安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的银河, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Milky Way over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA (© Kevin Key/Slworking)/Getty Images)

当灯光熄灭之后 After the lights go down

银河

当夜幕降临，宇宙便开始上演一场壮丽的“光影秀”。每年四月举行的国际暗夜周，邀请人们重新发现夜晚的魅力，并了解为什么黑暗同样值得被保护。这项活动始于2003年，旨在提醒公众关注过度的人造光照对野生动物、人类健康、能源消耗以及我们观测星空能力所带来的影响。减少不必要的灯光并不意味着降低安全性——通过科学、合理的照明设计，完全可以在保证安全的同时减少光污染。

这张银河高悬在安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的照片，正好诠释了这一理念。作为加利福尼亚州最大的州立公园**，这里同时也是被正式认定的国际暗夜公园，因此拥有全美一流的观星条件。在晴朗的夜晚，天空中会出现行星、星团以及我们所在星系——银河系那条明亮的星带。这样的壮丽景象，在许多城市地区由于光污染已经很难看到了。

国际暗夜周鼓励人们从一些简单的行动做起，例如为门廊灯加装遮光罩，或参加当地的观星活动。抬头仰望夜空，保持好奇心，也一起努力，让夜晚继续保有自然的璀璨星光。

International Dark Sky Week

When the lights go down, the universe puts on a show. International Dark Sky Week, celebrated each April, invites everyone to rediscover the night and learn why darkness is worth protecting. Launched in 2003, the week highlights how excessive artificial light affects wildlife, human health, energy use, and our ability to see the stars. Fewer lights don't mean less safety—smart, well-designed lighting can do both.

The image of the Milky Way glowing above Anza-Borrego Desert State Park captures this idea perfectly. As California's largest state park and an officially designated International Dark-Sky Park, Anza-Borrego offers some of the best stargazing in the country. On a clear night, the sky fills with planets, star clusters, and the bright band of our home galaxy—views that have vanished from many urban areas.

International Dark Sky Week encourages simple actions, from shielding porch lights to joining a local star party. Look up, get curious, and help keep nights naturally brilliant.

城市灯光在下方划过, 拍摄于国际空间站 City lights streak below, taken from the International Space Station (© NASA)

离开地球的第一步 The first step off Earth

国际人类航天日

今天，世界纪念国际载人航天日，这是联合国设立的纪念日，旨在纪念人类首次进入太空的旅程以及人类太空时代的开始。这个日期回忆起1961年4月12日，尤里·加加林绕地球飞行，证明人类可以离开地球并安全返回。

这种探索精神在国际空间站上依然存在。从国际空间站上，宇航员拍摄发光的城市网格和穿越地球大气层的强烈雷暴——这些景象将科学变成了魔法。空间站绕地球运行的高度大约为250英里，每90分钟环绕地球一圈，使船员每天最多可以看到16次日出和日落。自2000年以来，空间站一直有人居住，由美国、俄罗斯、欧洲、日本和加拿大的合作伙伴共同运营。在空间站内部，宇航员进行推进医学、材料和气候科学的研究，同时也学习人类如何在离地球更远的地方生活和工作。

International Day of Human Space Flight

Today, the world marks the International Day of Human Space Flight, a United Nations observance honoring the first human journey into space and the start of the space age for humanity. The date recalls April 12, 1961, when Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth, proving that people could leave the planet and return safely.

That spirit of exploration lives on aboard the International Space Station. From the ISS, astronauts photograph glowing city grids and powerful lightning storms streaking through Earth's atmosphere—views that turn science into magic. Orbiting about 250 miles above the planet, the station circles Earth every 90 minutes, giving crews up to 16 sunrises and sunsets a day. It has been continuously occupied since 2000 and is operated by a partnership of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. Inside, astronauts conduct research that advances medicine, materials, and climate science, while also learning how humans can live and work farther from home.

