Why the History of Science Should Matter to Scientists
Two historians consider the field of taxonomy to ask what history can provide science at the bench level.
Should We Go to Mars? Carl Sagan Had Thoughts
It'd be "a step more significant than the colonization of land by our amphibian ancestors some 500 million years ago." But Sagan had reservations.
Plant of the Month: Elderberry
The recent entrance of elderberry into mainstream success is marked by an increasing popular desire to engage with traditional, “natural” remedies.
The Ecological Prescience of Dune
Frank Herbert’s novel isn't just about space messiahs, giant sandworms, and trippy space drugs. At its core, the sci-fi epic is about ecology.
E. O. Wilson and Biodiversity
Everyone talks about biodiversity these days, but an entomologist just might be its fiercest advocate.
Climate Change: A Syllabus
A selection of stories to foster dialogue among students both inside and outside of the classroom.
Why Climate-Change Geoengineering Feels Wrong
The idea of altering the climate instead of tackling emissions in earnest inspires widespread angst. A philosopher considers why.
Bird Watcher
Herbert Keightley Job's work represents a major turn in the study of birds. Instead of shooting them, he photographed them, at least some of the time...
How Do Insects Survive Winter?
Some species have adapted to get themselves close to freezing without dying.