The news that Vladimir Nabokov, illustrious author and respected lepidopterist, came up with a theory of butterfly evolution that was poo-pooed in his time but which has now been vindicated by DNA research has made me unaccountably happy. Nabokov speculated … Continue reading →
How does one get ready for the big stormstorm that’s predicted for the Northeast? First thing to do is to accept it. Then, make sure there’s enough food in the place—although after the almost nonstop eating fest of the last … Continue reading →
This recent thread about Palin and hunting engendered a lively exchange in the comments section, including a discussion of the following comment by a liberal on another blog, “Only arrogant humans think it’s ok to take a life.” What could … Continue reading →
There’s a pretty exciting week coming up in the sky starting next Monday. First, on Dec 13-14, we have the Geminid meteor shower. Then, on Dec 20-21, a total eclipse of the moon, visible in the entire northern and southern … Continue reading →
…found on earth. In California, naturally. All joking aside, this is fascinating. It’s a bacteria that can incorporate arsenic rather than phosphorus into its DNA, expanding the possibilities for the basic building blocks of life.
Continue reading →Last night was a rare “super harvest moon” (see also this), and I went outside to gaze at the lovely sight. And since I’m one of those people with a lot of poetry rattling around in my head, up popped … Continue reading →
It seems the earth’s waters have a powerful capacity to repair themselves: Scientists said the rapid dissipation of the [Gulf spill] surface oil was probably due to a combination of factors. The gulf has an immense natural capacity to break … Continue reading →
[Hat tip: Althouse] New York State’s got a plan to eliminate 170,000 Canada geese—not by deportation, but by wholesale slaughter: The captured geese [would be] placed alive in commercial turkey crates. The geese would be brought to a secure location … Continue reading →
That’s the question. And the answer given here is “Maybe. A little bit, anyway:” …[Coast Guard commander] Allen has repeatedly pointed out that it is BP, not the federal government, that has all the equipment and expertise to deal with … Continue reading →
Remember that ozone hole and all the brouhaha it engendered? Here’s a piece about the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the hole’s opening, and the circumstances of its more-or-less closing. The cause of the thing appeared to be the … Continue reading →
The Gulf oil spill is very disturbing in its scope. Not only did it kill eleven people, but it now threatens the huge fishing industry in the region, not to mention wildlife and beaches that are beautiful and drive the … Continue reading →
I decided to go see the movie “Avatar” even though I knew that, as a futuristic action film loaded with special effects, it probably wasn’t going to make my top-ten list. The idea of a 3-D movie intrigued me, though, … Continue reading →