Author Archives: Bob Welbaum

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

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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

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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

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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

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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,”

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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,

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A Poem For Spring

Since it’s now Spring, I’m republishing my poem My Rite of Spring, from my book Some Poems About Life, available through this website and Amazon.com. My Rite of Spring I consider myself a peaceable soul.I value all manner of livable things.Insects and mice, spiders and voles.Just about anything Mom Nature brings. But I do have my standards.I will

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