The Science of Sizzling: Experimenting with the Perfect Bacon Cook Method
When I moved into my house in Tucson, a good friend gave me this statue as a housewarming gift. He is St. Anthony, a 4th-century hermit. Unfortunately, he was tormented by the devil, who took the form of a pig. Consequently, the persevering saint was named the patron saint of bacon and butchers. As a […]
A Rare Find! All About the Rustic Sphinx Moth
A friend shared a captivating photo of a uniquely patterned and stunning moth on social media. The sheer beauty of this moth piqued my curiosity. Unlike the dedicated scientist that I am, Allison hadn’t identified her moth. I was so intrigued that I would have postponed my grocery shopping until I knew more about this […]
A Tale of Unexpected Tortoises
Caring for my diverse group of tortoises, which includes four different species, is a constant challenge. I make a conscious effort to keep the sexes apart, as I don’t want to deal with the responsibility of finding homes for their offspring. The winter months bring another set of challenges, as I need to bring most […]
Monitors: From Lizards to Screens and Beyond
My writing workplace is in need of a new mouse pad, as the one with iguanas of the world has faded. At the Tucson Reptile Show, I stumbled upon a unique find: a mouse pad that humorously showcases the word ‘monitor’ in various contexts. This pad, in a way, reflects the complexity and versatility of […]
An Enchanting Tale of Birdwatching and Mockingbirds
As I navigate the captivating landscape of the Sonoran Desert, always on the lookout for intriguing subjects for my Fun Fact videos, I am constantly amazed by the unique beauty of this environment. The other day, while enjoying a leisurely ride with my horse Poncho around the stables area (his preferred spot over the arena), […]
Adventures in Algae!
I’ve been having trouble with algae growth in my pool this summer. My crawling pool cleaner broke and was removed for repairs—it hasn’t returned. The temperatures have regularly been around 110 degrees. Of course, this means my pool is a very comfortable 96 degrees. I like a hot pool, so this aspect is great. I […]
Spectacular Saguaros!
The saguaros, Carnegiea giganteus, are magnificent on the property where I board my horses. The owner has a cactus garden, a vibrant and diverse collection of desert flora, featuring many multi-armed saguaros. I love riding by and examining them. My horse lets me get so much higher for those closer looks. It’s truly fascinating how […]
The Omnivorous Adventures of My Red-Footed Tortoises
Many tortoises are vegetarians, but my red-footed tortoises are a unique bunch. They roam free throughout my house, enjoying the heat lamp and UVB basking light I’ve set up for them. They seem to have a sixth sense for when I’m preparing a meal in the kitchen. The three red-footeds (Myrtle, Gladiola, and Rose) make […]
Tales of Turtles: A Look into the World of Sea and Freshwater Turtles
Many places in the world have sea turtles, which live in the ocean, and freshwater turtles, which live on land, often in lakes and rivers. These two types of turtles have significant morphological differences. Sea turtles have flippers instead of hands and feet. Those turtles dwelling out of the ocean have hands with fingers and […]
Meet the Desert Iguana!
While wandering through nature the other day, I passed an exciting hole-up in Marana. Fortunately, the occupant came out to greet me. I was delighted to meet a desert iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. All About the Desert Iguana Dipsosaurus comes from the Greek for thirsty lizard, while dorsalis comes from the Latin for spike. The lizard […]
My Desert Oasis
Living in the Sonoran Desert, I realize the importance of water. Many animals have adapted to getting the water they need from their food. However, an article suggested setting up a bird bath for the local avians. It suggested a shallow dish with a few rocks to show the birds how deep the water is. […]
The Science of a Sunset
Tucson is known for its spectacular sunsets. One survey ranked them second only to Key West’s sunset over the ocean. I think it was the ocean that got them the top spot. Color-wise, Tucson’s sunsets cannot be beaten, especially if you add those iconic saguaros. These vibrant colors are a result of a fascinating natural […]
Whose Paw Left a Print?
I have a natural desert dirt driveway. Most neighbors have opted for fancy rock, but I like the natural substrate. I have holes dug by round-tailed squirrels and tarantulas. (You can read about the squirrels digging holes in my book, Squirrels of the Sonoran Desert). I love the footprints the most. I see where birds […]
The New Color of Spring!
Last year, I wrote about the color of the Sonoran Desert Spring being yellow. Spring had been yellow for many years. However, this year, the color of spring was pink! The Palette of Spring 2024 This year, the desert landscape was festooned with the yellow flowers of the palo verde trees as usual, but the […]
Elaine Powers, self-published author, is Pima Library’s summer writer-in-residence
Science-loving author Elaine Powers is this summer’s writer in residence at the Pima County Public Library. Powers will be hosting one-on-one meetings with community members as well as three workshops through July 29, which will cover self-publishing, writing about the moon, and writing about science – or any facts – for children. “Apparently people have […]
Who is in the Hole?
