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Black and white headshot of author James MacDonald

James MacDonald

James MacDonald received a BS in Environmental Biology from Columbia and a PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University, spending 4 years in Central America collecting data on fish in mangrove forests. His research has been published in scholarly journals such as Estuaries and Coasts and Biological Invasions. Until his death in the fall of 2019, James worked in fisheries management and outreach in New York.

Illustrated Stegosaurus
Plants & Animals

Sex and the Stegosaurus

How do you sex a Stegosaurus? Look at its back plates.
Various vitamins of different sizes and colors
Health

Do Vitamin Supplements Cause Cancer?

There's been a long history of research on vitamin supplements and their potential cancer risk.
Clasped hands
Plants & Animals

What Happens When You Crack Your Knuckles?

Where does the sound of cracking knuckles come from, and is it dangerous?
Seagulls follow whales to eat anchovies.
Plants & Animals

The Sound of an Unknown Whale

Researchers might have identified one—and maybe even two—brand new species of whale.
Twin stars in space
Natural Science

Watching the Twin Suns Rise on a Real-Life Tatooine

Twin suns, like the ones seen in Star Wars, may be more common than originally thought.
SEM image of Milnesium tardigradum in active state
Plants & Animals

The Invincible Tardigrade

Tardigrades, aka water bears, are microscopic animals that are found in virtually any environment on Earth.
Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) on branch
Plants & Animals

Blackpoll Warblers: Tiny Bird, Huge Journey

Blackpoll warblers make a 1,500 mile, non-stop flight over the Atlantic
Neon blue radio waves
Science & Technology

A Cosmic Mystery from a Microwave Burrito

The source of mysterious radio waves detected by two of world's largest telescopes has been traced to a microwave.
Large hadron collider
Natural Science

Welcome Back to the Large Hadron Collider

After a two-year hiatus, the Large Hadron Collider is starting up again.
Brontosaurus
Plants & Animals

Brontosaurus is Back, Baby!

The mighty brontosaurus might be real after all, according to new analysis.
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Science & Technology

The Gulf Oil Spill, Five Years Later

Gulf Oil Spill
Cuttlefish
Plants & Animals

Camouflage Artists of the Animal Kingdom

A few camouflage artists of the animal kingdom, including cuttlefish and Craugastor frogs.
Egyptian hieroglyphs
Education & Society

Tax Day in Ancient Egypt

A newly-analyzed papyrus fragment from Ancient Egypt revealed a truly whopping tax bill
The ancient Mayan archaelogical site of Copan, in Honduras, one of the most important cities of mayan civilization. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Education & Society

Researchers Discover Unknown Ancient City in Honduras

An expedition has identified the ruins of an unknown city in a remote part of Honduras.
Chameleon in profile perched on a branch
Plants & Animals

Move Over, Camouflage. Here Comes Artificial Chameleon Skin

Engineers have developed a new chameleon-like material that changes color with a slight movement, according to research published in the journal Optical.
A seal pops its head up out of the water
Plants & Animals

Seals 1, Scientists 0

A long-term study to track the movements of commercially valuable fish species might have been a waste of time, thanks to crafty seals.
A seven foot shrimp
Plants & Animals

Like Shrimp? How About a 7-Footer?

Researchers recently discovered something completely different: the fossil of a 7-foot long shrimp-like creature.
Illustration of Dawn spacecraft in space
Science & Technology

A New Engine Sends NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft on Its Way

Dawn spacecraft's mission to Ceres is made possible by a brand new ion engine that runs off individual atoms.
Ancient Assyrian relief 865-860 BC from Nimrud showing King Ashurnasirpal accompanied by his courtiers pouring a libation over a dead lion
Politics & History

What ISIS Wrecked in Nimrud and Hatra

Records of excavations from before the current conflict with ISIS in Iraq can give us an idea of the former grandeur of Nimrud and Hatra.
Two Polar Bears navigate drifting ice floes
Science & Technology

Geoengineering: A Real Weapon Against Climate Change?

Does geoengineering deserve stronger consideration as a strategy to combat climate change?
A seated individual clutching their knee
Health

In Pain? Don’t Worry, It’s Literally in Your Mind

A look at the research in mind/body science and pain.
Man in work clothes sleeping on a made bed
Health

What Does It Mean to Have Jet Lag?

What is jet lag, and why does it affect us so much more in the spring than in the fall?
Microscope view of bacteria
Health

She Has Your Eyes. And Your Gut Bacteria’s Genome!

Upending our entire understanding of inheritance, an infant can apparently inherit genes directly from her mother’s bacteria.
A pot being washed in a sink
Health

To Avoid Allergies, Skip the Dishwasher

A new study says that children raised in homes where dishes are typically washed by hand have lower rates of allergies than where the dishwasher is used.
Black hole is shining bright red light in the distant cosmos
Natural Science

Scientists Discover Largest Black Hole Ever

Scientists recently discovered the largest black hole ever.

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