Glow sticks are part of a happy childhood memory for many. Beneath your fingertips, you snap the plastic stick in half, revealing a beautiful vibrant color show in the dark. While glowing colors may remind us of nostalgic times, fluorescing corals are a sign of a last-ditch effort to survive bleaching in the battle against […]
A fluorescent cry for help: How corals use “sunscreen” to stay cool Read More »
Sustainability has always been a nonsense noun for the fashion industry. Used to market pieces from brands, the word “sustainable” no longer serves a purpose. When, why, or how to use it has become difficult and in a way, purposeless. What is truly sustainable; what is simply for the sake of the brand; and what
The innovation of fabric and its properties Read More »
Snow falls 24 hours a day in the depths of the oceanic twilight zone. White flurries saturate the marine landscape, appearing in all different shapes and sizes. Unlike crystallized water droplets that fall from the sky, marine snow is made from a variety of different organic compounds. It sustains life in the deep ocean where
Marine snow: How deep-sea snow storms cool the planet Read More »
As we grapple with the consequences of anthropogenic climate change, some scientists and researchers have tried to nominalize the cause of today’s environmental degradation. The term “Anthropocene” has been used to emphasize humanity’s impact on the environment, suggesting that humans are the major force of environmental change in this geological epoch. In 2016, the Anthropocene
Opinion: Climate change, the Anthropocene, and the Plantationocene Read More »
Glitter embellishes anything it touches. It turns any mundane and dull poster, project, or Halloween costume into an eye-catcher. That sparkly and glistening glitter, though, ends up as litter in the environment. Although a nostalgic childhood activity, dumping excess glitter that did not stick to your mother’s birthday card’s glue ultimately adds up to be
Ditch the plastic: Eco-friendly glitter made possible Read More »
As spring comes around, the Boston Public Garden boasts eye-catching colors of roses, tulips, and daffodils. Some of these plants, however, are not native or have been manipulated by humans for centuries to achieve their distinctive traits. These plants are cultivars. Cultivars are variants of wild plants, meaning they are not naturally occurring and require
Nearby a municipal landfill in Oregon, several witnesses discovered the bodies of eight incapacitated bald eagles. Flightless and convulsing, these animals appeared near death and were retrieved by National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory staff. One eagle was confirmed dead, while the others were moved for supportive care. What was the cause of this loss
Veterinary forensics: Sending criminals to the pound Read More »
Growing up, we all have those big life questions that catch our interest. Those with a penchant for nature, for instance, may ask such questions as: where do the Moon’s phases come from, what are rainbows, why is the sky blue? The answers to these questions, as may be given to a scientifically-inclined young mind,
Rayleigh scattering: Why the sky is blue and other miscellanea Read More »
Originally dubbed as the “dirtiest harbor in America” by George Bush in the 1980s, Boston Harbor was a cesspool of toxic sewage and wastewater. Large amounts of pollution were constantly dumped into the harbor, damaging marine ecosystems alongside the Massachusetts coastline and causing extremely poor water quality. If people were to swim in the water,
Rehabilitating the harbor of shame: Past and present solutions Read More »