I was taking Max, my dog, for a walk one evening. The setting sun illuminated a new hole in my dirt driveway. The hole was surrounded by something that glistened in the angled sun. When I got near, I saw that the opening was covered with what looked like spider silk. Digging into the Mystery […]
Kermit the Ancestor
Since I wrote that book on the dinosaurs found in Arizona, Dinosaurs Roamed Arizona, I’ve been intrigued by ancient fossils. Reptiles are pretty easy to find in ancient fossils, but amphibians are much more difficult. Reptiles had scales that endured the fossilization process; amphibians had water-permeable skin that degraded too quickly. Kermit the Fossil That’s […]
Vincent van Gecko
The name of a newly discovered lizard has combined science and art in a unique way, resulting in a heavenly name. The lizard’s name is a nod to the famous painting ‘Starry Night’ by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, known for its bright yellow spots on a blue background. Starry Gecko When scientists discovered a […]
The Hedgehogs of the Sonoran Desert
Before the dog days of 2023, the only mammal I wanted as a pet was a hedgehog. However, every time I got the urge to purchase a captive-bred hedgie, I’d remember that they were nocturnal. Sellers say you can interact with your hedgehog as they awake at dinnertime for some fun before bed. I prefer […]
Observations at a Street Fair
From March 22-24, 2024, I had a booth at the 55th annual 4th Avenue Street Fair. This exciting event brings over 300,000 people to shop for an incredible variety of arts and goods and enjoy diverse and delicious food. I have several art pieces from my visits to previous fairs in my home. Joining in […]
The Science of… Oatmeal?
Do you ever think about the physics in action within your breakfast? Sometimes, I do, especially after a spectacular failure, like when I attempted to microwave oatmeal. The day before, I boiled some oatmeal for my dog. He was taking antibiotics, and I could tell they were bothering his stomach. I thought maybe oatmeal might […]
Prey of the Hawk!
They hunt as a pack, led by the dominant female. Working together, they can subdue larger prey than an individual can, providing a feast for the entire family. However, pack isn’t the term used for a group of birds. But the flock doesn’t seem strong enough. All About Harris’s Hawks These effective hunters are Harris’s […]
A Pennaraptorans for Your Thoughts
I recently learned about Penneropterans. They are not people who like to eat penne pasta! Maybe ‘opt’ refers to optics? Nope, they are not people who want to look at penne pasta, either! No, Penneropterans is a misspelling of Pennaraptora. What’s a Pennaraptora? The Pennaraptora clade refers to the group of dinosaurs who developed feathers. […]
An Old Fossil Publishes a Dinosaur Book!
Every festival, I’m asked if I have any books about dinosaurs. Up until now, I’ve had to say no. However, if a topic is requested often enough, what is an author to do but write one? Sure, there are books about dinosaurs, but how about books about the dinosaurs found in Arizona? Once again, I […]
It’s Festival Time Again!
Tucson is known for nature, music, and food. As a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, Tucson will feed your body. Nature and open spaces provide sustenance for your soul. For your mind, Tucson has the Festival of Books! My books offer a particularly nourishing mental feast with chunks of information in a rich sauce of […]
Choose Another Corner!
I live in a good-sized house. It has four bedrooms and two large living room areas with many corners. Having corners is very important to my family. This makes more sense when you know that most of my family members are reptiles: lizards, turtles, and tortoises. Free to Roam (and Fight) The tortoises are free-roaming. […]
Writer’s Block? Nevermore!
I finished off 2023 at my favorite writing retreat: a trip back home. I returned to my hometown of Peoria, IL, where I was born and raised. It’s where my first creative endeavors were encouraged and nourished. Even though I have no desire to live in central Illinois again, it is an excellent place to […]
November: Gone in a NaNo Second!
For many writers, November is the month for NaNoWriMo. This event encourages people to put 50,000 words towards any novel. Unfortunately, I usually start the month doing great, meeting or exceeding my desired word count daily. However, November tends to be a hectic month for me in the other areas of my life. I have […]
That’s a Pile of Horse Poo!
A friend and I rode in the Sitgreaves National Forest near Overgaard, AZ. Located in the southern parts of Navajo, Coconino, and Apache counties, it has an area of 818,749 acres. The trails we were riding were known for their abundance of wildlife, including mustangs or wild horses that lived there. It is also a […]
As Fast as a Tortoise
At Iguanaland in Punta Gorda, FL. I met a very friendly Aldabra tortoise named Aly. Aly was enjoying a graze of the grass when I strolled by. She looked up, saw me, and rushed over. Okay, ‘rushed’ is an exaggeration. Even though she was moving towards me with purpose, it was more of an amble. […]
