We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless, while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity. — E.O. Wilson, biologist, Harvard University The world-acclaimed biologist Edward O. Wilson is writing a book for young people called “Letters to a Young Scientist,” scheduled for publication in early 2013. […]
Most children have a bug period. — E.O. Wilson, distinguished insect scientist from Harvard University The 2012 International Congress of Entomology was held in Daegu, South Korea. Affectionately nicknamed by some of us attendees as the “Big Bug Swarm,” this meeting brought together insect experts from around the world to discuss important scientific issues pertaining […]
Dr. Lowman’s latest Nature’s Secrets column in newsobserver.com: We left the endless urban sprawl of Mexico City at 6 a.m., along bumpy roads in the mountainous state of Michoacán. It was hard to believe that only four hours from 20 million Mexicans is a winter haven for America’s entire population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). […]
There is no such thing as waste, only wasted resources. — Chris Peot, Civil Engineer for DC Water, which treats waste water for Washington, D.C. From toilets to plastics to sludge to food scraps, America is urgently seeking new technologies to deal with waste disposal. The United States currently produces 12 billion tons of waste […]
To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. — Helen Keller Twenty-eight citizen scientists from Florida, North Carolina and several other states traveled to the Amazon jungle for eight days in July. Mission: to document defoliation in the canopy for science, and to […]
Dr. Lowman’s latest Nature’s Secrets column in newsobserver.com: Twenty-eight citizen scientists from the North Carolina Nature Research Center traveled to the Amazon jungle for eight days in July. Mission: to document defoliation in the canopy for science, and to contribute knowledge of insect biodiversity for conservation. But the overarching, and unexpected, benefit was the inspiration […]
Dr. Lowman’s latest Nature’s Secrets column in newsobserver.com: What would we do without trees? They grow while we sleep, and effortlessly provide us with many services essential for life on our planet – from oxygen production to providing food, building materials, medicines and shade. Scientists and educators of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and […]
Imagination is more important than knowledge. — Albert Einstein Olympians aim for gold medals; pro football teams strive to win the Super Bowl; some physical and medical science disciplines compete for Nobel Prizes; and actors aspire for Academy Awards. But what are the metrics of success for natural scientists? They are often defined as personal […]
Dr. Lowman’s latest Nature’s Secrets column in newsobserver.com: Coffee, java, morning Joe, black wine, jolt juice, espresso, cappuccino. … A cup of coffee has inspired business deals, exam-preparation, student all-nighters, real estate transactions, truck-driving, dating, and diplomacy. It represents a daily ritual for millions of Americans. Imagine a world without coffee? Several biological challenges threaten to […]
Dr. Lowman’s latest Nature’s Secrets column in newsobserver.com: North of Stowe, Vt., along some steep mountain trails of Mount Mansfield, is a two-decade-long research site investigating the impacts of climate change on songbirds. Not surprisingly, the ornithologists leading this project have documented birds shifting uphill to escape increasingly warmer temperatures at lower elevations. Ten years […]
