Africa’s Mysterious “Fairy Circles”

Fairy circles—circular patches of bare soil surrounded by a ring of grass—have long mystified scientists.Found mainly in the grasslands of southern Africa, the oddly shaped formations can grow to more than 65 feet (20 meters) wide, but no one knew what caused them. Now, perhaps dashing the hopes of those who thought actual fairies were involved, a new study has found a possible explanation: termites.

American Magpie

Endangered Species:The American magpie or black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) inhabits a swath of the western United States. It is one of only four North American songbirds whose tail makes up more than half of its total body length.