wiped out.

However, the Carnian wet episode also opened the door for the flourishing of new life, such as dinosaurs, frogs, lizards, and turtles, as well as modern coral reefs and plankton in the oceans, according to geology professor Jacopo Dal Corso, who published a study on the topic. “A key feature of the CPE is that extinction was very rapidly followed by a big radiation [of new species],” he told Eos.org. “A number of groups that have a central role in today's ecosystems appeared or diversified for the first time in the Carnian [an age within the Triassic that lasted from 237 to 227 million years ago].”

While it can be hard to grasp the wild conditions that plagued the Earth before the dawn of civilization or the way long-term conditions shape the way flora and fauna evolve, studying episodes such as the Carnian pluvial event can help scientists better understand the past and the future of our planet.

Did you know there was a time on Earth when rain poured for over a million years?

Photo: riosihombing@gmail.com/Depositphotos

Known as the Carnian pluvial event, it changed the natural landscape forever.

Photo: geargodz/Depositphotos

It opened the door for the flourishing of new life, such as dinosaurs, frogs, lizards, and turtles, as well as modern coral reefs and plankton in the oceans.

Photo: egubisch/Depositphotos

Source: Extinction and dawn of the modern world in the Carnian (Late Triassic)

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READ: Carnian Pluvial Event: Learn About the Time It Rained for Over a Million Years

Photo: ead72/Depositphotos

Sometimes, the biggest surprises in the natural world are hidden in plain sight. A team of scientists recently discovered the world’s largest-known coral in the waters of the Solomon Islands—part of a region known as the “Coral Triangle” due to its diversity and abudance of coral. At 112 feet long, 105 feet wide, and 16 feet high, it's so big it can be seen from space. However, due to its depth, it had long been mistaken for a shipwreck or a big rock.

The coral belongs to a species known as Pavona clavus, or shoulder blade coral. It is mostly brown with some intense yellow, blue, pink, and red patches. Made up of about a billion genetically identical polyps that work together as if they were one organism, it is home to many marine species of fish, crabs, and shrimps. The researchers who found it think it is around 300 years old, but it could be even older.

Although it is larger that a blue whale, the coral sits at 42 feet deep, making it hard to reach by local fishermen. It was only discovered in October 2024 by a group of researchers belonging to the National Geographic Pristine Seas team. Researchers almost missed it because, unlike most corals, which are dome-shaped, this one was flattened and sprawled across several feet.

Marine ecologist Enric Sala, explorer in residence for National Geographic and founder of Pristine Seas, likened the discovery to finding the tallest tree in the world. “Just when we think there is nothing left to discover on planet Earth, we find a massive coral made of nearly one billion little polyps, pulsing with life and color,” Sala told The Guardian. “This is a significant scientific discovery, like finding the world’s tallest tree. But there is cause for alarm. Despite its remote location, this coral is not safe from global warming and other human threats.”

Over its long life, the coral has withstood the onset of global warming, overfishing, and pollution—things many nearby corals haven't survived. This has offered researchers hope about the coral's resilience, but they also see it as a banner in the fight to protect and restore the world’s marine ecosystems. Sala says, “This discovery rekindles our sense of awe and wonder about the ocean.”

A team of scientists recently discovered the world’s largest-known coral in the waters of the Solomon Islands.

Photo: Anne Hoggett via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

At 112 feet long, 105 feet wide, and 16 feet high, it's so big it can be seen from space.

Photo: Philippe Bourjon via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

However, due to its depth, it had long been mistaken for a shipwreck or a big rock.

Photo: Anne Hoggett via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Sources: Scientists discover world’s largest coral—so big it can be seen from space; World’s largest known coral discovered in Solomon Islands

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READ: Scientists Discover the World’s Largest-Known Coral in the Waters of the Solomon Islands

Photo: Almin Tabak

Six years ago, Halim Zukic stood on a hill in central Bosnia and noticed something that would set him on a new course. The surrounding landscape, imprinted by the wheels of the tractors that work the field, had spiral patterns reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night. Moved by what he saw, Zukic began building on what had already started, using the land as a canvas for expression. Now, this work is coming to fruition with the Starry Night Retreat, set to open in May 2025.

