I’M BACK HOME in Montana for the Christmas break. It’s zero degrees at daybreak, no wind, clear day. It’s great to be on the ranch, but there is something I miss. This morning brought it back. In this holiday season when we show understanding toward others, it helps to know people who spend their lives […]

AT a conference last October, I listened to a speech by Gregory Benford, a respected biophysicist and acclaimed writer of science fiction. He noted that the 19th century had been dominated scientifically and culturally by chemistry, the 20th by physics, and predicted the 21st would be dominated by biology. Professor Benford is undoubtedly correct that […]

IT is easy to be an enthusiastic supporter of recycling, especially in Seattle. Recycling requires little effort from consumers and appears to eliminate waste and alleviate pressures on the environment. Recycling is an easy choice for those who believe it will always save money and resources. They have little problem equating it with conservation and […]