November 2, 2006—He takes to the air with the greatest of ease, soaring above the treetops in a lightweight powered paraglider. For National Geographic Emerging Explorer Mark Olson, cruising the skies is just part of a day's work examining plant diversity.

The biologist studies the shape of trees from above to gain insights about the variety of ways plants collect light. Hitch a ride on one of Olson's aerial surveys, and find out how a childhood passion for nature gave rise to his unique style of airborne research.