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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.

Underwater view of two technical divers using rebreathers device to locate shipwreck, Lombok, Indonesia
Health

The Science Behind Decompression Sickness

Deep-sea divers now know how to avoid "the bends." But decompression still poses a problem when studying marine organisms from the deep.
Neutrino Antarctica
Natural Science

The Mysterious Neutrino

A new discovery puts scientists a bit closer to understanding the mysterious subatomic particle that is the neutrino.
During late twilight in the Baobab trees
Plants & Animals

Africa’s Mighty Baobabs

Sub-Saharan Africa's iconic baobab trees are experiencing die-offs at an alarming rate. What makes these distinctive trees so unique?
Koko the Gorilla and mother Jackie
Plants & Animals

The Legacy of Koko the Gorilla

The jury is still out on whether or not Koko's signing skills proved that apes can learn language. But we certainly learned a lot from the famous gorilla.
laser gun
Science & Technology

The Truth about Laser Guns

The U.S. and most other large militaries have been trying to develop laser weapons for decades. Has China created the first portable laser gun?
Airplane Breaking Sound Barrier
Natural Science

The Problems with Supersonic Flight

Supersonic aircrafts are much faster than typical passenger planes. Unfortunately, there are some downsides.
A phasmid stick insect with egg
Plants & Animals

The Incredible Phasmid Egg

Stick insects have eggs that look exactly like seeds. Scientists can't figure out why these masters of camouflage would lay eggs that resemble bird snacks.
Busy beaver
Plants & Animals

The Busy, Beneficial Beaver

Americans have long viewed beavers as nuisances. But their dams are important for water management, helping to store and recharge depleted groundwater.
ProPublica child detention center recording
Education & Society

The Cries Heard Around the World

ProPublica's audio of crying children in detention centers touched a nerve. Humans are keenly attuned to the sounds of crying, in part because of evolution.
Poison Ivy leaves
Plants & Animals

How Poison Ivy Works

Where poison ivy comes from, why it gives some people such terrible reactions, and why—unfortunately for hikers and gardeners—its future is bright.
A pair of tweezers removing a tick
Health

A Brief History of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is seeing an upswing. But the-now widespread condition was not formally described until 1977, based on a case in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
Cantaloupe
Health

Salmonella: The Good, the Bad, the Unexpected

A recent salmonella outbreak, connected with pre-cut melon, has put the bacteria back in the news. Is there any bright side to salmonella?
seagrass in blue ocean
Plants & Animals

Why We Need Seagrass

Seagrass meadows are habitats for a variety of marine life, and a vital link between land and sea. But these crucial plants are increasingly under threat.
used mattress
Health

The Ecosystem of the Used Mattress

Recently, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt directed staff to arrange for the purchase of a used mattress from a hotel. What's in a used mattress, anyway?
King Tut Mummy
Arts & Culture

The Many Modes of Mummification

From Egypt to East Asia, ways of making mummies have varied. Sometimes, as a recent find reveals, mummification happens completely by accident.
Mid adult man lying in bed looking at thermometer reading
Health

The Science of Fevers

Trying to bring down that fever? Studies show that most fevers are actually integral to effective immune responses.
memory diagram
Health

What is Memory?

Research suggests that memories may alter the brain's architecture, forming new synapses and strengthening existing ones.
Pompeii boulder skeleton
Education & Society

The Secrets of Pompeii

In 79 C.E., Mt. Vesuvius covered Pompeii with ash and pumice, preserving the remains of people trying to escape. Researchers have made a haunting new find.
cerebrospinal fluid
Health

What is Cerebrospinal Fluid?

A patient was convinced that her runny nose indicated a deeper problem. She was right. Her case brought cerebrospinal fluid into the national spotlight.
Dark matter galaxy clusters
Natural Science

Dark Matter in the Universe

According to current scientific theories, dark matter and dark energy make up most of the universe. But we don't even know what they actually are.
Bajau boys on boat
Health

Humans Are Still Evolving

Biologists suggest that evolution never stops, even for modern humans. This is especially true in parts of the developing world.
US Embassy Havana Cuba
Science & Technology

The Science Behind Sonic Incidents

U.S. government employees stationed in Havana, Cuba, and Guangzhou, China, have experienced mysterious symptoms. Could the culprit be a sonic weapon?
Cuckoo wasp
Plants & Animals

The Overlooked Importance of Parasites

Parasites can be creepy, but according to some ecologists, parasites may substantially impact entire ecosystems—for the better.
Chan Chan idol
Politics & History

Child Sacrifice in the Ancient Americas

At various sites throughout Peru and Argentina, archaeologists have found remains of child sacrifices.
Mauna Ulu lava cone
Natural Science

After the Lava Stops

When volcanos erupt, the type and location of the lava determines what habitat will develop after it stops flowing.

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