Analog Nation

Apatosaurus pusillus, shown here at 125% magnification

The smallest dinosaur fossils ever found belong to Apatosaurus pusillus, known to archaeologists as the “pygmy bronto.” Native to the western regions of what would later become the North American continent, pygmy brontos lived during the Lower and Middle Jurassic periods. Adult males stood around three quarters of an [...]

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Since oar first met wave, we have looked to the night sky for guidance. Without the stars, navigation upon the open seas would never have been possible, and the horizon would have remained a distant dream. No wonder those ancient seafarers imbued the constellations with such rich histories. They were trusted friends and advisors. Different [...]

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While it is true that pretzels were first made by European monks nearly eight centuries ago, it was many years before they became a household staple. In fact, pretzels were never intended to be eaten at all. They were created as werewolf-bane, a ward against the lupine half-beasts that monks believed to be lurking behind [...]

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Language is a journey. Each word we speak has traveled from its origin, modulating in form and meaning as the miles progress. Oftentimes the route crosses continent and millennium alike, arriving in our dictionaries with an untold story. To understand our language, we must understand where our words came from.
The map of that journey [...]

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As baseball wraps up its season by announcing this year’s award winners, two new names have been added to one of the most prestigious lists in sports: recipients of the Cy Young Award. Given to the most outstanding pitcher in each league, the Cy Young will now grace the mantles of San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum [...]

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Orchid. For many botanists, the mere word is enough to quicken the pulse, widen the eyes and send the mind racing. These exotic treasures are a gift from nature, taking root in some of the most delicate ecosystems on Earth. Also, they kind of look like a woman’s mystery places.
Plant hunters will traverse the globe [...]

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