The Natural Philosopher Dec 11, 20214 minBeyond the Black PlagueBy Paloma Salmeron-O’Brien Yersinia pestis is a name that strikes fear into the hearts of scientists everywhere, but it could be just...
The Natural Philosopher Dec 11, 20213 minLifeless Caves: The Bat PlagueBy Conor Doolin It is believed that in 2005, a hiker visited a cave in Europe. This hiker unknowingly contaminated their shoes or clothes...
The Natural Philosopher Nov 6, 20213 minThe Enemy of My Enemy…By Paloma Salmeron-O’Brien Plants can’t run away from a caterpillar looking for a meal, so scientific studies have explored the ways in...
The Natural Philosopher Nov 6, 20213 minMind-Controlled Zombie CockroachesBy Lydia Tate Around Halloween, thoughts of spooky creatures like ghosts, vampires, and zombies haunt our minds. As humans, we can rest...
The Natural Philosopher Nov 6, 20212 minBeware of FrankenfishBy Morgan Guthrie We are all familiar with Mary Shelley's 1818 gothic fantasy Frankenstein. Many associate Frankenstein with horror...
The Natural Philosopher Oct 9, 20214 minAdaptive Advantages of Autumn ColorsBy Lydia Tate As the weather across New England becomes increasingly brisk, the beautiful colors of autumn begin to develop in different...
The Natural Philosopher Oct 9, 20213 minFall LeavesBy Anna Rees The changing leaves in autumn are one of the most beautiful parts of the year, and one of the many reasons I chose to live...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 29, 20203 minA Life-Threatening Disease from a 2-Milligram Bug: Submicroscopic Malaria in IndiaBy Loret Haas-Hanser In a scientific, technological era it is difficult to imagine diseases infecting hundreds of millions of people per...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 29, 20203 minMicroplastics: The Dangerous Pollutant You Can’t SeeBy Emily Kaloudis It is safe to assume that people generally know that pollution and littering are bad. The majority of humankind try not...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 29, 20203 minSatellites, Sandwiches, and Seas: Coral Satellite Food By Charlotte Evans The corals are dying! They’re bleaching in over-warm waters! Why does this happen? Well, corals are actually animals...
The Natural Philosopher May 6, 20196 minCultured: An Interview with Paul Kindstedt By Emily Press When I think about cheese, I picture a wheel of brie, slices of cratered swiss, and the Kraft mac from my childhood. For...
The Natural Philosopher Mar 24, 20194 minDoing Battle with the Leaky Pipeline: Perspectives from a PhD, Teacher, Mother, and MentorBy Emily Press “An old white male is the classic image of a professor, with leather elbow patches and a tweed jacket, and that’s not me.”...
The Natural Philosopher Mar 24, 20192 minWomen’s Beliefs About Their Own Knowledge By Michelle Wheater Climate change is arguably the biggest scientific problem we are facing today. Considering this problem’s enormity,...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 23, 20192 minBreaking the Ice: How Insects Tolerate Freezing Temperatures By Reese Green As we lace up our boots, pull on brightly colored jackets, and stuff our hands into gloves to combat the cold, insects are...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 23, 20193 minMore Than Just Melting Ice By Olivia Hakan When most people hear the words “global warming” or “climate change” they probably think of melting icebergs, extreme...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 23, 20193 minWinter Wonderland WarningsBy Nellie Stidham As this winter continues, education about cold exposure must continue. One of the best prevention tactics is knowing...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 23, 20192 minBumps in the Night: The Science Behind Ice QuakesBy Nick Fontaine In the midst of the brutal cold brought about by the polar vortex that engulfed the Midwest a few weeks ago, people...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 23, 20193 minBirds Don’t Watch the News; So How Are They Detecting Climate Change? By Lily Marino In the bitter cold of northern Finland, bird communities are experiencing a sort of winter-themed crisis that is a...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 23, 20192 minA Hope for Antarctic Ozone DepletionBy Loret Haas-Hanser The ozone is a stratospheric region of Earth that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Comprised of a special...
The Natural Philosopher Feb 23, 20192 minDon’t Eat The Pink Snow: Watermelon Snow Microbiomes in the Arctic and Glacial MeltBy Cai McCann Imagine you’re standing on the frozen ground of the Arctic, peering out at a harsh, barren tundra. Only it’s not white,...