Posts by author
Alanna Mitchell
Cane Toad Fail
Decades ago, some genius Down Under decided to introduce a voracious predator to eliminate annoying beetles… Bad idea ON JUNE 1, 1935, REGINALD MUNGOMERY, AN AUSTRALIAN insectscientist, unwittingly set into…
Be Like Lichen
What if we could learn a lesson or two in survival from one of the Earth’s weirdest organisms? Lichen in our cities present a powerful metaphor for our biologically troubled…
Time for a Sea Change
Not only do marine protected areas safeguard biodiversity, but with nature taking the lead, MPAs boost commercial fisheries and help lock in massive amounts of carbon. HERE’S A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT.…
Undoing Some Damage
We live in a symbolic time. That’s especially true when it comes to wild creatures. It feels like a gut punch to hear about an ancient Douglas fir that falls…
Risking Risks
Consider the number 417. On the surface, it may seem unremarkable. It’s even mathematically rather dull — 3 times 139. Meh. But looked at through the lens of carbon concentrations…
Exploring Otter Space
Sea Otters always seem to be enjoying a great joke. They have big eyes and bigger noses, framed by erect whiskers. They seem to show constant surprise. They’re often spotted…
Fragmented Realities
For four decades, there has been a divisive debate about the lasting effects of disturbing animal habitats. A new study suggests it will make some species more resilient, not less.…
Mapping Our Climatic Future
A new University of Winnipeg report has mapped a future of ever-increasing heat waves… unless we curb carbon emissions MAPS TALK. MODERN ONES DESCRIBE TODAY’S realities. Those from ancient eras…
Uprooted: Plant Blindness Is a Dangerous Phenomenon
In our modern world, we have lost the connection between the foods we eat and the crops that provide them. It is called “plant blindness” and it is a dangerous…
The Boreal Forest: Our Secret Weapon to Fight Climate Change
The boreal forest has occasionally been dubbed “the ugly forest.” The cold, needle-leaved antithesis to the fervid exuberance of tropical rainforests. It has often been ignored, too. Today, however, this…
