Traveler and writer Amy Ragsdale shares how exploring both the parks and building-lined streets of New York City can trigger an examination of the relationship between man and nature.
Tag Archives: Science & Nature
Laws of Man and Laws of Nature
People have always sought to impose order on nature, not only by taming landscapes and creatures but also by developing an understanding of how and why nature works the way it does. In this blog post, Marcelo Gleiser ponders the differences between the laws humans make and the laws by which nature functions.
Your Guide to How the Eye Sees
Like anything you have with you all the time, you might take your eyes for granted. But how the eye translates the light falling onto an object into an image your brain can make sense of is pretty amazing. Here’s an overview.
Cyclops Myth Spurred by “One-Eyed” Fossils?
Greek mythology is filled with impossible events and bizarre creatures, but where did the idea of a one-eyed giant come from? Archaeologists have a theory.
Watch a Rescued Baby Wombat Bond with his Caretaker
Adorable baby animal videos are all over the Internet; find out the touching story behind one of them.
Winter Splendor Unveiled at Ice Caves
With an unusually cold winter, the ice caves of Lake Superior draw many visitors every year. Check out this collection of amazing photographs.
Brain Confidence: How Our Neurons Make Decisions
It might seem that careful thought about all of the options would drive our decision making. But researchers have found that confidence is a bigger driver.
Philae lander makes historic touchdown on comet
Watch a video of, and read about, the historic landing of the first ever robotic spacecraft on a comet.
Magnified photos expose the secret beauty of sand grains
Dr. Gary Greenberg uses high-quality microscopes to magnify and photograph grains of sand from beaches all over the world. Read this brief article to learn more. Make sure to click the link to view his spectacular images.
How Animal Camouflage Works
If an animal isn’t as fast or strong as its predators, then it has to be smarter to avoid being eaten. Find out about one adaptation that helps some animals outsmart the enemy.
Are We Genetically Inclined To Be Materialistic?
Culture can help people to learn to share freely. Listen to this report comparing people in modern economies like those of the United States to hunter-gatherers.
Running the risk: why experience matters when making decisions
Psychologist Ben Newell explains how previous experience affects risky decisions.
How Nature Resets Our Minds and Bodies
Something as simple as a window with a view of trees can help improve the recovery of hospital patients. This article explores how exposure to nature can help people suffering problems from ADD to cancer.
Grit: The power of passion and perseverance
It is difficult to predict who will succeed at long-term tasks. In this talk, Angela Duckworth argues that a person’s persistence, or “grit,” is what will help them overcome challenges.
Social Insects Inspire Design of Autonomous Robots
Robotics may seem to owe little to nature and everything to technology. But engineers have used the actions of social insects to guide the movements of robots that are not directly controlled by humans. Read this article to discover what robots can learn from ants.
Eureka!
“One sometimes finds what one is not looking for,” said Alexander Fleming, whose chance observation of a contaminated experiment led to the the world’s first antibiotic. This Smithsonian article discusses inventions and discoveries that centered on a flash of insight in a mind prepared to see what it wasn’t looking for.
Hurricane Katrina
What contributed to the devastating power of Hurricane Katrina? History® provides text, videos, and links on the formation and impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Agreeing to Disagree
It may be easier to have a conversation with someone who already agrees with you, but it’s better for your brain to talk with—and listen to—someone who disagrees with you. In this article, Art Markman, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist at the University of Texas, discusses the practical applications of psychological research on disagreement.
Survival of the Friendliest
In this short video, Brian Hare explores the importance of friendliness in the animal and human worlds.
Thinking of Home Makes It Harder to Learn a Foreign Language
Changing from using one language to another can be a challenge, one that is made even more difficult by reminders of one’s home country. This article by Emily Underwood explains why.