Over the past month, the periodical cicadas of Brood XIII, native to the area, have crawled up roots, through the earth's surface and onto tree trunks everywhere, to moult and spread wings.

ECONOMIST: Cicadas in Illinois

Indeed, images of the dry, parched, arid, almost certainly lifeless surface of another planet lit up Twitter like a Christmas tree.

FORBES: Beneath a Parched Surface, the Great Midwest Drought of 2012 Doesn't Go Social

Handmade from the tough bark of the Tara Wing-Celtis or Blue Sandalwood tree and rice straw, Xuan paper is known for its strong, smooth surface, its ability to absorb water and moisten ink, and fold repeatedly without breaking.

UNESCO: Culture