On an average day, over half of all Americans will drink at least one cup of tea. The numbers are similar for daily coffee-drinkers, and certainly there must be some overlap of people that may drink both in one day (myself included). While the act of drinking a warm beverage itself can be soothing, many coffee and tea drinkers are after something a little more direct: Caffeine.
Read MoreIn Florida, state officials launched the fourth annual “Python Challenge” Burmese python hunt on January 16. The goal is simple: To remove as many Burmese pythons from the Everglades as possible. This may seem cruel, but it is vitally necessary for the ecosystem of the Everglades.
Read MoreWinter weather is on its way! Forecasts are calling for winter storms this weekend. Currently it looks like we might get up to 5 inches of snow around the Bruce Museum. This could be mixed with sleet or freezing rain, two of the other freezing foes of winter. The exact mix of precipitation we (and the rest of the East Coast) end up with depends on a lot of factors. Very specific conditions are required for snow, sleet, or freezing rain to occur and these conditions can change quickly. It can be hard to predict weather, but understanding the underlying science makes it easier.
Read MoreSelf-awareness. A lot of philosophy has been built up around this term. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize the self as distinct from the environment. It is having consciousness and knowledge of the self as an individual. Humans certainly have self-awareness and we are able to recognize our body, our feelings, and our thoughts as our own. A lingering question has pursued humanity for generations: Are we alone in our self-awareness on this world, or might other animals have a sense of self too?
Read MoreOn January 10, Fierce and Fragile: Big Cats in the Art of Robert Dallet will open at the Bruce Museum. This exhibit combines the stunning big cat artwork of Robert Dallet with the science of conserving these majestic beasts. While we don’t have lions or tigers roaming the town of Greenwich, many other felines make Connecticut their home.
Read MoreAmong the many seasonal flavors of winter, peppermint is one of my personal favorites. Whether it’s peppermint-flavored coffee, candy canes, or just the peppermint wafers themselves, there’s something for everyone in peppermint this time of year. While chewing on some peppermint candy, you may notice a cold feeling in your mouth. Peppermint doesn’t actually cause the temperature to decrease in your mouth; it feels cold because of a particular quirk of biology.
Read MoreSanta Claus famously lives and works at the North Pole, but which North Pole? There are actually two North Poles of the Earth. One is the Geographic North Pole. This pole is aligned (but not exactly) with the rotational axis of the Earth and is the northernmost place on maps. The second North Pole is the Magnetic North Pole, the location that compasses will point to as north. If Santa wanted to keep his home on the Magnetic North Pole he’d have a hard time of it. Magnetic North is always moving.
Read MoreIn school, students are generally taught that species are groups of organisms that are capable of breeding amongst themselves and producing fertile offspring. As an explanation, it makes sense. Horses and donkeys form a classic example of this definition in action. While they can breed, their mule children are sterile. It would be nice if all species distinctions were this clear cut, but nature is far too complicated to be bound by this rule. There are many situations in which this definition cannot be clearly applied, and some that it cannot be used at all.
Read MoreStories about animals and artifacts by scientists at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT
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