Though earthquakes are certainly destructive, the geological process behind such fearsome events has provided favorable conditions for life on Earth, and particularly human life. Plate tectonics — which takes after the Greek word “tekton,” meaning builder — sustained life by grabbing rocks into the bowels of the Earth and then […]
Washington’s relentless drive to clamp down on dissent, which has recently taken the form of Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr exerting pressure on media conglomerates while threatening to withhold lucrative mergers, underscores a deep fascist impulse to silence those who would skewer the powerful. More specifically, the FCC has […]
Throughout earth’s evolution, volcanoes have contributed to the rise of complex life, yet now could eruptions be overlapping with cascading natural disasters? It’s a question which might have intrigued Charles Darwin, who visited Chile at various points between 1832-1835 during his epic voyage of discovery aboard HMS Beagle. Though the […]
During global ice ages glaciers contributed to the rise of complex life, yet now could these imposing and towering structures contribute to our own undoing? It’s a question which might have intrigued Charles Darwin, who visited Chile at various points between 1832-1835 during his epic voyage of discovery aboard HMS […]
What constitutes an “invasive species” and should animals associated with indigenous peoples be considered “native wildlife”? Last year, while retracing Charles Darwin’s voyage in Chile, I pondered such questions. During one of the more memorable episodes of my trip, I found myself in Punta Arenas, the most southerly city in […]
Though Charles Darwin is known for his study of finches inhabiting the Galápagos Islands, a discovery which later informed his theory of evolution, the scientist failed to scrutinize the backstory of other key wildlife during his voyage aboard HMS Beagle. While traveling in Chile in 1834, the young naturalist encountered […]
Recently, London’s Heathrow airport welcomed some unlikely visitors: dozens of small frogs named after Charles Darwin. The amphibians, which are under threat from the deadly chytrid fungus, which causes an infectious disease called chytridiomycosis, had endured an epically long journey from South America. Transported from Chile’s Tantauco Park, located in […]
If we are to successfully feed the planet, we must protect the humble potato. Indeed, the tuber is the third most important world-wide food crop after rice and wheat, and, what is more, potato is considered one of the most critical staples in terms of food security, particularly in developing […]
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump spoke frequently about the importance of averting World War III. Later, during his inaugural address, he remarked, “we will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we […]
As California Governor Gavin Newsom is discovering to his dismay, once fascism is ensconced in power, it is much more difficult to challenge authoritarianism. Newsom is taking the president to court over Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to his state and has labeled the president’s threats “the words […]
