Environment

Radiolaria: A living specimen of the science behind Ernst Haeckel’s evolutionary artwork

Environment / /

Ernst Haeckel, a German contemporary of Charles Darwin, made significant contributions to the field of evolutionary biology. He is responsible for the exploration of primarily marine organisms, and in some cases, identification of entirely new species. More recognizable of his legacy, though, is his artwork. Some of his most iconic images depict a species called […]

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Rats! How terrestrial invasion can have unexpected impacts on tropical reef food chains

Environment / /

The spread of the black rat (Rattus rattus) across the globe has been inextricably linked to the spread of human civilization from as early as 2000 BCE. They’ve easily survived worldwide expansion due to their skills in cohabiting with humans and taking advantage of our gathered food and resources. From raiding pantries to spreading devastating

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Does this moss have it covered? Champion evolver may not have what it takes to survive climate change

Biology, Environment / /

On the harsh, icy cliffs of the Tibetan Plateau, an ancient moss carpets the ground. Covered by snow for eight months of the year, Takakia is a highly specialized moss and one of the fastest-evolving plants ever documented. Surviving four mass extinctions, this 390-million-year-old moss species saw the rise and fall of dinosaurs and the

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A mass extinction and a floral explosion: Paleobotany in a post-dinosaur world

Environment, World / /

It is difficult to study evolutionary biology in the modern academic setting without the mention of dinosaurs and their demise. What is often lacking from the discourse in paleontology and its surrounding disciplines, however, is the continuous change in our understanding of the subject.  In a recent study, Jamie B. Thompson, Santiago Ramirez-Barahona, and a

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New snowmaking tech is helping New England ski resorts beat climate change

Environment, Technology, World / /

Preparations for ski season start early in Vermont’s Green Mountains. In early October, Greg Gleason, who runs snowmaking at Killington Ski Resort, gives his staff the all-clear. Over the next four hours the system of artificial snow production on which Vermont’s tourism industry increasingly depends roars to life. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water

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Forest fires, contaminated waterways, and disrupted migrations: Unspoken consequences of the war in Ukraine

Environment, World / /

In the year and a half since the Russia-Ukraine War began, there have been an estimated 500,000 casualties between the two sides. Ukraine has also experienced infrastructural damage totaling hundreds of billions of dollars. Yet these aren’t the only significant and tragic losses the region has suffered — the conflict has had a grave and

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Redlining’s reach: Disparities in bird data

Culture, Environment, World / /

Redlining, a historical practice of discrimination, has had lasting effects on racial inequities that remain persistent today. However, recent analysis of ecological diversity has revealed that the effects of redlining reach far beyond impacting humans. Specifically, bird diversity and population experienced a marked decline in areas subject to redlining. This means that though one street

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