© 2026
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Learning more about a Sonoran Desert Icon

Saguaros at Sunset HERO
Chance Agrella
A pink sunset lights the sky behind Saguaro National Park east.

The saguaro cactus has been a source of study for southern Arizonans for decades. Saguaro National Park wildlife biologist Don Swann is among the scientists asking why saguaros are biologically fit to survive the ongoing drought, and looking deeper into its role in the desert ecosystem.

Learning more about a Sonoran Desert Icon

Arizona Science
Catch Arizona Science each Friday during Science Friday on NPR 89.1. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Science.
Tony is a veteran journalist whose career in broadcast journalism has spanned more than 30 years and 2 continents. He is host of The Press Room and producer for Arizona Science.