It was my obsession with the intricate and architectural form of leaves that inspired me to major in the plant sciences as an undergraduate. Enjoying leaves in nature is fortunately easy to come by in California and in recent years I’ve taken to translating my fondness for foliage into textile arts. Embroidery and now felting … Continue reading
Last weekend it was such an honor to be part of the Rosie Rally at the Richmond waterfront! I joined forces with 1083 other Rosie the Riveter lookalikes, breaking the world record for Rosies gathered together. The original Rosies were an important part of the World War II Homefront effort and they are my heroes. … Continue reading
Grace Cathedral stands on top of San Francisco’s iconic Nob Hill. A large redwood altar has been a prominent feature of the Cathedral since 1964, inspiring many to wonder about the altar’s origin and the history of its wood. Grace Cathedral archivist, Michael Lampen, confirmed that the redwood piece was originally showcased by the California … Continue reading
My Mom just unearthed this old photo of me proudly standing with my middle school science project. I set out to find out if peanut embryos could still grow if you remove part or all of their cotyledons. I vividly remember that my precious peanut sprouts got pretty moldy after a few days in a sealed, damp … Continue reading
This week, we learned from scientists at the University of Buffalo that caffeine evolved independently in coffee plants, meaning it didn’t likely share a caffeine-producing common ancestor with tea or chocolate plants. A miracle like caffeine evolving more than once, how’d we get so lucky?! Researchers mapped the genome of Coffee canephora and found that genes … Continue reading
You’ve all heard of the bacteria E. coli, right? Well it turns out that a recent discovery about these microorganisms has given astrobiologists a clue for how to look for life in space. It turns out that these bacteria build complex shelters with salt crystals that form when water evaporates. Discovered by Spanish researcher José … Continue reading
In the redwood forest, one of the most fabulous transitions every year is seeing spring flowers give way to sweet berries. While I know that I should probably leave the fruit for wildlife, I simply can’t help but taste the summer’s bounty. From huckleberries to thimbleberries, these splashes of color ripening on shrubs under the redwoods … Continue reading