帕帕加约海滩, 兰萨罗特, 加那利群岛, 西班牙 Papagayo Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain (© Gavin Hellier/Getty Images)

火山外衣 Volcanic veneer

帕帕加约海滩, 兰萨罗特, 加那利群岛, 西班牙

由火焰孕育而成的海滩很少能如此低调，而帕帕加约海滩正好做到了这一点。我们今天看到的海岸线位于西班牙加那利群岛兰萨罗特岛的南端。热带幻想？更像是火山般的精准。数百万年前，这片土地在海底火山喷发的推动下，逐层由玄武岩和火山灰堆积升起。

约400英尺长的小海湾给人一种亲密的感觉。它坐落在洛斯阿乔奇自然纪念地内，仍然受到保护，并故意保持低调。曾经，这里为在非洲和欧洲之间航行的水手提供庇护。如今，人们可以步行、乘船或沿着著名的颠簸土路到达这里——通过不便实现保护。悬崖环绕着海湾，形成天然的防波堤，使大西洋的海水在这里变得平静而清澈。鱼在光影中闪动，螃蟹在潮间带巡逻，章鱼消失在岩石之间。沙子的温暖金色调来自粉碎的贝壳与火山岩的混合，经过千年潮汐的精炼。帕帕加约的魅力在于其对比：由火山喷发锻造，由侵蚀塑形，并通过克制得以保存。

Papagayo Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

A beach born from fire rarely does so subtly, yet Papagayo Beach manages exactly that. The shoreline we see today rests on the southern edge of Lanzarote, one of Spain's Canary Islands. Tropical fantasy? More like volcanic precision. Millions of years ago, this land rose in successive layers of basalt and ash thrust upward by submarine eruptions.

About 400 feet long, the cove feels intimate. Nestled within Los Ajaches Natural Monument, it remains protected and deliberately low-key. Once, it sheltered sailors navigating between Africa and Europe. Today, it is reached by foot, boat, or a famously bumpy dirt road—preservation by inconvenience. Cliffs arc around the bay, forming natural breakwaters that temper the Atlantic into calm, clear shallows. Fish flicker through the light, crabs patrol the tidal edges, and octopuses vanish into stone. The sand's warm, golden tone? Pulverized shells mixed with volcanic rock, refined by millennia of tides. Papagayo's power lies in its contrasts: forged by eruption, shaped by erosion, and preserved by restraint.

雪落瀑布，布雷肯比肯斯国家公园，威尔士 Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales (© Guy Edwardes/Nature Picture Library)

光之水帘 Veil of light

雪落瀑布，布雷肯比肯斯国家公园，威尔士

清澈的水流沿着岩壁整齐地倾泻而下，形成了这座瀑布，这是威尔士南部最具特色的瀑布之一。它的威尔士语名称意为“雪落瀑布”，形容水流像一层淡白色的水帘从岩壁上滑落。这座瀑布的独特之处在于可以从瀑布后方穿行。一条狭窄的小径将游客引到水帘背后，让人近距离感受水声、光线与水雾交织的自然景象。

雪落瀑布位于布雷肯比肯斯国家公园内。这里因众多河流与瀑布在森林峡谷间交错分布，而被称为“瀑布之国”。标识清晰的步道沿着赫普斯特河将多处瀑布连接起来，使这里成为长距离徒步路线中的热门停留点。

在峡谷之上，地貌逐渐过渡为起伏的荒原与绵延的山脊。高地上的步道常常受到强风与多变天气的影响。这种从开阔高地到隐秘水谷的鲜明对比，正是布雷肯比肯斯国家公园独特景观的重要特征。

Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales

Water spills in clean lines at Sgwd yr Eira, one of South Wales' most distinctive waterfalls. Its Welsh name means 'Waterfall of Snow,' referring to the pale curtain of water sliding over the rock face. What sets this waterfall apart is access. A narrow path leads visitors behind the falling water, immersing them in sound, light, and movement at close range. Sgwd yr Eira lies within Brecon Beacons National Park, often called 'Waterfall Country' for its network of rivers and falls carved into wooded gorges. Well-marked trails connect this waterfall to others along the River Hepste, making it a popular stop on longer hikes. Above the valleys, the landscape opens into rolling moorland and long ridgelines where upland paths are shaped by wind and changing weather. These contrasts define the Brecon Beacons, where open, exposed uplands give way to sheltered water, tying the landscape together.

