A person created in the woods of Northern Vermont where the cows are plentiful and the people are sparse. 

While pursuing a degree in Communications from Suffolk University, I spent most of my free time working in various retail and restaurant locations — developing a fascination for how people interact within their worlds. I had managed to fall deeply in love with denim, burritos, riding my bicycle, and putting my thoughts to paper before receiving my degree in January of 2016.

Now back in the beautiful state of Vermont, the bike is stowed away in the barn and I’m the proud new owner of a car payment. But I have come to learn that a place where gorgeous views, maple creemees, and locally made cheese are in abundance is never a bad place to be.

You can find me on Instagram @awhsam

Author's Articles

Image: Person kayaking through some rocks

11 minutes

[ Nature ]

Meeting the Salween River

By

On this Saturday Around the World, we’re traveling through the beautiful Salween River in China and seeing the efforts put into place to protect it.

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Image: Blue Orchard Mason Bee on flower

9 minutes

[ Nature ]

The Beauty of Orchard Bees

By

With 20,000 known species of bee in the world, it’s no surprise that they each go about life a little differently. We’re lucky enough to learn more about the blue orchard mason bee and the beautiful homes they make for their young in this article!

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Image: A macro shot of a painted turtle

18 minutes

[ Science ]

Saving the World One Turtle at a Time

By

The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is changing the world in its own way; saving injured turtles to keep important wetland ecosystems alive and well!

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Image: Reversible Head with Basket of Fruit by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

12 minutes

[ Culture ]

It’s True, We Don’t See the World the Same

By

Our own perception of the world differs greatly from those around us. We’ve all had different experiences, and like it or not, they shape us. Let’s explore why and how that might make us more tolerant of others.

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Image: Food waste from a market

7 minutes

[ Innovation ]

Getting Energy from our Food Scraps!

By

This innovation is giving our table scraps value! Impact Bioenergy has created a zero waste system to turn our food scraps into energy and nutrient-rich biofuels, all with the help of microbes.

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Image: Euprymna tasmanica—bobtail squid found off the coast of Australia

7 minutes

[ Science ]

The Bacteria that Lights Up This Squids Life

By

The relationship between the bobtail squid and this bacteria is the definition of a healthy relationship. And maybe we can all learn a little something from them!

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Image: Mae Jemison in Space

5 minutes

[ Thought Leaders ]

Happy Birthday Mae Jemison!

By

The story of Mae Jemison’s life is one about pursuing your dreams and striving for better. And tomorrow’s her birthday! So let’s celebrate.

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Image: Tilly Lockey at the SingularityU The Netherlands Summit in 2016 with her bionic arm

7 minutes

[ Innovation ]

This Prosthetic Arm Doesn’t Look Human — And That’s Awesome

By

This prosthesis is not only the cheapest bionic arm you can find on the market, it’s also one of the coolest. The Hero Arm is 3D printed for anyone age 9 and above, customizable, and inspiring a new wave of research!

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18 minutes

[ Pebbles ]

Supporting Education in the Mountains of Nepal

By

The vast majority of people who have summited Mount Everest have porters to thank for it—but being a porter is far from a safe profession. Yet, for many Sherpa, this is their only way to support their families. After becoming a porter at the age of 12 and summiting Everest 21 times, Apa Sherpa has created a foundation to ensure that children have another path to travel in life through their education.

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Image: A raccoon kit in a tree

7 minutes

[ Nature ]

Raccoons Can See With Their Hands!

By

How much do you know about this famous neighborhood bandit? They have quite a few interesting tricks that help them survive in our urban worlds!

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Image: Dancer on pointe on bricks

18 minutes

[ Creativity ]

What’s the Pointe (Shoe)?

By

Pointe shoes are the most important tool for a ballet dancer, second only to their body. So who makes them and how they are prepared before each use is crucial to their career. Let’s take a look at this fascinating process…

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Image: Ben Lecomte Swimming the Pacific Ocean for Science

10 minutes

[ Science ]

What We’re Learning from The First Swim Across the Pacific

By

Ben Lecomte is currently (right now!) in the middle of swimming 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean. While this is awesome on its own, what’s truly amazing is the amount of scientific data they’re picking up along the way.

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Image: American Grizzly in the middle of a paved road

27 minutes

[ Innovation ]

Why Wild Animals May End Up On Your Street

By

These communities in Canada are helping us all reimagine what we can do to have healthy relationships with the wildlife that lives around us!

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Image: hands holding cacao beans

28 minutes

[ Innovation ]

The Surprising Life Behind Your Chocolate

By

If you’ve ever eaten chocolate, then you’re definitely going to want to check this out. Most of us don’t know of the lengthy, fascinating process it goes through before it makes it to us!

