Birds’ dazzling iridescence tied to nanoscale tweak of feather structure
December 21, 2021 ・ Morgan KellyThe iridescent shimmer that makes birds such as peacocks and hummingbirds so striking is rooted in a natural nanostructure so complex that people are only just beginning to replicate it technologically. The secret to how birds produce these brilliant colors…
Joe Kawalec ’21 looks skyward in search of a tiny ecosystem engineer
May 11, 2021 ・ Morgan KellyThe two years Princeton Joe Kawalec spent studying the natural camouflage of the ubiquitous downy woodpecker oddly enough began and ended the same way — tracing the outlines of birds. In between, he observed patterns in tree bark through the ultraviolet…
From muddy boots to mathematics: Advancing the science of ecosystems and biodiversity
August 14, 2020 ・ Morgan KellyPrinceton’s vital research across the spectrum of environmental issues is today and will continue to be pivotal to solving some of humanity’s toughest problems. Our impact is built on a long, deep, broad legacy of personal commitment, intellectual leadership, perseverance…
PEI awards new Climate and Energy Challenge projects, from the natural color-scape to the right words for climate change
June 29, 2020 ・ Morgan KellyFour new projects funded by the Climate and Energy Grand Challenge program will explore topics such as the environmental impact of turbulence from offshore wind turbines, the effect of climate change on the natural color-scape, the efficient production of jet…
Wild hummingbirds see a broad range of colors humans can only imagine
June 25, 2020 ・ Liz Fuller-WrightTo find food, dazzle mates, escape predators and navigate diverse terrain, birds rely on their excellent color vision. “Humans are color-blind compared to birds and many other animals,” said Mary Caswell Stoddard, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology…
Senior Cole Morokhovich’s unexpected path to studying what hummingbirds could tell us about climate change
May 7, 2020 ・ Morgan KellyPrinceton senior Cole Morokhovich still marvels at the possibility that his academic path may have come down to one five-minute window. Having come to Princeton with a focus on pre-medicine, he had taken most of the required courses and declared…
Photo exhibition explores 25 years of Princeton environmental education, research
September 17, 2019 ・ Morgan KellyFrom the oceans to the forests, from diseases to natural disasters, Princeton faculty and students are carrying out research crucial to understanding and preserving our planet. Those efforts are the centerpiece of an exhibition celebrating environmental research and education at…
Hummingbirds dive to dazzle females in a highly synchronized display
December 18, 2018When it comes to flirting, animals know how to put on a show. In the bird world, males often go to great lengths to attract female attention, like peacocks shaking their tail feathers and manakins performing complex dance moves. These…
Stoddard receives Packard Fellowship for early-career scientists
October 15, 2018 ・ Morgan KellyMary Caswell “Cassie” Stoddard, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) associated faculty, was one of 18 researchers nationwide to receive a David and Lucile Packard Foundation Fellowship for Science and Engineering, which is awarded to…
