Welcome. I’m Eric Dorfman, President and CEO of The Linda Hall: Science Library and Arboretum in Kansas City MO. A long-standing curiosity drives me to ask questions about how collecting institutions advance cultural literacy, how nature surprises us, and how science is explained, celebrated and – sometimes – distorted or ignored.
This blog is where those threads meet. Strange and wonderful organisms, leaders who shaped history and what research has revealed about their actions, the process of science. The pieces below offer a good place to begin. They reflect what I’ve been thinking about most recently, and how I approach the world.
On Becoming Human
A behind-the-scenes look at curating a museum’s human evolution exhibit, and a closer look at whether intellect really makes us as special as we think.
Are Octopuses Aliens? Debunking Extraterrestrial Theories
A thoughtful analysis of the once-seriously suggested theory that octopus intelligence is of extraterrestrial origin.
Understanding Seasonal Lag: Why Winter is Not Coldest
Earth’s oceans and land absorb heat slowly, delaying peak cold and heat weeks past the solstices, a lag climate change is now reshaping.
Understanding Caligula: The Role of Illness and Power
From promising youth to sadistic excesses, Emperor Caligula’s madness was a combination of illness, environmental toxins, and absolute power.
The Hoatzin: Celebrating One of Nature’s Oddities
A tribute to the Hoatzin, a unique bird with ancient traits and a distinctive lifestyle, highlighting the marvels of evolutionary quirks.
Counting Your Chickens: The World’s Most Numerous Bird
An exploration of the staggering global chicken population and its implications for our understanding of the Anthropocene.
That’s the tour. There’s more tucked away in the shelves and corners if you’re the type who likes to keep poking around. And if you want more longer-form content, see my books, or The Attentive Naturalist on Substack.
ERIC DORFMAN 