From the Arctic to Antarctica, ocean debris is killing marine wildlife—but we still have the power to stop plastic pollution. Originally published in National Wildlife. MARCUS ERIKSEN was sitting in a foxhole in Kuwait in 1991 when he hatched a plan that guided the rest of his life. Hunkered down in the sand, surrounded by burning […]
Power Play
Humans are hardly the only animals in which males use aggression—or its threat—to intimidate females. Originally published in National Wildlife. For a PDF of the page layout, click here. ON THE SURFACE, FEMALE CHACMA baboons at Namibia’s Tsaobis Nature Park seem to have it pretty easy. Amidst the rocky hills that flank a dry river bed, […]
When Animals Grieve
Scientists are uncovering evidence that humans are not the only animals that mourn their dead. Originally published in National Wildlife. Click here for a PDF of the magazine pages. ON A CRISP SUMMER AFTERNOON in 2010, Robin Baird was conducting research off Washington’s San Juan Island when he and colleagues from NOAA Fisheries spotted a Southern Resident killer whale behaving […]
Mindful Policing: The Future of Force
With police violence in the news, and public scrutiny on the rise, cities turn to mindfulness to help officers deal with the stress of the job. Originally published in Mindful. “YOU GUYS READY FOR A TECHNIQUE?” the trainer asks. “Everybody, sit up straight. Uncross your legs. Just look straight ahead.” Eric White gathers his 6-foot-8 […]
Earthquake Nation
There’s a whole lot more shaking going on in the Midwest lately—and humans are causing it. Originally published in Popular Science. MARK CRISMON AND I WERE SITTING OUTSIDE his Oklahoma house, looking at the day lilies that lined his pond, when our conversation was interrupted by a distant boom. “Did you feel that?” Crismon asked. […]
Why the Beach Makes Us Happy
Scientists have explored everything from the sound of rolling waves to the molecular ions in the salty air, but is there a power even greater behind the sea’s ability to transform us? And can we harness that power to save the sea itself? Originally published in Coastal Living. IT DOESN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST to tell […]
Do-It-Yourself Genetics
The mapping of the human genome inspired not only a flood of scientific research, but also a flurry of commercial genetic tests aimed at the curious consumer. The author submitted his DNA and gained access to a trove of information—some fascinating, some reassuring, some terrifying. Originally published in Duke Magazine. WHEN WE ADOPTED SCOOTER IN […]
Losing Louisiana
Originally published in OnEarth. The BP blowout caused months of pain and suffering for the people and environment of the Gulf Coast. But Louisiana was in trouble long before the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Its wetlands are disappearing at the rate of a football field every hour due to rising sea level, storm damage, and the […]
Pragmatic Problem Solver
Tim Profeta, comfortable among scholars and respected within Capitol culture, brings a sure hand to the delicate task of inserting good environmental research into the national legislative discourse. Originally published in Duke Magazine. TIM PROFETA, DIRECTOR OF DUKE UNIVERSITY’S Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, arrives one April morning at the Capitol Hill office of a Republican senator […]
RNC Day 4: Palin, Creationism, and Other Red Meat
On the first day, God created pit bulls. On the second day, He created lipstick. Originally published in Indy Week. AS THE OWNER OF A FRIENDLY PIT-BULL MIX, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s off-script line last night at the Republican National Convention: “Do you know the difference between a hockey mom […]
