In the blockbuster hit “Jurassic Park,” fan-favorite Jeff Goldblum stars as the eccentric Ian Malcolm. As a critic of the magnificent park, Malcolm often claims that nature is best in its most primal form, untouched, as even small artificial changes can have dire consequences. This notion is known as the butterfly effect, a small piece […]
A method to madness: The mathematical basis for the butterfly effect Read More »
We intuitively know that the ocean is constantly moving: the tides ebb and flow, waves swell and crash, plane wreckage moves mysteriously across latitudes to be beached on the other side of the world. But what makes the ocean move? The steady heartbeat of the ocean is its global-scale currents. Ocean circulation is the global-scale
The heartbeat of the ocean is slowing Read More »
As fall descends on the Northern Hemisphere, bears and chipmunks begin to hoard food and build fat stores in preparation for winter. Hibernation occurs in hundreds of known species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even one species of bird — the common poorwill. While animals hibernate, their metabolism slows dramatically: they become hypothermic, their heart
Low-resource survival: How hibernating animals conserve energy Read More »
Dolphins are generally regarded as one of the most intelligent species of mammals, even demonstrating the ability to learn and follow verbal cues and gestures from human trainers while in captivity. In the wild, dolphins use sound signals to navigate, hunt, and communicate with other creatures, including individuals of their own species and of other
Whistles underwater: How humans are changing dolphin communication Read More »
It’s hard to go very far these days without hearing about the latest diet craze, or way to control what you eat. Humans naturally crave diets high in protein, fats, and sugars because those nutrients, called macronutrients, are needed in the highest volume for our bodies’ daily functions. Humans aren’t the only ones who rely
The buzz around bee nutrition Read More »
A growing majority of consumers have begun to make the switch from conventionally-grown to organic produce, hoping to feel a bit better about the food they are eating and where it comes from, even if it means dropping a few extra dollars each week on groceries. Since the latter half of the 20th century, organic
Suspicion of nutrition: Is eating organic really any better for you? Read More »
Earth Day went nearly unnoticed this year. Being in the throes of a worldwide pandemic due to COVID-19, people were likely more focused on their glaring lack of social plans in April than on the planet. However, the environmental benefits of quarantine have unexpectedly begun to reveal themselves, making this year’s Earth Day one that
The environment in a COVID-19 world Read More »
It’s undeniable that COVID-19 has completely changed our way of living, but there is a silver lining: the coronavirus may be a catalyst for allowing renewable energy to surpass traditional modes of energy generation in the United States. For decades, coal has been responsible for half of the energy in the U.S., but it is
Coming out clean: Renewables in a pandemic Read More »
Over the past few years, a new moral code including owning up to one’s mistakes and vowing to “do better” has swept mainstream American culture. Not only have people taken personal oaths to hold themselves to a higher standard, but they’re expecting more out of their neighbors, law enforcement, local elected officials, global leaders, and
Ecological boomerang: How man-made climate change is biting back Read More »