Firefighters grant dying forest ranger's final wish to visit the woods one last time

via Evergreen Hospice Volunteers / Facebook

Hospice nurses seem to come from the heavens. It's a job that requires a big heart, the strength to deal with death on a daily basis, and in-depth medical and nursing training.

Five years ago, Leigh Gardner performed a small miracle for a man that made one of his last days on Earth one of his best

Edward Reis, 62, was an ex-forest ranger with multiple sclerosis and had been in hospice care for years. His caregivers became a surrogate family for Reis who didn't have much family in the area.

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Nature

New research shows that children who grow up near nature become happier adults

via Irudayam / Flickr

Being in nature is soothing to the soul. The air is cleaner. The night sky is darker so it's easier to sleep. And there's something calming about being in the natural harmony of the wilderness.

But, on the other hand, it's tough to find a place to get good sushi or an exciting night club.

This begs the age-old question: is it better to live in the city or the country? The answer has always been, "depends on who you ask," but a new study out of Denmark says that being near dense vegetation is clearly better for one's mental health.

A nationwide study of over 900,000 people published in PNAS showed that "children who grew up with the lowest levels of green space had up to 55% higher risk of developing a psychiatric disorder independent from effects of other known risk factors."

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Planet

10 amazing times things were camouflaged by pure coincidence.

These photos are mind-bending.

via Reddit user TheDoorBelllGuy

Through the magic of evolution there are countless instances where animals are so camouflaged to their environment, they're nearly impossible to see.

This helps them hide from predators or gives them cover to lash out and eat other animals.

The orca is black on top and white on the bottom so they're hard to identify from above or below.

Who'd notice this terrifying viper in the desert sand?


This seahorse perfectly blends into its environment.



But when human beings blend into the environment, it's not a miracle of nature, it's usually just dumb luck or poor fashion sense.

Here are ten times that things were camouflaged by pure coincidence.

Cat matches dog


The building is slowly fading into the sky.

Via Reddit user pachew96

This black car looks like a mirror after being washed

via Reddit User Tittzo

The cat in the carpet


The vines on the side of this house changed their color to match the siding.

via Reddit user ErnestoJesperson

She is the sea and the sky

via augustoberg / Instagram

The only time polka dots have worked as camouflage.

via Reddit user TheDoorBelllGuy

This woman is wearing the floor.


If she died right there, no one would notice.


This brings new meaning to the phrase, "Eat it or wear it."


Creepiest moment in a hotel since "The Shining"

Reddit user Wickensworth

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Nature

These gorgeous wildlife photos were retouched to show the effects of climate change.

On Earth Day we're reminded how precious our planet is and what will happen without meaningful change.

You probably don't spend much time thinking about your computer's screensaver. But what if something so simple could help make a difference for endangered wildlife around the globe?

Graduate student Lauren Race and three creative partners (Carl Jannerfeldt, Beth Kushner, and Nancy Black) retouched some of the most common screensaver images to reflect what they might more accurately look like due to the effects of climate change.

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climate change nature wildlife earth day nature images earthsaver
Heroes