Over the course of 20 years, Zukic planted thousands of trees and created 13 lakes using natural streams. However, perhaps the most striking thing he did was plant 130,000 lavender bushes in six different shades in spiral patterns to mimic the iconic painting. Other aromatic and medicinal herbs—such as sage, echinacea, wormwood, and chamomile—complement the lavender, and together, they work as the brushstrokes of this natural canvas.

The planted park encompasses 10 hectares of the sprawling 70-hectare retreat, conceived as a place where nature and art merge. Working with a small team, Zukic's planting doesn't follow a specific design scheme. Rather, it unfolds spontaneously, with care taken to leave the existing landscape undisturbed.

“Construction machinery served as our brushes, and our colors were plants, predominantly lavender, completed by a wide array of aromatic, medicinal, and culinary herbs,” states the retreat's project description. “Throughout the space, there is not a single straight line.”

When Starry Night Retreat opens, Zukic envisions it as a vast open-air museum that will become a cultural hub filled with art programming. Even before opening, it clearly serves as a shining example of what can be achieved when someone follows their heart and listens to their instincts.

To see how work progresses and receive news about the opening, follow Starry Night Retreat on Instagram.

Nestled in central Bosnia, Starry Night Retreat is the vision of one man.

Photo: Almin Tabak

Six years ago, Halim Zukic stood on a hill and noticed the surrounding landscape, imprinted by the wheels of the tractors that work the field, had spiral patterns reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night.

Photo: Almin Tabak

Over time, he's worked with a small team to build on this, planting lavender and other aromatic herbs along the spirals to mimic brushstrokes.

Photo: Almin Tabak

Photo: Almin Tabak

Photo: Amel Uzunović

“Construction machinery served as our brushes, and our colors were plants, predominantly lavender, completed by a wide array of aromatic, medicinal, and culinary herbs. Throughout the space, there is not a single straight line.”

Photo: Almin Tabak

Photo: Almin Tabak

Set to open in spring 2025, Starry Night Retreat sprawls over 70 hectares.

Photo: Amel Uzunović

Zukic sees it as an open-air museum that will become a cultural hub.

Photo: Almin Tabak

His creativity is a shining example of what can be achieved when someone follows their heart and listens to their instincts.

Photo: Almin Tabak

Photo: Almin Tabak

Starry Night Retreat: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the Starry Night Retreat.

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READ: Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ Inspires One Man To Build a Sprawling Retreat Filled With Lavender Spirals

Embed from Getty Images

The 2022 horror movie Nope had a unique antagonist—an alien creature disguised as an unmoving cloud. And though the film is a work of fiction, it turns out that UFO-shaped stationary clouds do actually exist in the real world. NASA's Earth Observatory captured a formation that has been making the population of New Zealand’s South Island feel uneasy for almost a century. And while unusual, there seems to be a scientific explanation behind its odd behavior.

Known as the “Taieri Pet,” this unusual cloud has often been seen in the skies near Middlemarch, Otago. The formal name of this “pet cloud” is elongated altocumulus standing lenticular cloud (ASLC). During its latest sighting on September 7, NASA's Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 captured it in a satellite image where it appears as a white, fluffy oblong shape. According to the Earth Observatory, witnesses both on the ground and in the air (from a side view, as opposed to the NASA's aerial view) have described it as a static “huge stack of pancakes” or a “pile of plates” that hovers in the same spot.

Despite its ominous appearance, there is a reason for why these clouds look and behave like this. “Lenticular clouds form when prevailing winds encounter a topographic barrier, such as a mountain range,” writes NASA's Earth Observatory. “Wind that is forced to flow up and over the mountains creates a kind of wave in the atmosphere. Air cools at the crest of the wave, and the water vapor it contains condenses into clouds. Conversely, falling air leads to warming and evaporation.”

Meteorologist John Law of New Zealand’s MetService further explains that strong winds from the northwest of the island pour over Rock and Pillar Range, which are characterized by being steep-sided and flat-topped, running almost perpendicular to the prevailing winds. “As the cloud forms on the crest of this wave, it remains almost stationary in the sky and is shaped by the strong winds blowing through it,” Law adds.

Due to their height, ASLCs such as the “Taieri Pet” can represent a risk to aviation. Their unusually low temperatures also cause ice to form on planes and, due to vertical currents that move up and down through the clouds, planes can experience severe turbulence if they were to fly through one. For those on the ground, “pet clouds” may signal extreme weather conditions in the atmosphere, and could unleash a variety of climatic conditions. “In some settings, lenticulars can signal that precipitation is on the way,” the NASA’s Earth Observatory concludes.

