The Age of Maximum Cassowary
Yet again, the world is cockahoop and head-over-heads in awe over another thrilling, dumbfounding, truly novel zoological discovery. No, I'm not talking about the discovery of suspension-feeding anomalocarids, ancient echolocating odontocete cetaceans, or even of new tapirs (did I mention the new tapir?), but of a stupendous new living bird, discovered clinging to existence in [...]
Reconstructing an Ancient Fin and Watching it Paddle to Fame
Friends and colleagues who know that I illustrated Neil Shubin’s first book, Your Inner Fish, have been asking if I was involved in the three-part PBS series hosted by Shubin that will air next week on April 9th.
The Secret Spiritual History of Calculus
Integral calculus originated in a 17th-century debate that was as religious as it was scientific
Hunting Was a Driving Force in Human Evolution
Pinch of Pigment: Mummy Brown
Many of the early Pre-Raphaelite paintings may have paint made from dead Egyptians. Considered to be a highly variable pigment between raw umber (almost greenish brown) and burnt umber (a ruddier brown), Mummy Brown was a transparent brown good for mixing.
Food and Water Shortages May Prove Major Risks of Climate Change
Poor people will suffer the most, unless the world exploits vanishing opportunities to adapt
10 Extinct Animals Lost to Planet Earth but Preserved in Photographs [Excerpt & Photo Essay]
These 10 animals are just a few of the species to have been lost to extinction but still can be seen via old photographs
Rescue of Decaying Pompeii Inspired by Sister City
Archaeologists hope that a funding and conservation boost can halt wall collapses and other erosion occurring at the ancient city on Italy's Neopolitan coast
Post publication peer-review: Everything changes, and everything stays the same
In the early days of scientific societies (i.e. the 17th century), scientists would share their experimental results with each other at meetings, and receive feedback about their experiments in person.
A Concise History of Geological Maps: From Outcrop to the first Map
March 23, 1769 marks the birthday of pioneering stratigrapher William Smith, who is also credited with creating the first useful geological map, however like many other great accomplishments also Smith’s idea of depicting the distribution of rocks on a topographic map didn’t materialize out of nowhere.
Engagement with science needs more than heroes.
Narratives about the heroic scientist are not what got me interested in science. It was (and still is) hard for me to connect with a larger-than-life figure when my own aspirations have always been pretty life-sized.
Fracking Hammers Clean Energy Research
Has the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy failed in its mission to create alternative energy breakthroughs?