The vast sea of prairie grasslands that once comprised the Great Plains of the United States is nearly all gone. In fact, the National Park Service claims that there has been a 99% decline in tall grass prairie ecosystems and a 68% decline in mixed-grass prairies in the last 150 years, making prairie grasslands the …
Weeks before the vernal equinox, hints of impending autumn arrive on the scene…caramel apples, cider, boots, and flannels. We can now add pumpkin spice to that list, thanks to its booming popularity in recent years. In fact, the number and variety of products that now come flavored or scented with pumpkin spice has reached almost …
Most of the time, when you are walking in the woods and you look up, you will see a mass of intermingled tree branches that form a canopy above your head. But in some forests, you will see something strange. You may see a river of sky in a uniform width separating the crowns of …
We equate marsupials, mammals with pouches for carrying their young, with the land Down Under. Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, bandicoots, Tasmanian devils, and koalas are all practically national symbols of Australia. One species of marsupial, however, has never seen the Sydney Harbor Opera House, Uluru, or the Outback. It is the opossum, the only marsupial found …
On August 21, most of North America will have its collective eye on the sky in anticipation of the solar eclipse that hasn’t been seen in this part of the world for 99 years. If you are one of the lucky individuals to be along the path when the eclipse occurs, you will be treated …
Snapping Turtles: Slow and Steady Wins the Race We often think of the dinosaurs as the mighty rulers of prehistoric Earth. But their reign on the planet was a mere flash in the primordial pan compared to their distant cousins, the snapping turtles. Today’s snapping turtles are remarkably similar to their ancestors that appeared more …
What happens to your research when you move on to the next great thing in life? If you’re like most scientists, the lab notebooks get relegated to a bookshelf or file cabinet where they collect dust until they are either packed in a box or picked up for a court case. Every time I open …
The story of the American chestnut tree reads a bit like the plot of a good comeback story. The once mighty champion falls on hard times and is nearly defeated until a devoted team of supporters rallies around to stage a triumphant return. In this case, the champion is the American chestnut, once the mighty …
A quick Google search on career prep advice in the sciences is disappointing. The first few hits assume the only thing you want to be is a professor. Industry, independent, and research scientists are all lacking, not to mention any axillary jobs, like lab techs. This post aims to make a more inclusive list of …
A recent worry I’ve heard from some of our homeschoolers and independent scientists alike is how to do research successfully from the comfort of their home. You’d be surprised to know that a great deal of science and research can be done from home provided you pay attention to laws and regulations. I beg you …