Articles for author: Andrew Alpin

Why Time Moves Differently in Space: A Beginner’s Guide to Relativity on the ISS

China is Developing New Ways to De Orbit Space Junk

Andrew Alpin

Space has always been humanity’s final frontier, but it’s rapidly becoming the ultimate junkyard. With thousands of defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and countless fragments of debris hurtling around Earth at breakneck speeds, our orbital environment is getting dangerously cluttered. And now China is stepping up to the plate with some seriously innovative approaches to ...

Climate Change: The Perfect Storm

Vermont Moose vs. Winter Ticks

Andrew Alpin

Vermont’s majestic moose are facing an unprecedented battle for survival, and their enemy is smaller than your pinky nail. In the forests of the Northeast Kingdom and beyond, these iconic giants are losing a war against that’s reshaping the state’s wilderness. What was once a manageable parasite-host relationship has become a devastating ecological crisis that ...

The Science Behind the Magic

Yellowstone Wolves Change Rivers Again

Andrew Alpin

Picture this: a pack of wolves returns to a barren landscape and within just twenty years, entire rivers start meandering differently. Sound like something out of a fairy tale? Well, it’s actually happening right now in Yellowstone National Park, and scientists are still scratching their heads at just how dramatically nature can rewrite itself when ...

The Science Behind Metal Farming

The Tree That Bleeds Metal

Andrew Alpin

In the lush rainforests of Southeast Asia, scientists have uncovered something that sounds like science fiction. Deep in the jungles of Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Caledonia, there are trees that literally “bleed” when cut. Their sap runs not red, but a striking blue-green, packed with so much nickel that it’s more concentrated than many industrial ...

15 Unique Animals with Ninja Like Superpowers

Andrew Alpin

Imagine owning a pet with ninja powers, now that would be pretty amazing but what if the world was suddenly hijacked by animals that turned out like the teenage mutant ninja turtles or super dog? Wouldn’t that creep you out? But believe it or not, there are several animals in the world that have been ...

Pack Dynamics Get a City Makeover

Illinois Coyotes Adapt to Cities

Andrew Alpin

The urban landscape of Illinois has become an unlikely home to one of North America’s most able predators. When most people picture wildlife in major metropolitan areas, they think of pigeons, squirrels, or maybe the occasional raccoon. But something fascinating has been unfolding right under our noses in places like Chicago – thousands of coyotes ...

New Species of Deep Sea Shark Discovered off Western Australia

Andrew Alpin

The deep sea continues to surprise us. In a striking reminder that the ocean still holds many secrets, researchers off Western Australia have formally described two entirely new species: a lanternshark and a porcelain crab. These discoveries stem from a 2022 CSIRO-led marine expedition aboard RV Investigator and represent yet another chapter in the ongoing ...

12 Things You Did Not Know About The White Phantom, The Arctic Wolf

12 Things You Did Not Know About The White Phantom, The Arctic Wolf

Andrew Alpin

Living in one of Earth’s most unforgiving environments, the Arctic wolf has earned its nickname as the “White Phantom” through its ghostly appearance and remarkable survival abilities. These incredible predators navigate a world where temperatures plummet to bone-chilling extremes and darkness reigns for months at a time. Yet somehow, they’ve not only survived but thrived ...

Why Thunderstorms Are Becoming More Intense Worldwide

Why Thunderstorms Are Becoming More Intense Worldwide

Andrew Alpin

The air feels different these days when storm clouds roll in. There’s something more electric, more ominous about the rumbling darkness overhead. You might think you’re imagining things, but scientists have been tracking this shift for years now. Our thunderstorms aren’t just getting more frequent – they’re becoming powerhouses of destruction that would make previous ...

Preparing for the Unthinkable: Supervolcano Mitigation Strategies

Could Supervolcanoes Cause the Next Mass Extinction?

Andrew Alpin

Picture this: you wake up one morning to find ash falling like snow across your city. The skies turn an ominous gray, temperatures plummet, and the sun becomes a dim memory hidden behind thick volcanic clouds. While it sounds like something from a disaster movie, this scenario has happened before in Earth’s history. Supervolcanoes – ...