According to TreeHugger.com, "The Lorax might have spoken for the trees, but it turns out that trees can speak for themselves. At least to other trees, that is."

Sounds far-fetched, right? Very Dr. Suess-esque. But, according to Suzanne Simard, an Australian ecology expert, trees not only talk to each other, they recognize their offspring.

Wait, what?

Trees recognize their kids?

It's true. In a TED talk, Simard explains how she used isotope tracing to monitor forest behavior. What she discovered was nothing short of mind-boggling:

• Trees do not stand alone. They belong to arboreal "families" and can be identified by other family members who share common characteristics.
• Mother trees that would usually expand their roots in every direction, will pull back to make room for their "kinfolk" to grow.
• Adult trees pass carbon to family seedlings via a vast underground web of fungi, which makes the seedlings healthier and more resistant to stress.

Simard has been studying Canadian forests for three decades, "A forest is much more than what you see," she says.

It makes me wonder, if a tree speaks, does it also listen? And does that mean when we think we're alone in the forest, we're surrounded by thousands of lifeforms that might actually be talking about us?

SomeThing to think about on your next hike.

See you next week,
Bobby

September 25 is National Comic Book Day.  Not to be confused with National FREE Comic Book Day, which takes place on the first Saturday in May, this is a day for readers, collectors, and fans to celebrate all Things about comic books.

In honor of this auspicious occasion, I thought I'd provide you with a few facts you can use to astound your friends (or just show off).

• The first known American comic book was a hardcover called "The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck". It was printed in 1842. 
• Newspaper comic strips established many of the story telling techniques used in the early comic books, which evolved into the comics we know today when publishers started reprinting them in book form.
• "Famous Funnies", which appeared in the US in 1933, is believed to be the first reprinting of newspaper comic strips as a book.
• Comic books are not always 'comic'. In fact, they span all genres from horror to sci-fi to humor to drama.
•  People who collect comic books are known as pannapictagraphists.

So how do you celebrate national comic book day? Buy a new comic book. Or two or three. Try drawing a comic of your own. Use the hashtag #NationalComicBookDay to get your friends involved on social media. Then again, you could just read a comic book or two. Or five or ten.

Happy Comic Book Day! See you next week,
Bobby

Human skulls have been part of culture since the beginning of recorded history. Their significance and evolution through different societies might diverge, but one Thing has never changed: humans use skulls in ceremonies, as personal adornments and as home decorations just as they have for centuries.

From its early beginnings, skull imagery represented death and mortality. Many cultures still regard the skull as a symbol of evil as well. But many ancient societies regarded skulls such as the famous crystal skull as a representation of life and consciousness.

In modern times, the skull has taken its place somewhere between death and life in most societies. Some people collect them as a reminder of their mortality, that some day everyone must dance with Death. Others collect them as a fierce sign of fearlessness, power, strength, and immortality — overcoming Death. Still others see them as a symbol of wisdom and guidance from the world beyond.

I have lots of skull-related Things, but until I started writing today's blog, I never thought about what they mean. Or why I collect them. I'm still not sure. Maybe they stand for someThing and maybe they don't. Or maybe I just think they're cool.

See you next week,
Bobby

I was driving to work when I heard that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. By the time I got there, the second plane had hit the other tower. When I went inside, no one was working. Some people were just sitting there in stunned silence. A few people were crying. Others were trying to get in touch with friends and family in the city. Most were gathered around the television in the conference room just trying to make sense of it all.

People tend to remember exactly where they were and what they were doing at the moment of certain defining events in our shared history. The day JFK was assassinated. Or John Lennon was killed. Or that terrible morning 15 years ago when America changed forever.

On Sunday, we will remember with ceremony and salutes. We think about all those who were lost. We honor the brave first responders who charged into those doomed buildings. We'll salute the American spirit of strength and perseverance that saw us through it all. And we'll make the promise we made then: we will never, ever forget.

See you next week,
Bobby

Mark Hamill just dropped a major Star Wars spoiler on Twitter: a video of him getting his facial hair removed from The Force Awakens. He also posted this message: "Haven't seen my chin since May '15, so #FarewellFacialFur & #ByeByeBeard (at least til #EpisodeIX) @popculturequest."

Since he wasn't onscreen for much of The Force Awakens, fans are bolstered by his tweet that seems to indicate Luke Skywalker will be around at least until Episode IX.

Fans expected him to die in the last film because, well, that's what beloved Star Wars characters do. But for now it looks like Skywalker won't become a "Force ghost" for at least two more films.

May the Force be with you. I'll see you next week,
Bobby