Category Archives: The Wisdom of Loki (Biology Non-Fiction by Ptera Hunter)

Water Troubles

The Colorado River Is In Trouble.  The great river of the American West has headwaters in the marshes created by the snow-melts at La Poudre Pass (Colorado).  Soon afterwards, the water diversion projects begin. These water fields and provide life to communities.   Before leaving the Coyote Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park (also Colorado), aboutContinue reading “Water Troubles”

Oral Histories

Three are lots of oral histories collected from older people before they pass. The stories and events that one generation takes as granted become the history for the next. Here are a few oral history sites–some simple, some more in-depth–that might interest you. Library of Congress, Voices of Slaves Society of American Archivists: Oral HistoriesContinue reading “Oral Histories”

The Unforgivable Sin in Science: Fraud

Scientists are willing to forgive a lot of things, including getting an incorrect result or interpretation. Anyone can make a mistake. Statistical analyses are just that: by chance alone, we sometimes get things wrong. Acknowledging that you are wrong can even win a standing ovation at a scientific conference. In science, intentional fraud and misrepresentationContinue reading “The Unforgivable Sin in Science: Fraud”

Eroding Trust

Corporations and politicians have used lies, misinformation, and deceptive marketing campaigns to erode trust in the data and analyses of science. Tobacco marketers knew this when they weaponized their approach to “science.” They confused correlation and causation to make people doubt the link between smoking and cancer. Many corporations that depend upon fossil fuels wantContinue reading “Eroding Trust”

Passive Aggression Can Be Fun

OK, so this particular set of passive aggressive images is technically not really lying or deceit, but, in the the trickster, they are lots of fun. I think Loki would approve. Remember, deceit isn’t just about lying, it’s about what is said, what is left unsaid, and twists in understanding. Yes, Loki would definitely approveContinue reading “Passive Aggression Can Be Fun”

Humans Drive Mimicry in Crop Plants

As I’ve always said, plants are dirty, rotten liars. But sometimes, we are the blame for their bad behaviour. One of the first documented examples of plants lying to survive was that of a weedy grass that mimicked wheat. Eventually, we put enough selection pressure on it that it became a fine cereal crop, rye.Continue reading “Humans Drive Mimicry in Crop Plants”

Germs (Pathogens) Pretend to be Part of us

Immunologists and epidemiologists know that disease casusing organisms can make proteins that the body assumes belong to it. They use these forged molecular pass keys on the cellular docking ports that allow hormones and other messengers to regulate body activities. It now looks like their deception has another consequence: the body’s messengers can get caughtContinue reading “Germs (Pathogens) Pretend to be Part of us”