In the Line of Fire
This weekend marks Endangered Species Day, a chance to raise awareness of the plight of endangered populations, and celebrate those that have recovered because of conservation efforts. Consider the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which has been credited with the recovery and protection of several species, including the bald eagle, American alligator, and the gray wolf. Actions matter. Wherever you live, take a moment to learn about the endangered species in your area, and how you can help.
Every Orangutan Species Is Critically Endangered
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Saving Sharks in the 2020s
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Investigating the Decline in Tiger Populations
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Art in the News
From a royal portrait that has people seeing red, to an investigation into the background of the Mona Lisa, here’s more context on a few art-related headlines.
King crimson
King Charles III unveiled the first royal portrait painted since he ascended the throne—and reactions have been mixed. The portrait (pictured below) by artist Jonathan Yeo shows the king wearing a bright red uniform, against a sea of similar shades, with his hands resting on a sword, and a butterfly at his shoulder. Its unveiling on Tuesday caused an uproar, with many comments likening the hues to blood or flames.
Mona Lisa mountain
People have spent a lot of time debating her smile, but what about those mountains behind the Mona Lisa? Where is that? Until recently, nobody was sure, but Ann Pizzorusso thinks she has the answer. Pizzorusso, a geologist and Renaissance scholar, has combined her passions to locate the mountains, which she believes are the Italian Alps overlooking a city called Lecco, on Lake Como.
Carrington nets record price
Leonora Carrington’s 1945 painting Les Distractions de Dagobert sold for $28.5 million at Sotheby’s on Wednesday, setting a new high-water mark on prices paid for the artist’s work. Carrington was an English-born Mexican-based surrealist known for her haunting, somewhat inscrutable paintings that incorporate images of sorcery, metamorphosis, alchemy, and the occult.
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The political history of the term “Asian American”
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