Editor & Art curator of Wonder. Signe is a freelance science writer with work published in The Scientist, Australian Geographic, Australasian Science, and Australian Life Scientist amongst others. Signe has an MSc in cognitive science, and loves to explore wonders of the natural world both in writing and visually. And she has to say here that all views expressed are her own and not those of her employer.
"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom
of it too?" —Douglas Adams
People often write heartfelt pieces about the personal history of a certain belief of theirs. Virginia Heffernan recently attempted just that on her blog, when she felt an urge to explain … Continue Reading ››
Unlike axolotls with their terrific regenerative capacities, once humans lose an organ or a limb, it’s gone. And they need to get a new one.
To an extent, the human liver is a notable exception, given its capacity to regenerate fully from as little as 25% of its original size. However, chronic liver diseases often … Continue Reading ››
In the days before high-resolution colour photography, natural scientists had to be able to draw. Or hire someone else who was accomplished in the artistic craft and willing to work in tandem with the scientist.
Beautiful and meticulously detailed, today botanical illustrations from the 19th century have an aesthetic and historical value. And it turns out … Continue Reading ››
Science can be a rather slow process. Sometimes the technology needed to confirm a hypothesis is not there yet, and has to be invented by subsequent generations. Sometimes repeated trials are necessary to make sure the conclusion is correct. It can take several generations of scientists building upon each other’s work to come to a … Continue Reading ››
If you have three cookies and dinner is five hours away, how slowly should you eat the cookies so that you don’t get dangerously hungry?
This is the kind of calculation that plants do during the night when they are waiting for sunlight to come back on. Here’s a recap from primary school biology: plants generate … Continue Reading ››
David Orr is a young graphic designer who loves dinosaurs, paleontology, natural history and similar cool stuff. While undertaking his graphic design degree, he also works for the Indiana University Art Museum, designing ads and exhibit graphics as well as publications.
Many of my projects involve science communication, a field in … Continue Reading ››
Of all the viruses known to us in the modern world, none other has as terrifying a reputation as HIV. According to amfAR, there are more than 34 million people all over the world who live with HIV/AIDS, and in year 2011 alone 1.7 million died from it.
A pandemic like that is particularly … Continue Reading ››
