Our amazing planet.

Our Daily Planet: Earth Day Pictures and Amazing Texas Wildfire Video

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

BP's Billion-Dollar Payment: BP will fork over $1 billion to restore ecosystems damaged by last year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Wildfires Video: An amazing video of the wildfires in Hardin County, Texas, shows a close call where people were surrounded by fire.

Free Climbers: Check out the death-defying climbers of Yosemite National Park, who use little more than their own hands to scale the rock. [See images of Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks ]

Previously on Our Daily Planet: Inside Japan's Nuclear Hot Zone and Indiana Tornadoes

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.