James Gaines

Contributor
James Gaines
James Gaines (@the_jmgaines) is a freelance science journalist in Seattle, Washington. His work has appeared in outlets such as Nature, LiveScience, GOOD, Upworthy, and Atlas Obscura. He once had an alligator snapping turtle as a pet for about two hours.
Author Articles
pigeons flying
Creature

Iron Deposits in Pigeon Ears are Useless for Navigating

New research suggests the birds must sense Earth's magnetic field using some other part of their anatomy.
James Gaines, Contributor
artist's rendering of a pterosaur
Creature

Fossil from Police Raid Reveals Spectacularly Preserved Pterosaur

The flying reptile was among hundreds of fossils recovered by police in 2013.
James Gaines, Contributor
Humboldt glacier
Earth

Glaciers Are Disappearing and So Too Might the Microbial Ecosystems Within

As climate change melts away frozen landscapes, scientists rush to discover all they can about the tiny organisms that thrive on ice.
James Gaines, Contributor
Landscape with jagged, red-tinged rocks, in a dry climate with brush in the background.
Earth

Tiny Crystals Point to Date Plate Tectonics Began

Scientists link the start of movements in the Earth's crust to increasing amounts of aluminum in crystals about 3.6 billion years ago.
James Gaines, Contributor
Earth

Making Salty Water Drinkable Also Makes Brine

Desalination's leftovers may negatively affect oceans and ecosystems.
James Gaines, Contributor
Earth

The Decline of the Largest Aspen Colony in the World

Despite conservation efforts, close assessment of Pando reveals significant losses. 
James Gaines, Contributor
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