The Southwest's Famous Cacti Are in Trouble

An Iconic Species

Saguaro framed against oncoming monsoon clouds. Photo: Mario Tama (Getty Images)

“For me, what’s so wonderful about saguaros is really kind of the way that they move people,” Swann told PBS. “And a lot of people who live here will tell you that one of the reasons they live here is because of this plant.”

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Creepy New Sunflower Discovered in Texas National Park

With furry white leaves and maroon-streaked florets, the newly identified plant has been dubbed "wooly devil."

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 31

An ephemeral lake in Algeria last month.

A Lake Materializes in the Sahara Desert, Offering a Glimpse Into Africa’s Past

The arid region sometimes develops lakes after heavy rain, hinting at how the desert may have once had a different climate.

Earth Science Isaac Schultz Oct 21

Scientists Discover Mysterious Ecosystem Beneath Earth’s Driest Desert

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Photo: Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2)/NASA

Satellite Photos Reveal Extent of Floods at This Year’s Burning Man

The equivalent of several months of rain fell over the area, and the water pooled into the playa where the event takes place every year.

Earth Science Angely Mercado Sep 8

Even Phoenix’s Cactuses Can’t Beat This Summer’s Record Heat

The iconic southwestern plants are made for desert conditions, but climate change means that there is such a thing as too much heat.

Climate Change Angely Mercado Jul 31

See the World’s Unsold Clothing in a Huge Desert Pileup

A satellite image shows where tons of fast-fashion items are heaped in a clothing graveyard in the Atacama Desert.

Conservation Angely Mercado May 17