Awesome Nature

For a short time in February, Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park can turn a fiery mix of yellow, orange, and red. The incredible flowing lava effect is produced when the sun aligns perfectly with the fall and the colorful sunset reflects to backlight the waters. Wonder World explains this phenomenon and how fickle this organic light show can be.

As the Mythbusters proved long ago, humans have a hard time trying to walk on water. But there are insects like water striders that pull of the trick every day. Ze Frank skims the surface with a fun video about these water walkers and how they manage to stay afloat and move around. They can even jump off of the water without sinking.

Get to know your dromedaries and bactrians in Ze Frank’s video about camels. From to their fat-filled humps to their cameltoes, these amazing animals have evolved to survive in some of the world’s harshest desert conditions. They have no problem drinking salt water, and can even eat cacti, thorns and all.

When you think about how small insects are, it’s pretty amazing that they can fly around when they’re being pelted with raindrops. The PBS series Be Smart explores the amazing biological adaptations that allow bugs to handle a downpour and not come crashing to the ground when the rain hits.

Artist Niu Yifei creates incredible works of using items found in nature. His impermanent portraits include birds, wolves, people, and even video game characters. He starts by sketching outlines in the dirt, and then places items like twigs, leaves, and grasses to complete the images. Head to Instagram to see more of his ephemeral pieces come together.

Director and visual designer Hiroshi Takagishi created this mindbending short film, which takes the organic forms of succulent plants and imagines how they might move if they weren’t stationary organisms. It first glance, we thought it was photographic macro footage, but it was created with CGI.

Quiietjay makes nature videos about cryptids. In this clip, you’ll learn all about a strange-looking creature called a “prince,” which hails from the Greenhouses region of the Far Plane. Measuring over 5 feet long and 3 feet tall, it has a see-through glass body like a living Prince Rupert’s Drop. It comes from the same neighborhood as the Golbo. (Thanks, Rob!)

With air temperatures as low as -37°F, photographer and filmmaker Drew Simms captured a series of extraordinary images of Yellowstone National Park. In the extreme cold of winter, the park is devoid of tourists, so it provides an extraordinary opportunity to witness the frozen bison, coyotes, mountain goats, and other snow-covered wildlife.

We already know that jellyfish are fascinating creatures. TierZoo explores these marine animals’ unusual biology, abilities, and longevity on Earth despite their complete lack of a brain and a nervous system. Being venomous certainly helps. So, which jelly is the highest rated on the tier list? Press play and find out.

Author and nature lover Paul Rosolie has spent 20 years in the Amazon rainforest on a mission to help protect its ecosystem. But camping in the wilds of the rainforest isn’t glamorous or comfortable. Paul shows how gnarly things can get when a swarm of leafcutter ants descends on his campsite and starts nibbling on everything from his tent to his ear.

(PG-13) Turns out dolphins are the opposites of snakes. Despite their cute appearance, these mammals are some of the most ruthless and raunchiest animals the planet has ever seen. Casual Geographic tries his best to lighten his presentation, but this video is ultimately over 15 minutes of horrifying recorded events and studies on dolphin crimes.

Are you ready for some new nightmare fuel? Ze Frank has got you covered with a video about some of the many creepy wasps that implant their eggs in the bodies or larvae of their victims. The babies then feast on their host’s insides until they grow up and pop out. Surprise, surprise!

Jellyfish are fascinating creatures, but they’re also known for delivering a nasty sting. Ze Frank dives deep beneath the surface to explain how these marine animals use their unique properties for hunting prey, feeding themselves, and moving through the water. It’s amazing how a single jelly baby splits into multiples.

While spiders might creep you out, most are harmless to humans and help eliminate nasty pests like wasps and hornets. In this fascinating video, an orb-weaver makes quick work of a wasp by capturing it in its web and then wrapping it up in silk in about a minute. It almost looks like the video has been sped up, but it’s in real-time.

Snakes are some of the most fascinating creatures on Earth. Ze Frank takes an in-depth look at the remarkable ways these limbless reptiles move around, from striking against their prey to smoothly slithering and sidewinding along the ground. It helps that their bodies contain up to 15,000 muscles, compared to the 600 or so we humans have.

Ever wondered why cats have vertically elongated pupils, while their bigger cousins like lions and tigers have round ones? Or why geckos seem to have multiple round pupils? What about the W-shaped ones on cuttlefish? And what is up with those creepy goat eyes? Wondrous Walk explains the perks of different pupil shapes in this fascinating video.