Mythic Salamander Faces Crucial Test: Survival in the Wild
By Sofia Castelló y Tickell October 30, 2012. The New York Times. MEXICO CITY — Aztec legend has it that the first axolotl, the feathery-gilled salamander that once swarmed through the ancient lakes of this city, was a god who changed form to elude sacrifice. But what remains of its habitat today — a polluted network of canals choked with hungry fish imported from another continent — may prove to be an inescapable threat. |
Mexico City’s Aztec Past Reaches Out to Present
By Elisabeth Malkin and Sofia Castelló y Tickell September 2, 2012. The New York Times. MEXICO CITY — The skeleton is that of a young woman, perhaps an Aztec noble, found intact and buried in the empire’s most sacred spot more than 500 years ago. Almost 2,000 human bones were heaped around her, and she is a mystery. There are other discoveries yet to be deciphered from the latest excavation site at the heart of this vast metropolis, where the Aztecs built their great temple and the Spanish conquerors laid the foundation of their new empire. |
The Importance of Spreading Science
By Sofia Castello y Tickell September 24, 2012. USA Today College. As raps on everything from particle physics to salt marshes populate the Internet, and creative podcasts and blogs become commonplace, the idea of science as comprehensible and entertaining is slowly coming to the fore. Young scientists who are already comfortable with the technology of constant communication are making an effort to put their knowledge out in the world — where some would argue it belongs. “There are more and more issues that confront us as citizens, as voters, even, in the voting booth, that hang on some kind of scientific or technical question,” said Cornelia Dean, former science editor of the New York Times. |