Science
Virga is rain that does not reach the ground
The word virga is derived from Latin meaning “twig” or “branch”.
We’ve all seen virga, but maybe not known what it’s called. Virga is...
Humpback Whale flippers solve helicopter air flow problems
We've all seen movies of humpback whales playing in the sea. The most obvious feature is a nice symmetrical tail slapping the water...
How Whales Become Entangled
This illustration shows how fishing lines attached to traps and buoys on the ocean floor present a potentially deadly hazard to North Atlantic...
Why do stars twinkle ?
Stars twinkle. Planets shine steadily. Why?
Stars twinkle (scintillate) because they’re so far away from Earth that, even through large telescopes, they appear only...
Marine Tourism
Beachcomber for a day
One of the chief delights of living on the whale coast is that there is always an excuse to go rambling along the...
Red Tide, Blue Tide: Bioluminescence in the Ocean
Red tides, which often contain harmful algal blooms , are caused by chemical reactions that occur between algae and other substances.
Red by day, blue...
What is the smell of rain?
You can tell when rain is coming just by the smell
The word for it is “petrichor.” It’s the name of an oil that’s...
Psst, Buddy, That Cute Penguin Is Making Eyes At You..
To Save African Penguins, Humans Set Up a Dating Service
GREENSBORO, N.C. — When the African penguins Derek and Geirfugl were given their own...
Fryer’s Cove wines… sipping the sea on the West Coast
Tasting the wine..On the waterfront in a derelict old crayfish factory right at the seaside in the bay, you will find a tiny...
