Perpetual Learning
I recently saw an incredible photo of a sunset over Mount Rainier in Washington. The way the light hit the mountain, casting these beautiful, layered colors across the landscape, was breathtaking. But beyond the visual beauty, this image sparked a lot of thoughts for me, as a climate scientist. Mount Rainier is a place that … Read more
Have you ever noticed how certain landscapes just feel… different? Perhaps it’s the edge of a forest meeting a meadow, or where a freshwater river flows into the salty ocean. These aren’t just pretty views; they are ecotones, dynamic transition zones between distinct ecosystems. And as a climate scientist, I find them to be incredibly … Read more
I’ve spent years studying complex atmospheric systems, but lately, I find myself increasingly drawn to a different kind of atmospheric pressure: the one building in our digital spaces. We all know social media can be a mixed bag, but new research is highlighting just how quickly and deeply online negativity can impact our mental well-being. … Read more
As a climate scientist, I spend a lot of time thinking about change over vast timescales. But lately, I’ve been looking much, much further back – and forward – than usual. I recently had the chance to explore a fascinating project that visualizes our universe 13.8 billion years after the Big Bang, generated using a … Read more
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about artificial intelligence and its development. One idea that’s surfaced is the notion of directing tech companies to make AI ‘bigoted’ again. It sounds jarring, doesn’t it? It certainly stopped me in my tracks. As someone who’s spent a career in tech, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly things … Read more
Have you ever thought about antimatter? It’s the stuff of science fiction, but it’s also very real. Recently, scientists made a significant advance in measuring antimatter with incredible precision. This isn’t just about understanding a strange part of the universe; it could unlock deeper secrets about how everything around us came to be. For years, … Read more
Hey, grab a coffee. I was thinking the other day about something that feels really relevant right now, but it happened years ago. It’s about cameras, actually. Remember film cameras? Maybe you’re too young, but for a good chunk of my life, that’s what photography was. You’d buy a roll of film, careful with each … Read more
As a climate scientist, I spend a lot of time thinking about how systems change and adapt. It’s often in response to pressures, like shifts in climate or the arrival of new challenges. Recently, I’ve been struck by a fascinating parallel between biological evolution and a concept we’re all very familiar with: two-factor authentication, or … Read more
Ever found yourself trying to explain something totally new by saying, “It’s kind of like X, but for Y?” We all do it. It’s how our brains try to make sense of the world: by finding patterns in what we already know. And honestly, it’s one of the best tools we have. Think about the … Read more
The phrase “Has hell frozen over?” often gets tossed around when something utterly unexpected happens. Well, some are starting to whisper that about Las Vegas. Reports suggest tourism in the city, long a beacon of bright lights and big spending, might be in a bit of trouble. As someone who’s spent a career watching how … Read more