Paleo Sleuth
for Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAn insatiable curiosity has led paleontologist Julia Clarke to far-flung regions - and to far-ranging collaborations
Is There Such A Thing As Extinction Proof?
for The Last Word on NothingLast year, I reported a story about sharks disappearing in the Sea of Cortez. The story deals with one little spot near the bottom of the Baja Peninsula called El Bajo. El Bajo is famous for two things, I suppose. One, it’s the site where scientists discovered a now-famous behavior …
Why Archeologists Hate Indiana Jones
for Last Word on NothingPublished: September 9, 2014
Blog post questioning the professional ethics of Indiana Jones.
How Fireflies Are Keeping This Tiny Mexican Town Alive
for National GeographicPublished: August 24, 2017
In Nanacamilpa, a magical display of fireflies is attracting tourists by the thousands—now locals wonder how they can sustain the insect that brought them so much prosperity.
Dinner Guide to Saving the Ocean
for The Last Word on NothingI am that guy.
You know the one. When the waiter comes to the table to give the specials, I’m the one who needs to know where the snapper’s from, how the swordfish was caught, and whether the salmon is farm-raised. My brother generally starts apologizing for me as soon as I open my …
Why the Mexico City Earthquake Shook Up Disaster Predictions
for Scientific AmericanPublished: September 21, 2017
Tuesday’s deadly quake did not come from the place many geologists thought would unleash the next “big one.”
Mexico City quake: A few seconds’ warning can still save lives
for New ScientistLast week’s magnitude 7.1 quake caught me, and everyone in Mexico City, by surprise. We are used to getting lots of warning before an earthquake – and this time, we didn’t.
The Big Splash
for San FranciscoPublished: October 2009
A 2009 Q&A for San Francisco Magazine about the math behind rogue waves.