February 18th: National & International Days, Celebrations and Observances

Want to make a real difference this February 18? Actually, it's easier than you might think.

• Local scientists need people to spot whales through their marine tracking apps.
• Just drop off those old batteries at any recycling point - it keeps the nasty stuff out of our water.
• At the fish counter, look for the blue sustainability label.
• Those massive data centers burn through power 24/7.
• Take five minutes to trash old files and clear out that inbox from 2022.
• If you enjoy wine, plenty of good vineyards are doing their part.
• I recently learned a basic energy check shows exactly where to cut back online.
• Whales need more people speaking up online these days.
• Jump into #WorldWhaleDay conversations when you can.
• Your local ocean conservation group probably runs weekend cleanups - they're always short on help.

Even small changes matter.

February 18th stands out in the scientific record for its remarkable advances.

• At Lowell Observatory in 1930, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh tracked an unusual object through his photographic plates. His systematic observations caught a speck of light shifting against the background stars - the first glimpse of Pluto. In a charming twist, 11-year-old Venetia Burney provided its enduring name.
• The 2010 WikiLeaks release of classified Copenhagen climate documents altered public understanding. These files revealed undisclosed negotiations about global environmental strategy and Arctic resource allocation.
• In 2021, NASA's Perseverance rover landed precisely in Mars' Jezero Crater, a site chosen for its ancient river delta deposits. The rover deployed its suite of analytical instruments to examine potential microbial biosignatures.
• The mission broke new ground when MOXIE extracted oxygen from the carbon dioxide atmosphere - essential data for future human missions. The program chalked up another first when the lightweight Ingenuity helicopter achieved controlled flight in Mars' thin atmosphere.

In its ongoing work, Perseverance drills core samples and runs spectroscopic analysis, searching for chemical traces of Mars' theorized warm, wet period.

Born on February 18th across different eras:

• Alessandro Volta created the first electrical battery in 1745. His design so impressed Napoleon that he made Volta a nobleman. Modern batteries still work on his principles.
• Mary Amdur refused to stay quiet in the 1950s when industry tried blocking her research. She published hard facts about air pollution's effects on health, setting the foundation for today's clean air laws.
• As New York's Poet Laureate, Audre Lorde wrote about nature and society in ways no one had before. Her words linked environmental problems to social barriers. Current activists still quote her work, especially in fights for cleaner neighborhoods.
• For two years and eight days, Julia Butterfly Hill lived atop an old redwood tree. Her protest worked - logging trucks left, and that same tree grows tall today in California.
• Writer Wallace Stegner earned the Pulitzer and National Book Award. Yet people remember his "Wilderness Letter" most. Those words helped build protection for wild places across America.