All around the world, there have been sightings of “UFO Clouds.”

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

These types of clouds are actually called lenticular clouds.

Embed from Getty Images

Photo: ChinaImages/Depositphotos

Photo: Miguel-Perfectti/Depositphotos

Photo: karnizz/Depositphotos

One particular lenticular cloud is a recurring one that appears time and time again in the same exact spot in New Zealand.

Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Landsat

NASA’s Earth Observatory captured an aerial image of the elongated altocumulus standing lenticular cloud (ASLC) known as “Taieri Pet” over New Zealand's South Island.

Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/Landsat

Due to its shape and stationary nature, the cloud is often mistaken for a UFO.

 

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Una publicación compartida por WeatherwatchNZ (@nzweatherwatch)

NASA Earth Observatory: Website
h/t: [LiveScience]

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READ: Unusual “UFO Cloud” Always Reappears in the Exact Same Spot Over New Zealand’s South Island

Left: Cheetos (Photo: Mr. Brian via Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0), Right: Carlsbad Caverns (Photo: Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Heading to the wilderness to enjoy nature is a great decision. Leaving behind processed foods in delicate cavern environments, not so much. A tasty snack like Cheetos can damage an entire ecosystem when not disposed of properly, according to the staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In early September 2024, a guest dropped an unfinished bag of cheesy treats off the trail, causing a cascade of ecological responses that imbalanced the local food chain. Within the realm of the cave, such a blunder can be “world-changing,” warns the park on social media.

The Facebook post reminds us of the fragile interconnectedness of all beings, giving relatable examples from daily life, including the impact of being greeted by a smile. In the post, the staff describes the effects of the abandoned snack food.

“The processed corn, softened by the humidity of the cave, formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi. Cave crickets, mites, spiders, and flies soon organize into a temporary food web, dispersing the nutrients to the surrounding cave and formations. Molds spread higher up the nearby surfaces, fruit, die, and stink.”

Only water is allowed inside the gigantic cavern where the Cheetos were dropped. Known as “The Big Room,” it is the largest cave in North America. Other kinds of drinks and food may attract unexpected animal life to the area, resulting in the mold growth observed in this case. or have other unforeseen consequences. It’s hard to know when and where the ripples will go; as the Carlsbad Caverns National Park warns in its post, “the cycle continues.”

In other recent posts, the Carlsbad Caverns team reminds the public of Leave No Trace (LNT) principles. This set of seven principles evolved out of a need to help nature lovers and recreationists have a smaller impact on the wild places they visit. LNT was developed in the 1980s and further adopted and condensed by national land management agencies in the 1990s. The third LNT principle is “Dispose of Waste Properly,” sometimes paraphrased as “Trash Your Trash.”

In September 2024, a visitor to Carlsbad Caverns dropped a bag of Cheetos off the trail, causing a surge of ecological changes.

Cheetos bag dropped in Carlsbad Caverns (Photo: National Park Service/ Carlsbad Caverns National Park/Facebook)

Mold and new insect activity were some changes to the delicate cave ecosystem. Only water is allowed inside “The Big Room,” the biggest cave in North America, where the cheesy snacks were dropped.

Carlsbad Caverns (Photo: Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0)

The rangers at Carlsbad Caverns constantly monitor the grounds for litter.

 

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A post shared by Carlsbad Caverns National Park (@carlsbadcavernsnps)

The park encourages its social followers to remember the seven Leave No Trace principles when visiting natural areas. The third principle is, “Dispose of Waste Properly,” which is sometimes paraphrased as, “Trash Your Trash.”

Photo: © Leave No Trace

Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [UNILAD]

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READ: Tourist Causes a “World Changing” Event by Dropping Cheetos Into North America’s Largest Cave

Many creatives would argue that you don’t need fancy equipment and materials to make art, and Wales-based Jon Foreman is a great example of that. He makes incredible land art using just stones, leaves, and other natural finds from his local beaches and forests.

“I think there’s a thing that’s set in everyone from school, that if you want to be good at art you have to be able to draw and paint,” says Foreman. “I don’t think that’s true at all. I think it’s just being creative that matters.” He adds, “There’s an endless array of ways to be creative.”

