“A hardline conservationist makes his way to the Pacific Northwest for the first time, and by the time he leaves, is thinking it might not be so bad of an idea to cut down a few of those trees after all.” A slightly disgruntled ferry operator and ex-logger living on Vancouver Island produced this semi-sarcastic […]
To log or not to log: A comprehensive review of the old-growth question Read More »
Since ancient times, humans across the globe have consistently incorporated talking trees into their mythos. Commonly depicted as slow-moving and wise, these trees that can talk often serve as the guardians of mystic forests and dark woods. Surprisingly, it seems that these mythological depictions of trees may not be so far from reality. Trees can
Talking trees: The story and science behind tree communication Read More »
For centuries, humanity has used windmills to convert wind energy into usable electricity. As the modern world faces an unprecedented climate crisis, scientists and engineers have endeavored to make windmills more efficient, and most windmills are now tall structures with massive spinning blades. Although this design structure allows for an abundance of sustainably produced energy,
Swords in the sky: The effect of windmills on winged species Read More »
When most people hear the name Hubble, they likely think of the groundbreaking telescope that captured unique planets, blazing stars, and clusters of light in its stunning photographs. It is less likely, however, that they think of the famous telescope’s namesake — Edwin Hubble, the astronomer who discovered the expanding universe. Until the 1920s, astronomers
Infinitely larger: How Edwin Hubble proved our galaxy is not alone Read More »
In the state of Massachusetts, it is punishable by imprisonment to frighten a pigeon. This law may seem surprising to most modern-day Bay Staters, many of whom abhor the seemingly infinite number of so-called “rats with wings” multiplying across their urban areas, but to people from the not-so-distant past, this law is a way to
Venerated to vermin: A brief history of pigeons Read More »