Climate Change and Disillusionment: It, like, totally sucks, dude

Typically in my science blog, I write about the unexpected and unusual effects of climate change on the natural world. This includes talking about the potential future success of sea anemones, poison ivy and maybe even cannabis (the entire state of California cheers!), and the potential downfall of turtles, chocolate and the potency of cocaine … Read more

Sea anemones are no friend to me: climate change and ocean life

For the past couple of weeks, I have been focusing on the effect of climate change on charismatic mega-fauna such as polar bears (adorable!) and dinosaurs (rawr!). This week though I wanted to draw attention to a smaller-fauna that is incredibly cool, totally charismatic and wildly vicious. It is the terrifying, the hypnotic, the fierce….sea … Read more

Climate change or sexual dysfunction: the downfall of the little polar bear

As a graduate student at Tufts University, I took a course on climate change policy and regulation. In the course, the professor asked us what would be an effective way of getting the public’s attention on climate change. Being the ever pragmatist, I declared “money” — you hit people in their pockets and they will … Read more

The hungry little caterpillar will destroy us all: climate change and importance of timing.

My first year of graduate school, I set out to complete an independent field project in the hill country of Western Massachusetts. In all my clever, pre-doctoral planning, I did not account for an unexpected outbreak of the hungry, hungry tent-caterpillar that summer. These caterpillars completely took over the forests of the Berkshires, consuming any … Read more

Give me chocolate or give me death! The effect of climate change of cocoa.

There are few things people take more seriously in their personal lives than chocolate. I realize you think I am being facetious, but think about your childhood, think about Christmas, think about your pregnancy or your wife’s pregnancy or getting dumped or getting promoted or your birthdays or retirement parties. Think about them and then … Read more

Saving the planet, one fart at a time

Recently, Mark Bittman, minimalist chef-turned-novice-food-advocate published an opinion piece in the New York Times regarding his personal challenges digesting milk. In his article he attempted to dissuade Americans from consuming milk, because according to him it’s not so good for us and we haven’t evolved to drink it. For all his citations and quotes, it … Read more