Environment Endangered sea turtle rebounding thanks to COVID-19 and indigenous peoples Kevin Reome

healthcare Inside Mexico's "Molar City," where Americans find dental care at 80% off Ellsworth Toohey

silly Oscar Mayer's Wienie 500: hot dogs hit the track Jason Weisberger

california California is home to five micronations Jason Weisberger

Smoking toad venom helps veterans with PTSD, addiction, and depression Allan Rose Hill

wildlife Mama javelina teaches her babies to freeze and go silent when sensing danger Jennifer Sandlin

music These Norteño-style versions of "This Charming Man" and "Welcome to the Black Parade" are extraordinary Jennifer Sandlin

botany Remembering 31-year-old botanist Gabriel Trujillo Jennifer Sandlin

Nature Watch this kingsnake navigating a brick wall as if in a video game Jennifer Sandlin

animals Psychedelic fish, ants, and sponges that can make you trip David Pescovitz

bugs to avoid Don't pick up the "master blister beetle" unless you want blisters on your skin Jennifer Sandlin

names La Cuetlaxochitl became the most famously misnamed holiday flower Elías Villoro

psychedelics National Park Service warning against licking toads was not based on any ranger reports of people actually licking toads, according to FOIA response David Pescovitz

Delightful Creatures "Please refrain from licking" toads, says National Park Service in unusual warning Carla Sinclair

off-grid A glimpse into Slab City, the most lawless place in California Popkin

PBS Why do Mexican jumping beans jump? Janelle Hessig

COVID-19 Mexicans want crackdown on coronavirus-carrying American border crossers Xeni Jardin

guillotine watch Pharma company will pay $15.4m in fines for bribing docs to prescribe an overpriced med that brings in $1b/year Cory Doctorow

photography Welcome to Slab City, the "last free place" David Pescovitz

cactus Cactus juicer Rusty Blazenhoff