Anne N. Connor, Science Writer and Editor
”If physicians are aided by a technology that tells them about a pattern, they can provide better care.” AI doesn’t replace human knowledge or physician expertise — it strengthens them. Profile of Dr. David Jones, director of neurology AI at the Mayo Clinic. Mayo Magazine, December 2024. https://mayomagazine.mayoclinic.org/2024/12/ai-and-the-aging-brain/
I wrote a 150-word review of a 423-page book on industrial farm animal production. Published December 4, 2024, in Civil Eats.
In the face of climate change, the coffee industry is refocusing on agroforestry and developing hardier varieties and high-tech beanless brews.
Some small farms are rejecting expansion pressure by investing in the long-term value of their land and livestock. Will funders follow suit? Modern Farmer. https://modernfarmer.com/2023/02/sustainable-farmers-see-promise-in-new-financing-options/
An international study shows harm to aquatic ecosystems at low concentrations, suggesting a need to tighten limits. Ensia. https://ensia.com/articles/road-salt-lakes-aquatic-ecosystems-harmful-algal-bloom/
This sustainable technology presents an opportunity to turn cow manure and food waste into renewable energy and added income. But biodigesters are not always easy to operate, and they can be costly to replace. A look at the pros and cons. Modern Farmer. https://modernfarmer.com/2022/05/biodigesters-dairy-farms/
Stepping back from the supply-chain chaos of the pandemic into the solid, low-tech building methods of the 19th century turned out to be just what I — and the environment —needed. Modern Farmer. https://modernfarmer.com/2022/01/building-a-better-barn/
Mice have neurons that connect to both eyes but only propagate the signal from one or the other, simplifying the information sent to the cerebral cortex. The Scientist. https://www.the-scientist.com/the-literature/neurons-simplify-visual-signals-by-responding-to-only-one-retina-69224
A pilot project shows we can balance our need for safe roads with our duty to protect nature. Undark. https://undark.org/2021/03/11/road-salt-imperils-aquatic-ecosystems/
Snowshoeing has become an endangered activity. As freezing rain has replaced snow cover, a winter walk in the New England woods is more likely to involve ice cleats than snowshoes. The average wintertime temperature in Vermont has increased by three degrees since 1895, tipping precipitation from dry snow to wet, from snow to ice, and … Continue reading Snowshoeing and Other Endangered Activities
Researchers think they’re getting warmer: They’ve created amino acids and primitive membranes by simulating conditions found at scalding vents on the ocean floor. Knowable. https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/searching-high-and-low-origins-life
As climate change brings heavier rains, local officials and developers are managing the deluge of stormwater runoff with some low-tech—and pretty—solutions. National Resources Defense Council, Southwest Dispatch. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/san-antonio-finds-key-flood-control-its-gardens
More coastal towns are building “living shorelines” for storm and flood protection. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2019/6/3/18262182/hurricane-season-2019-storm-protection
In the escalating arms race between our crops and the organisms that destroy them, GMOs may be our best defense. Undark. https://undark.org/2018/10/04/how-we-talk-about-gmos/