Monthly Archives: May 2017
Signs of Summer 2: Whites’ Woods
Last Monday Deborah and I went over to Indiana, Pennsylvania and went for a hike in a small, recreational area called Whites’ Woods. We read about the trails on a blog site (http://whiteswoodsindianapa.blogspot.com/) and were excited to go and see … Continue reading
Signs of Summer 1: Plant Chemicals and Dragon’s Blood
Fourteen years ago I wrote an essay entitled “Do We Need Nature.” In it I talked about one very important aspect of wild plants and animals: their incredible array of genes, proteins and other chemicals that might be able to … Continue reading
Signs of Spring 13: Gene Drives
Earlier this year I read an article in The New Yorker (January 2, 2017) in which a program designed to change the genome of the white-footed mouse was discussed. This change would make these mice (which are the principle biotic … Continue reading
Signs of Spring 12: The Forest and the Trees!
The woods around us are changing almost daily due to their relative abundances and leafing orders of their trees. These passing days let us see the trees for the forests! They also remind us of a century and a half … Continue reading