Szymon Drobniak
is an evolutionary biologist, researcher on colour, ornithologist, illustrator and author. A passionate fan of diagrams, cross-sections and pea soup. In his spare time, he collects roots (not the mathematical kind).
Czytaj
Full of Light
Full of Light
An Elusive Color
Magazine / science
White is a reflection of all the colors of the rainbow. This is probably why it is so difficult to find it in a perfect, unblemished form.
Czytaj
Orange Planet
Orange Planet
A Surprisingly Ubiquitous Color
Magazine / science
Positioned between red and yellow, this fiery hue is often hidden in plain sight—be it in the paint decorating the Golden Gate Bridge or on the leaves of most plants.
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The Chemistry of Tea
The Chemistry of Tea
How the Beverage Is Produced
Magazine / society
Behind the seemingly simple cup of tea—one of the world’s most popular infusions—lies a plethora of complex biochemical processes.
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For Your Eyes Only
For Your Eyes Only
The Physics of Rainbows
Magazine / science
The multicolored arches that appear in the sky are optical rather than physical phenomena—and as such are unique to the eyes of each viewer.
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The Chemistry of Blue
The Chemistry of Blue
How Plants and Animals Produce the Color
Magazine / society
It may feel like a ubiquitous presence in the sky and sea, yet the cerulean shade is surprisingly rare—and difficult to produce—among living organisms.
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The Mystery of the Eider
The Mystery of the Eider
An Argument for a Humanist Science
Magazine / science
Contemporary research papers are often stripped of emotion, but they needn’t be—as the joy of investigating colorful duck feathers shows.
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The Radiance (and Gloom) of Yellow
The Radiance (and Gloom) of Yellow
The Truth Behind Indian Yellow
Magazine / society
The colour yellow glimmers in the art of Giotto and Van Gogh, among others. Yet there is a more sinister story behind the pigment the painters used.
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In-gene-ious Solutions
In-gene-ious Solutions
The Biological Codes of Nature
Magazine / science
In the natural world, biological codes play an important evolutionary role in ensuring that animals communicate honestly – and continue to survive.
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Jungle Liars
Jungle Liars
On Mimicry in Nature
Magazine / science
The natural world is full of examples of mimicry, whereby animals adapt or change their appearance in order to deceive nearby threats.
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The Quack
The Quack
Nature’s Miracle Cures
Magazine / science
Zoopharmacognosy—the self-medicating behavior of birds and other animals—can teach us humans a lot about how to live in tandem with the natural world.
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Trees Die Twice
Trees Die Twice
On the Death of Plant Life
Magazine / science
Trees not only live much longer than humans and other animals – they also die differently, piece-by-piece, in a carefully-planned process.
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The Beauty Factory
The Beauty Factory
The Aesthetics of Nature
Magazine / science
Nature’s colours and mathematical structures are fascinating. Why do the works of nature delight us so much?
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To Know Beautifully
To Know Beautifully
Where Art and Science Meet
Magazine / science
Art and science might seem unconnected and dissimilar, yet the combination of these two disciplines is as wonderful as it is surprising.
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Parallel Rainbows
Parallel Rainbows
On Colour (and Its Limits)
Magazine / science
Human visual perception blesses us with only a glimpse of the light spectrum – for many animals, the colour world is a true sight to behold.
Czytaj
On Silver Film
On Silver Film
In Praise of Analogue Photography
Magazine / society
The act of taking an analogue photograph is the culmination of science, magic and technology – truly a moment to treasure.
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The Unbearable Fluidity of Being
The Unbearable Fluidity of Being
A Wet Trip to the Forest
Magazine / science
A trip to the forest gives us the chance to reflect on nature – in all its wet, blooming, perfumed springtime glory.
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From the Stars to Our Lungs
From the Stars to Our Lungs
The Great Atomic Cycle
Magazine / science
Every breath we take is comprised of recycled atoms, first released by stars and then used by countless other humans and animals.
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Hues of Our Own
Hues of Our Own
How We Perceive Colour
Magazine / science
A biologist explains how we perceive colour – and how those perceptions can be unique to each of us.
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Radiate and Drink
Radiate and Drink
Nature’s Heat Survival Strategies
Magazine / science
On hot summer days, we might hide inside the cool confines of our house. For many flora and fauna, such a luxury is impossible – they have their own biological techniques.
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Dog or Demon?
Dog or Demon?
The Grinning Devil
Magazine / science
Known for it’s bright white smile, the Tasmanian devil is one of the weird but wonderful marsupials that inhabits the Australian continent.