We have some amazing clouds at times. With air masses often colliding over our region, our skyscapes are can be much more intriguing than those of the prairies where I grew up. But sometimes even non-dramatic clouds lead to questions. A few days ago we had these silky, almost polished clouds on one side of […]
science
Review: The Invention of Clouds by Richard Hamblyn
Naming things is a powerful activity—it was man’s first task in Genesis—and this power is explored in Richard Hamblyn’s brilliant book The Invention of Clouds: How an Amateur Meteorologist Forged the Language of the Skies. I do not think I have ever read such a satisfying, lyrical, information-packed science history book before, although I have […]
A Chameleon, to the Glory of God
Sometimes looking at nature can make me think of all sorts of deep things. Other times I have only one response, “Wow! My God made that!” Recently we spent some time watching this chameleon. It looked us over with its ever-rotating cone-shaped eye. The other eye, on its other side, was looking at something else. […]
Review: The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman
In 17th century Europe, young Maria Merian was fascinated by butterflies. ‘Summer birds’, they were called, and no one really knew where they came from. Raised first in an engraver’s house and then an illustrator’s, Maria learned both the technical details of her craft and how to observe nature. She combined the two to become […]