Monthly Archives: June 2009
how to catch a pacu
Yesterday I wrote for ScienceNOW about how piranhas got their pointy teeth. The main thing I learned about piranhas is, really, they aren’t that bad. I talked to two people who have spent a lot of time catching piranhas in … Continue reading
how animals move
Apparently now I’m not just any old science writer, I’m a biomechanics writer. First it was how snakes move, then why birds have trouble when they get big, and today, the third story that cements the trend: how dogs avoid … Continue reading
more sardines
Someone helpfully stopped by my post on sardines and left a link to this blog: Society for the Appreciation of the Lowly Tinned Sardine. It includes many lovely photographs of sardine tins on well-appointed plates – apparently you’re supposed to … Continue reading
piping hot batch of quizzes
Yay! The Science Channel has posted more of my quizzes! Manhattan Project: Oh yes I DID quote the [name of composer redacted] opera Doctor Atomic. Magnets: This one includes a historic polar exploration photo. Nice work, art person! Engineering: This … Continue reading
phone on the shoulder
I really need a new headset. I didn’t take a picture of the right side of my face for comparison, but I’ll just assure you that my other ear is not bright red, nor are the buttons of my phone … Continue reading
adventures in seafood
The other day I was at the grocery store, and I had tuna on my list. It’s easy, it keeps more or less forever, it fits in cans, I can put it on salads. But then when I was actually … Continue reading
why you don’t leave a car for six weeks
I learned a ton of awesome things when I was in the Bering Sea this spring. I also learned one important lesson when I got home: Don’t leave your car for six weeks without driving it. I guess since I … Continue reading
ssssssssssssssnakes
Monday I wrote a story for ScienceNOW about how snakes move. They only run one picture, which meant we couldn’t use this awesome shot of a snake sewn into a little cloth jacket. Doesn’t the snake look perky? It’s all, … Continue reading
oh, *that* society
Alan Mairson, a writer who left National Geographic at the same time as me, has big ideas on how to do something about the Society’s problems. (Maybe also society’s problems, but he’s mostly talking about the Society for now.) The … Continue reading
junk mail
I’ve been doing some work for a former employer ever since I left in 2007. It’s stuff I could perfectly well do at home, but…well, I was having trouble motivating to do it at home. So I asked if I … Continue reading