Letters remembered: On Awashima Island, Japan, a retired postmaster runs a post office for mail to the departed. The “Missing Post Office” receives letters from across the country. These may be messages to lost loved ones, childhood pets, and even past versions of the senders. Housed in a once-abandoned postal building, it began as an art installation, before becoming a space of quiet remembrance. Visitors can read anonymous letters or leave their own, believing words can still reach those who are gone. The handwritten notes, filled with sorrow, gratitude, and longing, help keep bonds alive beyond life. In Japan, where spiritual traditions suggest the dead remain near, this space serves as a bridge between memory and the present.
Blue mystery: The Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern U.S. owe their signature hue to an unexpected source: trees. The dense forests covering these peaks release isoprene, a chemical that scatters blue light, creating their misty blue appearance. Up close, they’re simply rugged slopes covered in green foliage, but from a distance, the effect is striking. This natural adaptation helps trees withstand heat, allowing the forests to thrive in the region’s warm climate. As part of the Appalachian range, these mountains captivate travelers with scenic drives and hiking trails. Whether viewed from a winding road or a mountaintop, their misty peaks remain one of the country’s most iconic landscapes.
