Posts in Cabinet of Curiosities

Here's a fun thing I just learned: barnacle geese are so named because Medieval scholars believed they hatched from... goose barnacles! Read More  

If you're an adult fan of my science books for kids, there's a good chance you enjoy reading science books written for adults, too. Ed Yong's An Immense World is one of the best science books I've ever read... Read More  

I'm in Newfoundland right now, spotting wildlife and soaking up the justifiably-famous scenery. But did you know that Newfoundland's Memorial University also has the best folklore department in Canada? It's true - and here's a snippet from Dr. Barbara ... Read More  

For today's edition, some fun facts in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day! Read More  

Voices are noise, humanly noise—but what knows best in you is not of human shape or sound but of a stranger, wilder beast. Now it turns in your stomach, now it rends your chest. Tell the voices to shut ... Read More  

It's International Polar Bear Day! Since it's 2025, I've rounded up 25 cool facts about these icons of the Arctic, including a surprising discovery I helped make during in my former life as a wildlife geneticist. Is your favourite ... Read More  

Today's Cabinet of Curiosities is in honour of World Wetlands Day. I did a lot of research on wetlands for The Boreal Forest, much of which simply would not fit in the book. Here are some favourite facts about ... Read More