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This Peruvian mountain looks how the Andes did 24 million years ago — glaciers concealed nature’s 14-mineral rainbow palette until 2015

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I stood at 16,500 feet watching dawn light reveal what glaciers concealed for millennia. The ice that once buried Peru’s Rainbow Mountain melted away in 2015, exposing sedimentary layers painted 24 million years ago when ancient seas deposited minerals across what would become the Andes. Vinicunca — the mountain’s Quechua name meaning “rainbow-colored” — now … Lire plus

Why plus-size women are choosing tiny jeans (and feeling more confident than ever)

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Walking into a clothing store used to fill me with dread. The racks of trendy jeans seemed designed for someone else—anyone else but me. But something shifted when I decided to try on those slim-fit jeans everyone was wearing. I expected disappointment, maybe embarrassment. Instead, I found confidence I didn’t know I had. Wearing tiny … Lire plus

The starfish-covered Philippine islet locals don’t want Instagram to discover

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I stepped into the turquoise shallows of Honda Bay and froze. Beneath my feet, scattered across the sand like living chocolate chips, at least 50 starfish clustered in a single square meter. My guide Miguel’s hand shot up immediately: “Please, don’t touch. Even for photos.” His voice carried urgency, not annoyance. This wasn’t another scripted … Lire plus

This 190mph Japanese train reaches Mount Fuji in 45 minutes for $45 while Switzerland charges $400 for slower alpine views

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I spent years assuming Mount Fuji required elaborate tour packages, mountain permits, and multi-day commitments to experience properly. Then I discovered Japan’s Shinkansen delivers me from Tokyo’s chaos to Fujisan’s sacred presence in just 45 minutes — traveling at 190mph for $45 while Switzerland charges $400 for their slower Glacier Express alpine views. This wasn’t … Lire plus

How I lowered my cholesterol 14 points in 3 months with one daily food

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When Jessica Martinez’s doctor told her she had high cholesterol at age 38, she didn’t want to start medication right away. Instead, she made one simple change to her daily routine: eating an avocado every morning with her breakfast. Three months later, her LDL cholesterol dropped by 14 mg/dL, and she felt more energized than … Lire plus

I discovered this Maine island while chasing lighthouse shots at dawn—now I skip Acadia’s 3.5M crowds for 60-resident artist cliffs

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I’ve photographed lighthouses from Portland Head to Bass Harbor, but nothing prepared me for what I found 12 miles offshore. After three summers fighting Acadia National Park’s parking chaos—arriving at 5am only to circle lots for an hour—a gallery owner in Rockland whispered about an island where Edward Hopper painted at dawn without seeing another … Lire plus

The only California island where 145 endemic species survive 25 miles from LAX — scientists call it America’s Galápagos

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Twenty-five miles from Los Angeles International Airport, where 10 million people rush through one of America’s busiest metros, a wilderness island harbors 145 endemic species that scientists compare to the Galápagos. Santa Cruz Island emerges from Pacific waters as California’s most biodiverse sanctuary, where evolution proceeded independently for 25 million years creating plants and animals … Lire plus

We explored 900 Pacific islands in 20 years and this 800-acre Costa Rican sanctuary where coral cathedrals hide 300 ancient stone spheres and…

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After twenty years photographing remote Pacific coastlines—from Galápagos volcanic arcs to Polynesian coral atolls—I thought I’d documented every combination of marine wonder and ancient mystery. Then a Drake Bay fisherman handed me coordinates to an 800-acre sanctuary where Costa Rica hides underwater coral cathedrals protecting 300 pre-Columbian stone spheres. And what we discovered beneath those … Lire plus