1

Beehives

Image: Meggyn Pomerleau

The first entry on the list goes to perhaps the most famous and finest example of animal architecture: the beehive. Built by incredibly industrious insects, beehives are among the most efficient structures in nature .

The regular hexagons provide the least-perimeter way to enclose infinitely many unit areas in the plane: the best way to separate the surface of their hives in equal parts all around, using the least possible total perimeter, thus reaching 100% efficiency in design.

2

Ant colony

Image: Morten Jakob Pedersen

If beehives aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about animal architecture, there’s a good chance you’re thinking of ant colonies.

Ants build the elaborate colony structure by hollowing out the area with their mandibles, grain by grain, without a blueprint, without a leader, and in total darkness . Unless the soil dries out dramatically, the chambers will keep their form.

3

Prairie dog town

Image: Moritz Kindler

These cute creatures excavate their homes by digging burrows into the ground, primarily in the Great Plains of North America. The region experiences extreme seasonal weather variations from season to season, requiring their homes to be built to withstand extreme temperatures, floods, and fires.

These underground "towns" have nursery rooms, pantries, living quarters, and temporary refuges —each smartly separated to serve a specific purpose.

4

Beaver dam

Image: Derek Otway

Another famous animal architect, the beaver, uses felled trees to build dams . These dams create still ponds where beavers can construct their winter homes, called lodges.

These creatures prepare for winter by covering their lodge with a fresh coat of mud, which hardens to create a barrier against the cold and predators.

5

Caddisfly larvae case

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann

Caddisfly larvae construct protective cases using silk and whatever materials are available , such as sand, small stones, and plant debris.

These cases camouflage the larvae from predators and can be remarkably diverse in appearance, reflecting their creativity and resourcefulness.

6

Octopus den

Image: Serena Repice Lentini

It’s no secret that octopuses are incredibly intelligent animals, and their dens are proof of it. These clever mollusks use shells, stones, and even discarded human objects to reinforce their homes . Some species go a step further, decorating their dens with seaweed and other found materials.

7

Bagworm silk tent

Image: Maëva Vigier

Bagworms construct silk tents around themselves using bits of leaves, twigs, and other debris . These tents serve as mobile homes, providing protection as the insect feeds and grows.

Some species even camouflage their bags to blend into the environment, helping them avoid predators.

8

Osprey nest

Image: Jorge Coromina

Ospreys build massive nests in tall trees or on human-made structures near bodies of water. These nests are carefully constructed with sticks and lined with softer materials , creating a sturdy platform that can last for multiple breeding seasons.

9

Coral reef

Image: Hiroko Yoshii

Coral reefs are massive structures built by tiny coral polyps. These marine architects secrete calcium carbonate to form hard skeletons, gradually creating vast and complex habitats for a myriad of marine species. They are often referred to as the "rainforests of the sea" due to their biodiversity.

10

Spider web

Image: freestocks

Another famous architect from the animal kingdom, the spider, creates webs that serve as both homes and hunting tools . The silk used in these webs is incredibly strong, and different species produce a variety of designs, including sheets, orbs, and funnel shapes.

11

Swallow nest

Image: Tobias Arweiler

Swallows build cup-shaped nests that can house entire colonies , using mud pellets, usually attached to vertical surfaces like cliffs or man-made structures.

The construction is precise and stable, providing protection for their young against predators and environmental elements.

12

Burrowing owl burrow

Image: mana5280

As their name suggests, burrowing owls make their homes underground , often taking over burrows abandoned by prairie dogs or other mammals.

They use these subterranean homes to protect their young and hide from the heat of the day.

1

Jones Cream Soda

Image: Kevin Butz

Cream soda is a sweet soft drink, typically flavored with vanilla and inspired by the taste of an ice cream float . Many brands and variations can be found across America, and its roots can be traced to at least 150 years ago. Interestingly, Jones Cream Soda, which started in 1886, is not even the oldest one around.

This drink is available in both regular and diet options, and it's also one of the most popular mixers for alcoholic beverages. Cream soda is one of those drinks people associate with their childhood, and it's the perfect perfect pairing for ice cream.

2

Dr. Brown’s Root Beer

Image: David Trinks

Root beer is a sweet and classic American soft drink traditionally made using the root bark of the sassafras tree as the primary flavor . Root beer is usually alcohol and caffeine-free, sweet, and carbonated, with a thick, foamy head.

Dr. Brown's version of this classic soda is unbeatable, offering a harmonious blend of sugar and spice. It’s not just sweet—it boasts a distinct celery seed earthiness that keeps every sip interesting.

3

Olipop Lemon Lime

Image: Mariah Hewines

Lemon lime drinks have been around for a long time now (just ask Sprite or 7-Up), but Olipop manages to add a new twist to this old classic. This fizzy tonic boasts prebiotics, plant fiber, and botanicals, which not only taste great but also help your digestive health.

Olipop is also low in sugar, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in sweetness. It uses cassava root and other alternative sweeteners to maintain its delicious flavor.

4

Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water

Image: Nick Fewings

Tonic water is often considered a soda for adults due to its bitter taste. However, the brave ones who love this delicious beverage will find Fever-Tree’s Mediterranean Tonic Water has the perfect mix of bitterness for tonic water fans, but a balanced flavor that makes it appropriate for people who are just dipping their toe into the tonic water.

In addition to that traditional quinine flavor, this tonic is infused with rosemary and lemon thyme , adding a layer of complexity to its taste.

