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Archive for the ‘Nature’ Category

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Predicting Lifespan Based on Size

In Health, Nature, NPR, Science on January 23, 2013 at 2:36 am

A fascinating conversation with physicist Geoffrey West about the mathematics of lifespan. “Life is short for small creatures, longer in big ones. So algae die sooner than oak trees; elephants live longer than mayflies, but you know that. Here’s the surprise: There is a mathematical formula which says if you tell me how big something is, I can tell you — with some variation, but not a lot — how long it will live.”

[Courtesy of Yunfun Tan]

[Courtesy of Yunfun Tan]

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[Courtesy of Yunfun Tan / npr.org]

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“They look like mountain bikes on steroids”

In Nature, NPR, Travel, Weekend Edition on January 20, 2013 at 4:08 pm

You likely have never heard of “fat biking,” but it’s one of the fastest-growing segments of the cycling industry. From station KUAC in Fairbanks, Alaska, hear how Alaskans are getting (and enjoying?) outdoors…even in subzero weather.

Bike shop owner Kevin Breitenbach rides a fat bike in the White Mountains National Recreation Area in Alaska in March.[npr.org / Josh Spice]

Bike shop owner Kevin Breitenbach rides a fat bike in the White Mountains National Recreation Area in Alaska in March.
[npr.org / Josh Spice]