The Natural Curiosity Project

All children's books are about leadership--and none are more illustrative of this that Kipling's "The Elephant's Child." Join us on a journey of discovery as we listen to the narration of parts of the story.

Interesting thing, the slime mold--especially one called 'dog vomit slime mold.' Here's the best part: they move. As in, they can crawl arounds. And, they're good to eat. Really. Have a listen.

A few years ago, I was working on a project in Singapore. Thanks to a series of serendipitous events, I found myself with the enviable opportunity to spend a few days aboard the Wave Venture, a cable-laying ship. For a technologist, or just about anyone else, really, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. Here's the story.

Sometimes, you just have to escape from the dry world of work and immerse yourself into the sounds, and smells, and energy of the natural world. I do it regularly, and always come out energized. Join me.

We've all heard of 3D printers being used to create toys and novelty items. But what happens when we start printing living tissue?

Perhaps I'm channeling Sheldon Cooper a bit too much, but I am fascinated by lichens--those crusty organisms that form colorful mosaics on rock faces, cemetery stones, trees, and old fence lines. But here's what's interesting: thy are actually two organisms living as a single symbiotic creature, and they can survive under the harshest conditions imaginable--including in outer space.

In Richard Holmes' "The Age of Wonder" (one of the best books I have ever read), we meet the remarkable people who lived on the edge of scientific discovery--and who ultimately changed the world--during the Romantic Age. Every scientist he profiles had a best friend, and in most cases, those friends were artists, poets, authors, and dreamers. Who said the arts and sciences don't need each other?

Some thoughts about technology, vision, and leadership--all while hiking in the high country of New Mexico. Sorry for being breathless!

Fire Protection Engineer and old friend Pete Mulvihill joins me for a far-ranging conversation about the power of knowledge and curiosity.

They may drive you more than little crazy in the summertime, but the little critters that surround us are pretty smart--and they're remarkable engineers, to boot.

We are watching a natural tragedy unfold across the globe: the deaths of millions of amphibians, frogs, mostly, because of an insidious fungus called chytrid. It burrows under the skin of frogs and destroys their ability to produce keratin--a critical component of their skin. But the loss of frogs is only part of the story--please listen, this is important.

A far-ranging discussion about the destructive impact of science disbelief.

Thoughts on the value of Big Data from friend and engineer Pete Mulvihill.

On the power of curiosity with Fire Protection Engineer Pete Mulvihill.

Just a few minutes of music from one of our most beautiful birds, the Northern Cardinal.

Black vultures flapping and squabbling, with a sharp-shinned hawk alarming at my approach.