5

Cheerwine

Image: sq lim

Named for its color and taste, Cheerwine is a cherry-flavored soft drink with a mildly sweet flavor with strong cherry notes, most notably black cherry . It is burgundy-colored and has an unusually high degree of carbonation compared to other soft drinks.

Cheerwine is widely available throughout the southeastern United States, from Maryland to Florida, but it is best known and beloved in the Carolinas.

6

Sangrita Blast Mountain Dew

Image: Ashley Kirk

As the "Limited Edition" tag implies, this product was only available for a limited time, but it was enough to leave a lasting impression. Sangrita Blast, a Citrus Punch-flavored Mountain Dew with a maroon hue, was available at Taco Bell restaurants from 2013 to 2017. It was also released in cans and bottles in 2015 for a short period.

7

Cactus Cooler

Image: Thomas Verbruggen

Cactus Cooler is an orange-pineapple-flavored soft drink sold primarily in Southern California and the surrounding Southwestern region. The orange flavor is very present, with the pineapple appearing a bit behind but adding a layer of complexity to the overall flavor.

This soda has no caffeine, making it a safe product for anyone who gets the jitters from caffeine-infused beverages.

8

United Sodas Toasted Coconut

Image: Jonas Dücker

The words "healthy" and "soda" are not usually heard together but this is one of those occasions. United Sodas is a healthy soda brand that offers products with a lightly carbonated fizz and low sugar content.

Their Toasted Coconut flavor stands out with its distinctive coconut taste. Each can contains fewer than 30 calories, has no artificial ingredients, and is organically sweetened —making it the perfect alternative for health-conscious soda lovers.

9

Boylan Creme Soda

Image: Gourmet Lenz

Even if we started this list with a cream soda, we couldn’t leave out Boylan’s version. This glass-bottled beverage has a rich vanilla flavor and a robust amount of carbonation that make it very easy to drink.

While many cream sodas can be overly sweet, Boylan’s is refreshing, complex, and downright delicious. The use of cane sugar gives it a crisp, clean flavor all the way to the last drop.

10

Moxie

Image: Tom Paolini

The last entry on our list is a bitter and herbal soda named Moxie. It originated in Maine in the late 1800s as a patent medicine called "Moxie Nerve Food." It is flavored with gentian root, sassafras, wintergreen, and other herbs.

Though still somewhat unique to the Northeast, Moxie has become more widely available in specialty and larger grocery stores since Coca-Cola acquired the brand in 2018. Have you ever seen it?

1

Miami

Image: Avi Werde

Miami’s name comes from the Mayaimi people, who lived around Lake Okeechobee. The name itself is thought to refer to the "big water" of the lake, a defining feature for the region's Indigenous inhabitants.

2

Chicago

Image: Neal Kharawala

The name "Chicago" comes from the Potawatomi word shikaakwa, meaning "wild onion" or "wild garlic." These plants were once abundant along the banks of the Chicago River, and early French explorers who heard this term adapted it into the city's name.

3

Philadelphia

Image: Chris Murray

The name "Philadelphia" comes from the Greek words philos (love) and adelphos (brother). Founded in 1682 by William Penn, the city was intended to be a haven for religious freedom and peaceful coexistence—hence its name.

4

Cincinnati

Image: Matt Koffel

Cincinnati's name comes from the Society of the Cincinnati, a patriotic organization formed in 1783 to honor officers of the Continental Army. The society itself was named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a legendary hero of the Roman Republic.

5

California

Image: Vital Sinkevich

The name "California" comes from Las Sergas de Esplandián, a 16th-century Spanish novel by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. The book describes a mythical island where gold could be found in great quantities. When Spanish explorers reached the Baja Peninsula, they mistakenly believed it was an island and, inspired by the novel, named it after the fictional paradise.

6

Boise

Image: Attorney Sluice

The name "Boise" comes from the French word boisé, meaning "wooded" or "forest." French fur traders were some of the earliest European explorers in the region, and they named the Boise River after observing the thick forests that lined its banks.

7

Albuquerque

Image: Raychel Sanner

Albuquerque was named by the Spanish in the 18th century, but its origins trace back to the Latin words albus (white) and quercus (oak), referring to the white oak trees that are found in the area.

8

Mississippi River

Image: Mathew Benoit

The Mississippi River gets its name from the Ojibwe word Misi-ziibi, meaning "Great River." Certainly a fitting name, given the river’s key role in the development of American trade and transportation, a vital route for settlers and Indigenous people alike.

9

Yellowstone National Park

Image: Meina Yin

Yellowstone National Park takes its name from the Yellowstone River, which was in turn named by fur trappers who used the word "yellow" to describe the river’s striking sandstone cliffs . Established in 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the U.S., preserving its unique geological and natural wonders.

10

Appalachian Mountains

Image: Elijah Mears

The Appalachian Mountains, among the oldest in the world, take their name from Apalachee , a term used by the Spanish to refer to a Native American tribe in northwestern Florida . Interestingly, the name was later applied to the distant mountain range, despite no direct connection between the two—perhaps they had run out of names?

11

Niagara Falls

Image: Sergey Pesterev

Niagara Falls takes its name from the nearby Niagara River, which derives from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra , meaning "the strait" or "narrow water." Unsurprisingly, given their breathtaking beauty, the falls have long been a significant natural landmark for both Indigenous peoples and European explorers.

12

Adirondack Mountains

Image: Ty Finck

The Adirondack Mountains in New York are believed to take their name from the Algonquin word adirondacks , meaning "they eat trees" or "bark eaters." This name likely referred to another group of Indigenous inhabitants who relied on the region’s lush forests for food and shelter.