Go behind the scenes to learn how a Nat Geo photographer is protecting animals like river otters, caracals, snakes, and more. He also spills his secrets on dealing with his dangerous, adventurous, and mischievous subjects.
You’ll also find out how to get ready for April’s total solar eclipse with details
Cruz’s Aunt Marisol sends him postcards from around the world with secret messages written in code. Start the scavenger hunt by following the instructions on the first postcard below. See if you can solve Marisol’s codes and unlock a secret about Explorer Academy.
Watch them in action and find out how they’re changing the world through science
Written by Trudi Trueit, Explorer Academy is packed with fun illustrations and mysterious codes. Meet those creators here.
GARETH MOORE All the codes and puzzles you’ll find throughout the book are the
First, take a cool quiz to find out which ocean animal you’re most like, then read
Get outside with this cool paper boat you can make and race yourself!
Fold left to right to find the center and reopen.
This 4-inch-long (10-centimeter-long) fish shares an amazing partnership with another sea creature: the anemone (pronounced: uh-NEM-uh-NEE). The partnership benefits both participants, and the close relationship led to the fish being named an anemonefish. Anemones have tentacles that sting, but the clownfish isn’t bothered by them. In fact, it lives among the tentacles. Living among the tentacles of the anemone, the clown anemonefish gains protection from predators—which don’t dare get near the stinging protector. The anemonefish also gets to eat leftovers from the anemone’s meals. The anemone benefits from having the fish around, too. The useful fish nibbles away parasites that bug the anemone. And sometimes the anemonefish brings food into the tentacles which the anemone can also eat. Generally several anemonefish make one host anemone their home.
Save the Earth tips Find out how you can help make a difference.
Raccoons are active-at-night, or nocturnal, mammals that live throughout much of the world, from North and South America to Asia, in wooded areas and big cities alike. During winter in cold northern climates, raccoons sleep for extended periods, although they don’t actually hibernate. To prepare for cold winters, raccoons pack on extra body fat in fall. This extra fat helps provide the raccoon with energy when it’s too cold to search for food. On land, raccoons lumber around on all four paws like a bear. Among the raccoon’s favorite foods on land are: fruits, seeds, nuts, birds‘ eggs and plants. In cities, raccoons scavenge around garbage bins and will eat scraps of food and other trash found there. Raccoons are also excellent swimmers, hunting fish, frogs, and crayfish. Raccoons live for around one to three years in the wild. In captivity, where the raccoon doesn’t need to worry about finding food or outwitting predators, some have lived as long as 20 years.
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Porcupines are lumbering, rotund rodents with needle-like spikes, called quills, covering their back, sides, and tail. A single porcupine can have more than 30,000 quills, which are actually sharp bristles of fused hair. When another animal attacks the porcupine, its quills detach, burrowing into the adversary’s flesh and inflicting painful, potentially deadly wounds. It’s easy to tell when porcupines are mad: They stomp their feet, hiss, and shake their quills, which normally lie flat against the porcupine’s body. While porcupines are rarely aggressive, they’ll defend themselves by charging or swatting their spiked tail at opponents. Porcupines are herbivores, eating leaves, plants, fruit, and the tender layer of tissue beneath the bark of trees. A porcupine can fell a whole tree if it removes too much bark. The head and body of a porcupine is between 25 to 36 inches (60 to 90 centimeters). And the tail can add another 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) to the entire length.
Save the Earth tips Find out how you can help make a difference.
Helping the planet can start right on your street. Here’s how to organize your own neighborhood cleanup!
Save the date Look at your family’s calendar and find a free Saturday or Sunday within
So. Many. Penguins! Journey to Antarctica to see the moment when a group of emperor penguin chicks jump into the ocean for their first swim. But while most emperor chicks jump about two feet into the water, these birds are making a 50-foot plunge! Then travel to islands in the Pacific Ocean where you’ll meet some sneaky Galápagos penguins stealing fish from pelicans. Plus, show your smarts by taking an all-about-penguins quiz.
Save the Earth tips Find out how you can help make a difference.
