Stories by John R. Platt

John R. Platt is the editor of The Revelator. An award-winning environmental journalist, his work has appeared in Scientific American, Audubon, Motherboard, and numerous other magazines and publications. His "Extinction Countdown" column has run continuously since 2004 and has covered news and science related to more than 1,000 endangered species. John lives on the outskirts of Portland, Ore., where he finds himself surrounded by animals and cartoonists. Follow John R. Platt on Twitter @johnrplatt

Evolution

DNA test proves killed cougar migrated from South Dakota to Connecticut

If the eastern cougar (Puma concolor couguar) went extinct in the 1930s, as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) reported back in March, why do so many people in New England keep reporting cougar sightings?...

August 4, 2011 — John R. Platt

How we see Straight Lines

In looking at a straight line, the eye can detect a lateral break that forms an image only .00001 centimeter wide on the retina. A new hypothesis holds that this ability is due to rapid scanning motions...

June 1, 1960 — John R. Platt