How big does a forest have to be to make a difference in people’s lives? Not very big. Greenery condensed to the size of a tennis court can have a huge effect. This small-is-good idea germinated in the 1970s with Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, who pioneered a way to plant young indigenous species close together to
What do you consider space food? In the Apollo era, astronauts ate freeze-dried, cube-shaped delicacies such as shrimp cocktail and date fruitcake, which proved entirely adequate. Apollo 8 crew member Jim Lovell was quoted as saying “Happiness is bacon squares for breakfast” while midway to the moon in 1968. Visitors to the International Space Station typically
No matter what you think about our newest federal holiday, to me it’s more evidence that race is the thread that connects all of our history. For example, I’ve just found a National Geographic article entitled “How Two Centuries of Slave Revolts Shaped American History” by Erin Blakemore (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/two-centuries-slave-rebellions-shaped-american-history?). Most people are familiar with Nat
I have several friends who are constantly tracking their steps. Their goal is 10,000 steps a day, supposedly an important milestone for staying fit. Fine, but why is 10,000 the magic number? Good question, one that is answered in the May 2023 issue of Scientific American magazine. In an article entitled “The ‘10,000 Steps’ Gimmick,”
The English language never ceases to amaze me. From different words with the same spelling (minute: a unit of time or a very small quantity?; bass: a fish or a musical instrument?) to words that are their own opposite (sanction), it’s a wonder we can communicate as effectively as we do. Thanks to a friend,
Since it’s now Spring, I’m republishing my poem My Rite of Spring, from my book Some Poems About Life, available through this website and Amazon.com. My Rite of Spring I consider myself a peaceable soul.I value all manner of livable things.Insects and mice, spiders and voles.Just about anything Mom Nature brings. But I do have my standards.I will
It’s been in mythology for millennia — There was once an advanced ancient civilization that catastrophically vanished thousands of years ago. The “Lost Continent of Atlantis” has been the subject of countless books, articles, movies and general speculation throughout much of recorded history. But if this civilization was that advanced and powerful, why haven’t we
You know about Roman numerals and Arabic numerals, but there have been other civilizations through human history with their own mathematical systems. For example, have you ever heard of Kaktovik numerals? If you are living off the land in a remote part of the world, you don’t need elaborate mathematics. A quick, visual arithmetic will
If you ever thought your houseplants might be plotting against you, you could be right. There is mounting evidence that plants can communicate internally and with each other. “I think we’re seeing that the complexity [of communication] is just as great with plants as it is with animals,” says Mamta Rawat, a microbiologist and program
So much of our health seems to come back to strong teeth and gums. To some people, this could sound disingenuous. What could be a connection between what happens in your mouth and the rest of your body? Consider this scenario: A chronic infection settles into your gums. Since your gums are living tissue nourished