The Thrill of Searching for Gold and Fire Agates
Figure 1. Western edge of Superstition mountains.
The Superstitions.
The Superstitions are where the Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine is located, which is still the object of search parties. The mountains rise up from the plain like a fortress, and look impenetrable from the western side.
My first encounter was 30 years ago when I first visited … More “The Thrill of Searching for Gold and Fire Agates”
A new telescope may tell us about how the universe began.
Civilization as we usually define it began about 10,000 years ago. Egyptians lived in towns and cities 7,000 years ago. China was making engraved pottery at that time.
The homo species that is our lineage emerged about 2 million years ago in Africa. The dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago after dominating the earth … More “A new telescope may tell us about how the universe began.”
How to defend your choice of getting vaccinated — or not.
Some things happened this week that hit me like a punch to the jaw. I’m writing as a scientist, and although I cry a lot and friends wonder if I’m deeply emotional, when I get serious about a subject I write as a scientist and keep my emotions at bay.
There are reasons for not … More “How to defend your choice of getting vaccinated — or not.”
My favorite hike in the whole USA: the Narrows.
When I was in college in Australia, I saw pics of a famous park in the USA, which included the Great White Throne and Angels Landing. Stunning photos. I promised I would go there sometime in my life.
Mystical mountains of the Park.
Years later I saw a framed picture of a hiker standing in … More “My favorite hike in the whole USA: the Narrows.”
The first monkey in space – a true story – and a children’s book that made me cry.
Independence, Kansas is where she called home. Her habitat was an island with a castle, this much was known.Miss Able is a rhesus monkey born in Independence, Kansas in 1957. She lived in the zoo in a small stone castle called Monkey Island. This story is based on truth.
Click on the book cover to … More “The first monkey in space – a true story – and a children’s book that made me cry.”
The elusive neutrino – a mysterious subatomic particle that may be a key to the unexplained dark matter of the universe.
The neutrino is a subatomic particle, smaller than a proton and an electron. The neutrino was proposed by Enrico Fermi and his co-workers in 1930-1932 to explain a common nuclear reaction called beta-decay.
Not too long after, Fermi couldn’t get a paper published in Nature because the neutrino concept was too unrealistic, so he switched … More “The elusive neutrino – a mysterious subatomic particle that may be a key to the unexplained dark matter of the universe.”
What to know about waterfalls and potatoes in Idaho
Idaho grows potatoes – everyone knows that. My step-daughter Kim and I were there a couple weeks ago and found out that they spray acid on the potato leaves to kill them just before they dig up the potatoes. We bought a bag of potatoes from a huge truckload that had just been reaped.
Snake… More “What to know about waterfalls and potatoes in Idaho”
How to have non-judgmental conversations
Recently, I talked separately with a few people who surprised me with their positions — positions which did not make very much sense to me. I wanted to react. I felt judgmental. I was tempted to argue. Then I considered just making an excuse to end the conversation and escape the discomfort.
But I recalled … More “How to have non-judgmental conversations”
Yogi Berra and other coaches’ sayings – a good laugh.
While in Australia, I gave a graduation address at my old high school. A little town of only 1500 people, it’s a center for farming — wheat and sheep.
I flew in from China and while on the plane happened to read some of Yogi Berra’s quotes. They became part of my address and caused … More “Yogi Berra and other coaches’ sayings – a good laugh.”
Hiking in the Crater of a Volcano – Valles Caldera.
Valles Caldera is the name of an extinct volcano that was 300 times as big as Mt Saint Helens. It lies not far from Los Alamos, where they built the A-bomb, and where I lived in 1972.
It blasted its top 1.5 million years ago. The town of Los Alamos is built on one of … More “Hiking in the Crater of a Volcano – Valles Caldera.”