As winter approaches, announcing itself in many places with a dusting of frost, many of us will break out our heavy coats, become a little less active, and prepare to hunker down for a few months. We’re not alone; that seasonal routine is echoed throughout nature. Numerous animals protect themselves in winter by changing their coats or slowing their metabolism through hibernation or other forms of dormancy. And we think we’re so unique.
7 Animals That Turn White in Winter Scott Stephens—iStock/Thinkstock; Robb Hannawacker
What Just Happened in South Korea?

Yesterday, South Korean Pres. Yoon Suk-Yeol declared martial law in a surprise late-night television broadcast, triggering a rapidly evolving crisis. Army Chief of Staff Park An-Su announced a ban on political activities, imposed media censorship, and authorized arrests without warrants. In response, National Assembly lawmakers gathered and voted to overturn Yoon’s declaration. Yoon then announced that he would abide by the assembly’s vote and lift martial law after gathering his cabinet.

Who is Yoon?

Yoon, a former prosecutor, joined the People Power Party and ran for president in 2022. He won that race by less than one percent, the narrowest margin in South Korean history. His presidency has been marked by unpopular policies, controversial remarks, and corruption scandals involving him and his wife.

Why now?

Yoon faces plummeting approval ratings, widespread protests against his government, and opposition demands for corruption investigations. In the 2024 parliamentary elections, liberal opposition parties secured a majority, isolating Yoon politically. Yoon’s declaration of martial law appeared to be a desperate bid to maintain power. In his Tuesday night broadcast, Yoon accused his opponents of being “pro-North Korean anti-state forces.”

When’s the last time this happened?

Martial law has historically been used in South Korea by authoritarian leaders such as Park Chung-Hee and Chun Doo-Hwan in attempts to suppress dissent. However, since the late 1980s, South Korea has become one of Asia’s most robust democracies, making Yoon’s declaration unprecedented in modern times.

Jung Yeon-Je—Pool/Getty Images
Do you know which hero took a dip in the River Styx? Or what mysteries lurk inside the Labyrinth?
Take this quiz or you may regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.
Test your knowledge of Americans’ tumultuous fight to end racial segregation and discrimination.
Find out which breed can outrun a cheetah, which breed was created by monks, and much more.
You may have a sweet tooth, but how much do you know about baking and baked goods? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
They have been hostesses, helpers, advisers, gatekeepers, guardians, confidantes, and sometimes formidable powers behind...
Unlock Exclusive Content! Britannica's content is among the most trusted in the world. Subscribe to Britannica Premium and unlock our entire database of trusted content today. Subscribe Now!
Estimate your monthly mortgage payments with our free mortgage calculator. Account for interest rates, compound frequency and pay back schedule.
Compounding means getting returns on your previous returns plus your initial investment. Learn how to grow your savings with our compound interest calculator.
Percentage Increase Calculator Calculate the increase from one value to another with our free percentage increase calculator. Evaluate population growth, inflation, stock values and more.
Are you on track for retirement? Use our free retirement calculator to help determine how much you'll need to save each year to retire at your desired age.
The time value of money (TVM) principle asserts that the same amount of money is worth more now than in the future. Use our TVM calculator to estimate future value, present value & more.
ProCon.org Award-winning ProCon.org promotes critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting the pro and con arguments to controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.
Britannica Money Discover all you need to know about retirement, investing, and household finance, without the jargon or agenda. Get reliable guidance, insight, and easy-to-understand explanations, written, edited, and verified to Britannica’s exacting standards.
Advocacy for Animals Presenting Advocacy for Animals, a blog focused primarily on animal rights, wildlife conservation, environmental health and safety, and the legal and cultural issues related to these topics. This blog is a source of information and a call to action. It is meant to be a provocation and a stimulus to thought regarding humanity’s relationship with nonhuman animals.
Alain Elkann Interviews Alain has been writing a weekly interview column for the Italian newspaper La Stampa since 1989. His interviews celebrate some of the best known and successful personalities of the present day.
History at your fingertips Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox!
By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Click here to view our Privacy Notice. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email.
Thank you for subscribing! Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.