西雅图，华盛顿州，美国 Seattle, Washington, USA (© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion)

翡翠之城 The Emerald City

西雅图，华盛顿州

每年4月7日的国际河狸日，旨在致敬这位默默工作的“小工程师”。河狸凭借一根根树枝，悄然改变着自然环境。河狸长着标志性的门牙和桨状尾巴，以勤劳著称。数百万年来，它们一直在重塑淡水生态环境。河狸拥有呈橙色、富含铁质的坚硬门牙，可以轻松啃倒树木，并利用树枝和泥土建造水坝。这些水坝能够减缓水流、改善水质，并形成湿地，从而为多种动植物提供栖息地。它们还会用树枝和泥土搭建坚固的巢穴，入口通常位于水下，不仅能躲避捕食者，也为整个家族提供安全的居所。

作为世界上体型最大的啮齿动物之一，河狸的身体长度（不含尾巴）可接近 3 英尺（约 90 厘米）。它们对水生环境具有出色的适应能力，一次潜水最长可达约 15 分钟。过去，河狸曾因皮毛贸易而被大量捕猎，也常被人们误解。但如今，它们被广泛认为是重要的生态工程师。无论河狸在哪里定居，它们建造的水坝和湿地都会孕育出丰富的生命环境——证明即使是看似不起眼的“建筑者”，也能塑造庞大的生态系统。

Seattle, Washington

Seattle's waterfront seems suspended between sea and sky as soft light settles on the horizon. The city is named after Chief Si'ahl, a leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples, whose legacy remains important to the region's identity. Steep streets lead down to piers that sweep across Elliott Bay. Rising above the shoreline, the Space Needle stands out as the city's most recognizable landmark. Pike Place Market, founded in 1907, overlooks the waterfront and continues to anchor daily life and long-held traditions.

Music adds another layer to the city's story. In the late 20th century, grunge emerged from small clubs, and its raw sound evolved into a global genre that continues to influence Seattle's creative pulse. Framed by water and distant mountain ranges, the city feels open and expansive. Its evergreen landscape earned Seattle the enduring nickname 'Emerald City.'

樱花盛开的弘前城，弘前，日本 Hirosaki Castle with cherry blossoms, Hirosaki, Japan (© Glenn Waters/Getty Images)

芬芳四月 Where power resides

弘前，日本

想象一下17世纪初的日本北部：城堡矗立在政治、贸易与行政的交汇点上，是权力与治理的重要中心。随着时间推移，这些城堡不仅见证了紧张与冲突的历史，也记录了坚守、变迁以及人们的日常生活。每年4月6日庆祝的日本城堡日正是为了让人们关注这段多层次的历史。这一天的日期来自一个有趣的日语谐音：“shi”（4）和“ro”（6）**组合成 “Shiro-no-Hi”，因为 “shiro” 在日语中意为“城堡”。

Castle Day Japan

Picture northern Japan in the early 1600s. Castles stood at the crossroads of politics, trade, and governance. Across generations, they came to reflect not only moments of tension, but also endurance, adaptation, and everyday life. Castle Day, celebrated on April 6, was created to highlight that layered past. The day uses a simple phonetic link—shi (4) and ro (6)—to form Shiro-no-Hi, because 'shiro' means castle in Japanese. It's a reminder that castles had serious jobs long before they had cinematic appeal.

Today's image features Hirosaki Castle, completed in 1611 under the Tsugaru clan, an influential Japanese samurai family. Fires, repairs, and rebuilding reshaped it, but the castle remained in use until the feudal system ended in the 19th century. Rather than a relic, it endures as evidence of local rule and Edo-period design—a past that remained present as aesthetics moved toward minimalism.

