Field Trip to Elkhorn Slough

Field Trip to Elkhorn Slough

Being a science writer is kind of like being an aunt. When you’re an aunt, you get to go on the strolls through the park, bounce the baby on your knee, and play peek-a-boo. But when that smile turns to a frown, the water works begin, and things get stinky, it’s time...
Shoo fly, don’t bother me…

Shoo fly, don’t bother me…

The theme for my posts this quarter seems to be, “weird things that happened to Cynthia’s skin.” This time, it’s mosquito bites. I’ve had allergic reactions to mosquito bites ever since I can remember. My reactions range from small red splotches that itch for days to...
How a “Living Fossil” Got Its Name

How a “Living Fossil” Got Its Name

The term “living fossil” carries far more weight than Grandpa’s 80th birthday card. The world is supposedly full of animals, plants, even bacteria that—depending on who you ask—have barely evolved in millions of years. Alligators, sharks, gingko trees all bear the...