Quokkas were first described by the Dutch sea captain Willem de Vlamingh, who reported finding “a kind of rat as big as a cat” on the island. The crew named the quokkas’ island Ratte nest (“rat’s nest”), then promptly sailed away, presumably toward something more inviting. The quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is the only member of … Continue reading “Short Reading: Quokkas”
Month: October 2024
Short Reading: Naming the Planets
In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods and had an honored place in Rome’s pre-Christian religion. Mythology also held that Rome’s legendary founders, Romulus and Remus, were born of the warlike god Mars, himself Jupiter’s son. Similarly, “Mother Earth” and “Mother Nature” have roots in Greek mythology. Gaia was the Greek goddess … Continue reading “Short Reading: Naming the Planets”