Promoting Science and Critical Thinking
Looking back over deep time, we know that periods of glaciation come and go in regular pulses and that there have been variations in climate. It has been clear for some time that there exists a natural variation that is driving this. What is going on, why is it like this? Milankovitch Cycles The Serbian … Read more
April 2018 is a notable but almost unnoticed moment in recorded human history. The average amount of CO2 in our atmosphere exceeded 410 parts per million for the first time in recorded history. Breath deeply, because you are breathing a unique mixture that no human ancestor ever experienced. “So what“, you might exclaim, “We have a … Read more
Not too long ago I was writing about the possibility of the EPA rolling back of emission standards. At that time state leaders were confident that if it did happen then they would take appropriate legal action, and expressed confidence that they would win. The latest update is that this drama is now unfolding. The … Read more
The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is not simply some far away place of scientific interest, but instead has become the focus of the biggest ever Antarctic field campaign. It has become apparent that what is happening there right now has the potential to greatly impact us … soon. Because of the risk, the biggest ever joint UK-US … Read more
First, just for completeness, here is a quick definition. The term “Echo Chamber” is a reference to the idea that people are increasingly being only exposed to the ideas that they agree with, and don’t hear the arguments of those with whom they do not agree. The net effect is that we become more polarised. … Read more
Mammal extinction is not simply something from the dim and distant past. In 1680 Sir Ewen Cameron killed the last Scottish Wolf in Killiecrankie (Perthshire). In 1786, the last wolf was killed in Ireland. So what other mammals once existed in the British Isles and when did they go extinct? Here is a brief list (culled from here) … Read more