Seeking a break from the stresses of daily life, Foreman ventures outdoors to find natural materials and new spots to embellish with his art. From swirling stone formations to massive mandalas etched into the sand, each creation honors the land it occupies and reveals the extraordinary artistic possibilities of nature.

Each intricate installation requires careful planning and setup, but the meditative process allows Foreman to find a deep sense of calm. This tranquility extends to viewers as well; those who are lucky enough to see his work in person or view photos of his installations often find a similar sense of peace.

For one recent installation at Freshwater West beach, titled Convexum Fluxus, Foreman spent about six hours carefully arranging stones of different sizes on sand. The mesmerizing results created a hill-like effect, with larger stones in the center and smaller ones gradually spilling down into a gentle slope.

Foreman’s installations aren’t meant to last forever, though. They wash away with the rain, get swept away by waves, or gradually erode over time. But for the artist, this fleeting nature is part of his practice. He believes that “land art is a really pure form of letting go.”

Check out some of Foreman’s latest land art below and find more of his incredible installations on Instagram.

Wales-based land artist Jon Foreman creates incredible installations from stones, leaves, and other natural finds.

Each creation honors the land it occupies and reveals the extraordinary artistic possibilities of nature.

Foreman's installations require careful planning and setup, but the meditative process allows the artist to find a deep sense of calm.

They wash away with the rain, get swept away by waves, or gradually erode over time, emphasizing the beauty of impermanence.

READ: Artist Creates Intricate Land Installations as a Meditation on Letting Go

Photo: Julie Beeler
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Nature is full of color. Whether in the fur of animals, the petals of flowers, or even a swirly sky, you can go outside and find any shade you can think of. But did you know mushrooms also come in all the colors of the rainbow? Inspired by the world around us, designer, artist, and educator Julie Beeler has set out to map out their hues. This has led to the creation of Mushroom Color Atlas, which not only documents the beauty of fungi but also compiles their practical use in the realm of dye.

“The Mushroom Color Atlas is a resource and reference for everyone curious about mushrooms and the beautiful and subtle colors derived from dyeing with mushrooms,” Beeler tells My Modern Met. “But it is also the start of a journey and a point of departure, introducing people to the kaleidoscopic fungi kingdom and their connection to it.”

Beeler had been working with mushrooms for color for quite some time and was aware of their capabilities and the range of color they could produce. “I taught myself based on studying the work of Miriam Rice and Dorothy Bebee, who wrote a couple of books in the 70s and 80s,” she shares. “Miriam dedicated her life to the experimentation of working with mushrooms for color and widely shared her knowledge and encouraged others to do tests and experiments.”

“What I was most interested in doing was creating a standardized process and documenting it so you could produce repeatable results when considering very specific variables. I am always in awe working with the mushrooms, the surprise and delight of what they have to offer us, how they reveal their colorants and the transformative process of making the dyes and pigments is very grounding.”

The Mushroom Color Atlas was born in the thick of the pandemic. Having retired from teaching, she saw it as an opportunity to provide an online educational resource about how to work with and use mushrooms for color. “It was the perfect combination of bringing together my love of science, art, and education as well as integrating elements of my former professional career of creating interpretive, interactive media apps, websites, and installations.”

To bring her idea to life, she started working to create all the dyes and pigments. She assembled a team comprised of Brad Johnson, Danny Rosenberg, and Yuli Gates to handle the design, programming, and illustrations.

Beeler explains that, while plant dyes and fungi dyes share similar pigment compounds, mushrooms tend to be more complex. “In general, they are more multifaceted than flowers, berries, leaves, or roots, and they react in very interesting and colorful ways when the pH of the dye bath is modified,” she says.

For example, Beeler lists a species of tooth fungi (Hydenllum and Phellodon) that contain a very special pigment compound found nowhere else in nature. And while blue is a very rare color to get from natural dyes, the Hydnellum mushrooms offer a range of natural blues.

Ultimately, Beeler hopes her Mushroom Color Atlas will inspire people “to learn more about the mycological world and begin to understand the importance of the networks, connections, and symbiotic relationships that live in our forests. Most importantly, understanding our impact on these delicate networks and our role as stewards of the land, bringing positive change to our local environments and our planet.”

The Mushroom Color Atlas is now available and can be purchased on Amazon or Bookshop.org.

