Author Archives: Bob Welbaum

How to Relocate a Pest

Beavers are nature’s master builders. Their dams can change a landscape, creating wetlands and enriching the habitats of other species. They’re also cute, with fur that’s been highly prized in other eras. But frequently they get in our way. Our developments don’t utilize dams made of trees and saplings. We like our land dry and

Read More

What is the World’s Oldest Color?

It’s probably pink. The success of the new movie Barbie has created a wave interest in the color most associated with girls (and yes, Barbie Pink is a Pantone color), but like so much in life, its complicated. According to a 2018 research article, bright-pink pigments have been found in 1.1 billion-year-old rocks, the result of

Read More

Who Wants a Tiny Forest?

How big does a forest have to be to make a difference in people’s lives? Not very big. Greenery condensed to the size of a tennis court can have a huge effect. This small-is-good idea germinated in the 1970s with Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, who pioneered a way to plant young indigenous species close together to

Read More

Astronauts of the Future Will Eat…Fungus?

What do you consider space food? In the Apollo era, astronauts ate freeze-dried, cube-shaped delicacies such as shrimp cocktail and date fruitcake, which proved entirely adequate.  Apollo 8 crew member Jim Lovell was quoted as saying “Happiness is bacon squares for breakfast” while midway to the moon in 1968. Visitors to the International Space Station typically

Read More

Remembering Slave Revolts on Juneteenth

No matter what you think about our newest federal holiday, to me it’s more evidence that race is the thread that connects all of our history. For example, I’ve just found a National Geographic article entitled “How Two Centuries of Slave Revolts Shaped American History” by Erin Blakemore (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/two-centuries-slave-rebellions-shaped-american-history?). Most people are familiar with Nat

Read More

Do You Really Need 10,000 Steps a Day?

I have several friends who are constantly tracking their steps. Their goal is 10,000 steps a day, supposedly an important milestone for staying fit. Fine, but why is 10,000 the magic number? Good question, one that is answered in the May 2023 issue of Scientific American magazine. In an article entitled “The ‘10,000 Steps’ Gimmick,”

Read More

What is a Paraprosdokian?

The English language never ceases to amaze me. From different words with the same spelling (minute: a unit of time or a very small quantity?; bass: a fish or a musical instrument?) to words that are their own opposite (sanction), it’s a wonder we can communicate as effectively as we do. Thanks to a friend,

Read More