Science Snapshot: Lichen

Vast armies of yellow, orange, green, blue, black, and any other color imaginable spread across the barren landscape. After an asteroid impact wiped out the majority of species on this planet, these colorful symbionts march forth to take advantage of the wide open world. Two unlikely organisms join forces to thrive in this new world. […]

The Secrets Behind the Water Show

There is nothing like the relaxing experience of lounging outside on a mild summer evening while listening to a live band play some of your favorite music. This was my view one evening this week at a local outdoor mall. However, no offense to the wonderfully talented band, the water fountain light show that happened […]

Science Snapshot: Banana Slug

The term, “love at first sight” is commonly used to describe an extreme liking for someone or something upon first seeing them in person. Usually this term matches with a beautiful woman or a delicious cheeseburger. Well, while camping in the Coastal Redwoods of California, I had truly experienced love at first sight! I exited […]

Evolutionary Mash-up: Electric Eel

There has been a number of occasions in my life where I wished I had the ability to shoot electricity from my fingers. Inspired by the Emperor (or Sheev Palpatine for you star wars fanatics out there) from the Star Wars movie series, shooting electricity from my hands would come in handy when I need […]

Evolutionary Mash-ups: The Northern Lampfish

The transcendent battle between predator and prey has shaped the evolution of animals both on the land and in the sea. An insect blending in with its leafy background to hide from a hungry chameleon. A hungry chameleon blending in with its leafy background to sneak up on an oblivious insect. But this tale as […]

Science Snapshot: Sea Star

The above image may look like a scaly white mouth opening up to reveal tons of tiny bubblegum pink tongues, but it is actually a starfish! More specifically, this is the ventral (stomach) side of the starfish arm. I took this picture at an aquarium here in Utah, the Loveland Living Planet aquarium. When I […]

Methane Hydrate=The Currency of the Ocean?

Extra, extra, read all about it! Coal and other fossil fuels, which have provided a steady energy source for many years, is running out. Plus, the use of such fossil fuels is hurting our planet and contributing to global climate change. Experts are urging humanity to make a push for cleaner, renewable, and sustainable energy […]

Ariel, Take It From Sebastian, It Is Better Under the Sea

Since the beginning of mankind, humans have been obsessed with exploring. With every exploration came new discoveries. With every new discovery, humans became more advanced as a species. We explore, we learn. We learn, we survive. Once we had discovered everything we could on land, we decided to press our luck and take our explorations […]

Mythology Meets Geology: Fulgurites

With the clap of his mighty hands and the swing of his brawny arm, Zeus sent ear-shattering thunder and blinding bolts of lightning through the air and down to Earth. Zeus’s intentions were not to punish the people of Earth, but to remind them who possesses all power both in heaven and Earth as the […]

Periodic Players: Oxygen

The periodic table of elements… if you are still reading this I am pleasantly surprised! Ever since high school chemistry, the periodic table of elements has become taboo mixed with unpleasant recollections of memorizing each element along with its (sometimes perplexing) atomic symbol. Well, now that I have the worst part out of the way, […]