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Image: Microsculpture is a photographic project be British photographer Levon Biss. Please email Levon for any enquiries. Longhorn Beetle, Nigeria.Species of the genus Sternotomis (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae).Once magnified the secret to the spectacular patterning of this beetle is revealed – a covering of extremely fine pigmented scales similar to those of butterflies and moths.

8 minutes

[ Creativity ]

Insects Have Never Looked So Good!

By

The amazing, intricate structures of insects are something that belongs in museums—oh wait, they’re already there! Photographer Levon Biss has teamed up with one exhibit to bring us closer than we’ve ever been to these tiny creatures with his Microsculptures. You’ll never look at a bug the same way after you see these.

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Image: cut up mushrooms

6 minutes

[ Food ]

Here’s Where Your Mushrooms Come From!

By

You can find fungi pretty much everywhere—including your plate. But how does it get there? The amazing series, How Does it Grow, brings us to one of the largest mushroom growers in the United States to find out how!

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Image: Tardigrade against black background

7 minutes

[ Pebbles ]

Have You Met The Animal That Can Survive in Space?

By

Tardigrades are the definition of “small but mighty”. They’re never any bigger than 1.5mm, but these creatures can survive pretty much everything!

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Image: Fan Yang holding child in the middle of bubbles!

10 minutes

[ Creativity ]

This Performance is “Popping” Barriers

By

Bubbles have a way of instantly taking us back to the joys of childhood! Meet the family bringing the wonders of bubble making to new heights with a performance unlike any other!

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Image: People standing away from us on a forest trail surrounded by the lights from fireflies.

15 minutes

[ Nature ]

Fireflies Put on Quite the Show in Mexico

By

On this edition of Saturday’s Around the World, we’re traveling to Mexico to experience the light show few have seen happening in their forests!

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Image: man wearing headphones on a busy city street

13 minutes

[ Science ]

What’s Up With All This Noise?

By

We’re living in a loud world, and most of us are contributing to the noise pollution in some way. Although it’s rather grim to mourn our hearing, there’s still hope! Let’s learn more.

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Image: Two people highfiving in a laboratory

20 minutes

[ Science ]

Community Laboratories are Changing What’s Possible

By

Genspace is the world’s first DIY biolab; letting members of the community from all walks of life get a closer look at the building blocks of our world. Science isn’t just for scientists, and the amazing projects and discoveries coming from Genspace and community laboratories like it, are proving this to be true.

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Image: rust colored oil in clear aqua blue water with a boat working to skim oil

6 minutes

[ Innovation ]

Your Spare Hair Could Clean the Ocean!

By

Did you know you are growing a way to combat oil spills? Every day, hairdressers are throwing out pounds of hair that can be used to help clean up the environment! Clean Wave is putting that hair to good use, keeping the oceans safe and protecting wildlife.

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Image: Painting from Zaria Forman of the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica viewed from above

16 minutes

[ Creativity ]

When Art and Science Intersect

By

This isn’t a photograph of the Getz Ice Shelf, its a drawing! Zaria Forman creates large-scale depictions of glaciers, and NASA’s Operation IceBridge invited her on a trip to get even closer to them. Here’s that story and the gorgeous creations that came from it!

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Image: Machine smashing through some mud

8 minutes

[ Sports ]

What’s More Fun Than Mud?

By

We’ve all played in mud at some point in our lives, but when did that stop? And why? We may all be able to learn a little something about the power of play and innovation from these mudslingers!

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Image: Hussein Smko performing outside

7 minutes

[ Creativity ]

When Dance Creates Opportunities

By

Hussein Smko grew up in war-torn Iraq, and he’s turned his experience into an opportunity. Through his performance, this dancer is not only telling his story, but making it possible for others to share theirs.

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Image: Orchid Bee approaches flower

7 minutes

[ Animals ]

These Bees Make Their Own Perfume!

By

Male orchid bees don’t just look beautiful, they also smell beautiful (well, to female bees anyway). These little guys are the perfumers of the forest, collecting smells in hopes of finding a mate. Here’s how they do it!

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Image: Michoacan copper vessels

7 minutes

[ Art ]

Creating Beauty from Scraps

By

Mexico’s copper artisans are some of the most skilled in the world. Their work recycles the materials of everyday objects and transforms them into remarkable works of art.

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Image: Dogs and Volunteers at Territorio de Zaguates

10 minutes

[ Animals ]

A Sanctuary for Costa Rica’s Strays

By

Territorio de Zaguates is providing care to nearly a thousand dogs that have been taken off the streets of Costa Rica. Their story is a testament to the impact the love and determination of one person can have on others.

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Image: Person kayaking with their back to the camera, heading off into the sunset

[ Conservation & Sustainability ]

What Happens When Athletes and Scientists Team Up?

By

To put it simply: breakthroughs. This nonprofit is making it possible for scientists to get the data they need from every corner of the planet by teaming them up with the adventurers who are already there.

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