Who, or what, crosses over to the United States? The Border Patrol operates this blimp out of Sierra Vista, less than twenty miles from Mexico. Its purpose is officially radar surveillance – the detection of low-flying aircraft smuggling drugs and other cargo. But imagine if the blimp also provided infrared (heat-sensitive) images. It would surely…

Spring is here, though the calendar and a certain groundhog may disagree. In the desert, this time of year is associated with floral blooms. Many species grow and reproduce in these cool months, but only when enough moisture is present. In dry years, many seeds remain ungerminated in the soil; in wet years, growth proceeds…

Ghosts of the past appear when walking through the Luquillo forest. Take the cable bridge across the Quebrada Sonadora and hike uphill half a kilometer, and you will soon find the remains of a stout metal fence. It is decaying now, but once served a purpose: keeping people out of a highly radioactive area. In…

We woke up this morning to the sound of heavy rain and birds calling. A wonderful way to send us off after a month of hard work in the field. Before leaving we spent one last afternoon at the swimming hole on the Quebrada Sonadora – there is a certain peace that comes from places…