If we think of Rachel Carson, we probably remember her for alerting us to the massacre of the birds by DDT in Silent Spring, and overlook her earlier, more poetic works, such as her bestseller The Sea Around Us, which was excerpted in The New Yorker, won the National Book Award, and numerous other prizes. YetContinue reading “The refrains of nature: Rachel Carson”
Category Archives: Science
Will reducing carbon emissions really make a difference?
Even granting that the climate is changing, reducing carbon emissions could make a huge difference when it comes to rainfall in these United States. That's according to a recent presentation by Tom Karl, director of a NOAA climate center, at a national conference in D.C. in May. But what's really shocking is how much moreContinue reading “Will reducing carbon emissions really make a difference?”
Scientist challenges denier: denier threatens suit
In a column this past week, George Monbiot pointed to a meticulously detailed take-down of the English Vicount Monckton's scattered attack on climate change science by an American professor specializing in heat transfer named John Abraham. Abraham went through a presentation by Monckton and surgically took it apart, point by point. It's a devastatingly convincingContinue reading “Scientist challenges denier: denier threatens suit”
Science never saw a ghost: John Muir
After a few years in the Sierra, encouraged by friends, in the 1870's John Muir quit his job running a sawmill in Yosemite Valley and began to explore the Sierra mountains in earnest. At the same time he began to take scraps of paper along with him on his forays into the higher elevations, andContinue reading “Science never saw a ghost: John Muir”
Where the oil will go, scientists say
According to National Center for Atmospheric Research, this animation is the scenario that best fits their model of ocean currents, and their best guess as to what will happen once the gusher of oil from BP's rig in the Gulf of Mexico is "entrained" in the Loop Current that runs around Florida and up theContinue reading “Where the oil will go, scientists say”
Union of Concerned Scientists misses a climate beat
Rarely if ever in my life have I found fault with the Union of Concerned Scientists on any point, but in a story their site published today about climate change and the American Pika, I think they tell only half the story — the alarming half. In their words: Signs of spring are beginning toContinue reading “Union of Concerned Scientists misses a climate beat”
Love and extinction
An amazing true story, via poet Kimiko Hahn and Daily Poetry. Hahn's new book, Toxic Flora, was inspired by science stories in The New York Times. Xenicus Longipes The four known species of bush wren in New Zealand are, by now, endangered or extinct. Possessing trifling tails and wings, none fly far— instead they hopContinue reading “Love and extinction”
Reasons to love Barack (vol. 9003)
Despite the Obama's inability to nudge this country, far less the world, towards climate sanity, there remain plenty of reasons to love the guy. Here are a couple of examples I've been meaning to post: In the popular inside account of the 2008 campaign, Game Change, we learn what happened at the crucial meeting onContinue reading “Reasons to love Barack (vol. 9003)”
Birds adapt to environmental change…and humans too
A friend points me to a fascinating article about how bird wings are changing as their habitats change. (The article can be found on a terrific new conservation/habitat research site, Conservation Maven - I've bookmarked it, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in land/conservation issues.) In short, the researcher found that in boreal forests, whichContinue reading “Birds adapt to environmental change…and humans too”
The duty to nature (great enviro speech of l990)
Mr. Chairman, since the last World War, our world has faced many challenges, none more vital than that of defending our liberty and keeping the peace. But the threat to our world comes not only from tyrants…it can be more insidious though less visible. The danger of global warming is as yet unseen, but realContinue reading “The duty to nature (great enviro speech of l990)”
Kit Stolz 