Out of the Circus, Under the Microscope

Fleas suck. They also bite. But feeding strategies and a millennia-spanning role in the spread of disease and misery aside, the parasitic insects also happen to be quite remarkable little biomechanical machines. The very definition of minuscule, these wingless wonders can easily jump 100 times their own body length, a skill that scaled to human […]

Up the Amazon

The publisher did what publishers don’t much do these days: send the author on the road. The book tour did what book tours don’t much do these days: sell books. The evening of my return from the book tour, I received a Google Alert that a major newspaper was doing with my book what major […]

Muppet Messaging

American readers will probably recognize the dopey guy on the right as Elmo, of tickling fame, who lives on Sesame Street. But this isn’t Elmo, it’s his doppelgänger, Neno, who appears on Takalani Sesame, the South African version of the show. The blonde is his co-star, Kami, who will also appear on Sesame Square, a […]

UPDATE: New Person of LWON Indisposed

We’re sorry, but Thomas Hayden, the New Person of LWON, will be unable to post today as promised.  Instead we present for your delight and edification, Heather.  Tom will be back as soon as possible and in the meantime, we send him our best wishes for recovery. Credit: Jehan Georges Vibert

New Person of LWON

Please meet Thomas Hayden, a new Person of LWON.  And let’s get this out of the way early:  he is not and never has been married to any movie star whatever.   He writes about ecology, energy, environment, and evolution and though he’s entirely a peaceable, friendly fellow, he writes a lot about war.  And sex.   […]

Ask Mr. Cosmology

Q:  What happened before the Big Bang? Mr. Cosmology:  If I told you, God would have to kill you. Q: What is time? Mr. Cosmology:  Is 9:30. Q:  I just bought a telescope.  Do you have any advice for a first-time sky watcher? Mr. Cosmology:  What happens in Vega, stays in Vega. Q:  How many […]