Maris Fessenden

 

Maris Fessenden is a freelance science writer and artist who appreciates small things and wide open spaces.

A beach closed during Lake Erie’s 2014 toxic algal bloom

Toxic Algae Blooms in Lake Erie Could Become the New Normal

Plans to reduce fertilizer runoff may not be enough to counter the blooms when climate change is taken into account

A black-and-white snub-nosed monkey

Monkeys Like Full Red Lips, Too

In snub-nosed monkeys, male lips plump up and redden as they age, likely to signify reproductive availability and social status

The young researchers noted a sharp increase in silly science published during the British Medical Journal's Christmas issue.

Scientists Increasingly Describe Their Research As "Astounding"

The eyebrow-raising finding is just one of several papers published in the British Medical Journal's traditionally lighthearted Christmas issue

Poltergeist and Quijote Are Among the New Approved Names for Alien Planets

People in 45 countries submitted ideas for naming exoplanets and their host stars after legends and literature

A spread of Russian zakuski or small dishes

Dine Behind the Iron Curtain With Soviet Era Recipes

A new cookbook explores a time of food shortages and standardization, colored with some nostalgia

NASA astronauts Scott Kelly (left) and Terry Virts (right) work on a day’s task on board the International Space Station

How Much Space Do Astronauts Need?

The answer could help design spacecraft for one day taking people on the months-long trip to Mars

The branching routes to Rome, as visualized by a design team

The Many Roads That Lead to Rome, Visualized

Caveat: not all cities named Rome are in Italy

Screenshot from Boogie Belgique - Ms. Yutani (official music video)

Take a Tour of Postwar Tokyo in the 1940s

High-quality archival footage makes a fascinating backdrop in a new music video

Robot, baby. Baby, robot.

New Robots Could Learn Like Children

A research team is teaching artificial minds to imitate and innovate like kids do during play

During the first two years of the team's studies, snow sealed the entrance to Snow Dragon cave. But in recent years, low snowpack has kept the entrance open year-round.

Behold the Beauty of Disappearing Glacier Ice Caves on Mt. Hood

Catch them before they're gone -- these tunnels and caverns may soon melt away

Surprising bright spots lurking in Ceres’ Occator crater, as spotted by the Dawn spacecraft

We Finally May Know the Cause of Ceres’ Bright Spots

It's not aliens

A dog mascot named Whisky in the arms of his captain Wolfgang Erhart on board a German ship in the harbor of New York in 1962

The British Navy Has a Long History of Adopting Animal Mascots

Ships’ pets included dogs, cats and some other animals that were more unusual

Detailed view of "Magic Circle Variation 5" with hand- and laser-cut paper

Cut Paper Sculptures Capture the Intricacy of Natural Architecture

Laser and hand cut papers arranged in layers evoke the patterns of microbes, moss, cells and more

Cities Are Letting Drivers Pay Parking Fines with Holiday Food Donations

Albany, Lexington, Boston and Tallahassee are all promoting the giving spirit

The informally named al-Idrisi mountains meet the smooth surface of Sputnik Planum in this image.

New Images Capture Pluto’s Mountains, Badlands and Craters in Breathtaking Detail

These images are "the best close-ups of Pluto that humans may see for decades," according to NASA

A lioness from the Marsh Pride in Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya, the group of lions that was poisoned

Bibi the Lioness, a BBC Star, Was Found Poisoned

Bibi and another unidentified lion killed by the poison were part of a pride that filmmakers followed for years

The cute-yet-contentious tardigrade

Tardigrades Stir Up Controversy and Showcase Science in Action

Rival scientists quickly challenge recently published research about water bears' mysterious genomes

Mount Etna's eruption on December 3, 2015 was powerful enough to produce volcanic lightning

Watch Mount Etna and Momotombo Erupt in All Their Glory

Photos and video catch the spectacular events in action

There’s a Philly Sign Language Accent

The unique signs used by people in Philadelphia hint at the history of sign language in the U.S.

An ultra-marathoner runs the Ultra tour de Mont Blanc

An Unexpected Effect of Ultra-Marathons: Brain Shrinkage

Don’t worry, it isn't permanent

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