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.
Photo Essay: Geopolitical pawns, the fishermen of Lý Sơn, Vietnam
for MongabayPublished: April 17, 2015
Vietnamese fisherman caught between massive political and environmental forces.
An Homage to Teotihuacan
for SapiensPublished: July 5, 2018
One modern Mexican artist is making souvenirs that shed light on the ancient peoples of this city and continue their aesthetic traditions.
Searching for the World’s Worst Glass of Water
for The Last Word on NothingIt takes a few days to adjust to life at 13,300 feet in Potosi, Bolivia. As soon as I touched down in the tiny airport, I remembered the time I climbed Mt. Whitney and got desperately sick in camp at 13,000 feet. Whitney is the highest point in the lower …