Mushroom Color Atlas, a project spearheaded by Julie Beeler, maps out the myriad of colors of fungi.

Illustration: Yuli Gates

“The Mushroom Color Atlas is a resource and reference for everyone curious about mushrooms and the beautiful and subtle colors derived from dyeing with mushrooms,” Beeler tells My Modern Met.

Photo: Julie Beeler

While plant dyes and fungi dyes share similar pigment compounds, mushrooms tend to be more complex, as they react in different ways.

Photo: Julie Beeler

Beeler had been working with mushrooms for color for quite some time and was aware of their capabilities and the range of color they could produce.

Illustration: Yuli Gates

“In general, they are more multifaceted than flowers, berries, leaves, or roots, and they react in very interesting and colorful ways when the pH of the dye bath is modified,” she says.

Illustration: Yuli Gates

Having retired from teaching, Beeler saw the Mushroom Color Atlas as an opportunity to provide an online educational resource about how to work with and use mushrooms for color.

Photo: Julie Beeler

To bring her idea to life, she started working to create all the dyes and pigments and assembled a team to handle the design, programming, and illustrations.

Illustration: Yuli Gates

Ultimately, Beeler hopes her Mushroom Color Atlas will inspire people “to learn more about the mycological world and begin to understand the importance of the networks, connections, and symbiotic relationships that live in our forests.”

Illustration: Yuli Gates

The Mushroom Color Atlas is now available in book form.

Illustration: Yuli Gates

Mushroom Color Atlas: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Julie Beeler.

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READ: Insightful Color Atlas Shows Incredible Hues Fungi Can Produce

 

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Una publicación compartida por Minnesota Twins (@twins)

Bad weather is baseball's worst enemy. Unlike other sports that can be played in the rain, baseball has to stop, with games even having to be resumed days later. But in Minneapolis, the inclement weather that brought a Minnesota Twins game to a halt kept fans entertained with a thrilling display up above. A rainbow appeared in the stormy red sky, as lightning struck over the city skyline, highlighting the colors of the entire scene.

The Minnesota Twins shared an image of the rainbow over Target Field, with the caption “Baseball Skies.” The moment was also captured by reporter Do-Hyoung Park, who bore witness to the unruly weather that caused the Braves-Twins match to be paused. “Most chaotic rainbow I’ve ever seen, I think,” he wrote. “And yes, this was the true color of the sky. No filters applied or anything. We've cycled through from yellow to green to this hellish red in about an hour.”

Severe weather warning sirens rang inside the stadium during the middle of the first inning, as heavy rain began to fall after the Braves hit some home runs. While fans in the stands covered themselves, hoping it would go away quickly, the game was stopped and delayed for 86 minutes. The Braves would later defeat the Twins 10 to 6.

BBC meteorologist Dan Holley explained in 2021 that lightning and a rainbow appearing together is rare. For it to happen during a thunderstorm, the sun would have to be shining on the falling rain to create a rainbow, as the sunlight gets refracted and reflected by water droplets. “The viewer would need to be located between the thunderstorm and the sun, with their back to the sun,” he said.

Scroll down to see some extraordinary footage of this memorable weather event.

In Minneapolis, the inclement weather that brought a Minnesota Twins game to a halt kept fans entertained with a thrilling display up above.

Baseball skies pic.twitter.com/ZHl5hwY4Iu

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 27, 2024

A rainbow appeared in the stormy red sky, as lightning struck over the city skyline, highlighting the colors of the entire scene.

And yes, this was the true color of the sky. No filters applied or anything. We've cycled through from yellow to green to this hellish red in about an hour.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) August 27, 2024

All time sky tonight at the Twins Game.

Gotta imagine someone got some sick shots at the fair too.pic.twitter.com/UA2t114Lsu

— Max Veech (@venividiveech) August 27, 2024

And now “Over the Rainbow” plays while a rainbow forms in an orange post-thunderstorm sky. Crazy…️‍♂️ #Twins #Braves #TargetField #Minneapolis @NWSTwinCities @Braves pic.twitter.com/CVljgggciC

— Scott Maier (@samaier) August 27, 2024

well the twins game sucked but check out these skies pic.twitter.com/yrUA4Zgi6c

— reg (@thatsoregan) August 27, 2024

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READ: Rainbow Lightning Captured Over Minnesota Twins Baseball Game Amid Extreme Weather