Spiraling Out of Control?
As a former geology major and a Tucson resident I love being able to visit the Gem and Mineral Show. I don't go every year because it's too tempting. I'm ashamed to admit how many boxes of mineral specimens, fossils, and beads I have. Recently though, I went through those treasures to find a focal piece for a box I was going to work on as a demonstration at the Southern Arizona Arts Guild gallery. I settled on a spiral ammonite whose shell had been replaced with the mineral h
Mar 192 min read
Getting A Head
Western Tanager males are so gorgeous with their bright yellow bodies, black backs, and red heads. Turns out they are also unique in how they get those red heads. Most birds get the red color in their feathers from foods that contain red pigments. But these birds' red is from a pigment that only occurs in plants they don't eat themselves. Instead they get it indirectly by eating insects that eat the plants. Learn more about these birds and hear their songs: All About Birds (C
Mar 3, 20251 min read