阿姆布鲁大桥，阿姆斯特丹，荷兰 Armbrug bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands (© Alexander Spatari/Getty Images)

一次挥动桥臂，连接两岸 Bridging the gap, one arm at a time

阿姆布鲁赫桥，阿姆斯特丹，荷兰

在阿姆斯特丹，有些桥梁只是用来跨越运河，而阿姆布鲁赫桥（Armbrug）则多了一份趣味——当人们经过时，它仿佛在向行人挥手致意。这座桥横跨在旧侧沃堡运河之上。它的名字意为“手臂桥”，但实际上并不是指桥的形状，而是源自附近的一条小巷——Oudezijds Armsteeg（旧侧臂巷）。虽然名字与“手臂”有关，但更像是一种有趣的联想，让人不禁想象它正向经过的骑行者和行人友好地打招呼。

这座历史悠久的桥梁由混凝土建成，是一座固定式桥梁，不会像阿姆斯特丹的许多运河桥那样开启或升起，而是静静地连接运河两岸，让当地居民和游客安全通行。不过，它真正的魅力在于周围的景致：运河两岸排列着典雅的历史建筑，远处还能看到St. Nicholas Church的身影，而附近的Kolksluis船闸也为景色增添了独特的运河风情，使这里成为摄影爱好者喜爱的取景地点。

过去，艺术家们常常在这座桥上写生、作画，用运河景色吸引来自荷兰各地的游客。直到今天，这里依然是人们拍照留影和悠闲散步的热门地点。朴实、坚固而又风景优美，阿姆布鲁赫桥（Armbrug）证明了一点：有些桥梁的意义不仅在于连接两岸，更在于让人们与这座城市的历史与精神产生联系。

Armbrug bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Some bridges in Amsterdam just get you across a canal. The Armbrug does more—it seems to wave hello as you pass. Nestled over the Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal, its name, meaning 'arm bridge,' refers to the nearby Oudezijds Armsteeg (Old Side Arm Alley), not a literal limb, but it's easy to imagine it greeting cyclists and pedestrians along the way.

Built of concrete, this historic fixed bridge doesn't swing or lift—it simply carries locals and visitors safely across the water. Yet its charm lies in the view: historic buildings lining the canal, glimpses of St. Nicholas Church, and the Kolksluis lock make it a photographer's delight.

Artists once sketched and painted the view from the bridge to lure visitors from Dutch provinces, and today it remains a favorite spot for pictures and casual strolls. Simple, sturdy, and scenic, the Armbrug proves that sometimes, the best bridges don't just connect places—they connect people with the city's history and spirit.

野花绽放, 中央谷地, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California, USA (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

春天的图案 Patterns of spring

野花绽放, 中央谷地, 加利福尼亚州

春意盎然的加州中央谷地在冬雨过后，野花竞相绽放，宣告着春天的到来。这片南北绵延约450英里、面积约2万平方英里的山谷，是世界上农业生产力最高的地区之一。然而，在早春时节，这里又会短暂地展现出一种古老的景象。从三月到四月，当气温和土壤湿度达到适宜水平时，金盏花、整齐叶草和猫头鹰三叶草等本地一年生植物便会迅速发芽。它们争分夺秒地完成生命周期，以迎接漫长旱季的到来。

这些物种大多是加州原始草原生态系统的遗存。如今，它们主要栖息在自然保护区、未开垦的土地以及田野间的狭长地带。它们的种子可以保持活力数十年，只有在特定条件下才会发芽。降雨模式会影响花期的强度和分布。土壤质地和排水情况的差异造就了每年春天出现在山谷底部的条带状和斑块状花海。在短短几周内，农业历史和生态历史交织在同一片土地上。

Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California

Spring announces itself across California's Central Valley with the first bursts of wildflowers following the winter rains. Stretching roughly 450 miles from north to south and covering about 20,000 square miles, the valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. In early spring, however, an older identity briefly resurfaces. From March through April, native annuals such as goldfields, tidy tips, and owl's clover quickly germinate once temperature and soil moisture are optimal. They race to complete their life cycles before the long dry season begins.

Many of these species are remnants of California's original grassland ecosystem. Today, they persist mainly in nature reserves, on uncultivated land, and in strips between fields. Their seeds can remain viable for decades, germinating only when conditions meet specific thresholds. Rainfall patterns influence both the strength and the distribution of the bloom. Differences in soil texture and drainage create the bands and patches that appear across the valley floor each spring. For a few weeks, agricultural and ecological history share the same landscape.