Barbara J. King
NPR
Virginia, United States
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Past articles by Barbara:
'How Fast Did T. rex Run?' and other questions about dinosaurs examined in new book
British paleontologist David Hone set out to write a book that stresses what isn't yet known about dinosaurs — as much as what is known. → Read More
'An Immense World' dives deep into the umwelt of animals
Pulitzer prize-winning science journalist Ed Yong writes in a perfect balance of scientific rigor and personal awe as he invites readers to grasp something of how other animals experience the world. → Read More
This Earth Day, one book presents global warming and climate justice as inseparable
It's still an open question to what degree our planet will remain habitable in the coming years. Elizabeth Cripps offers an urgent message in What Climate Justice Means and Why We Should Care. → Read More
Jane Goodall encourages all to act to save Earth in 'The Book of Hope'
The primatologist says it's crucial that young people know how positive action can still shift the frightening trajectories of climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and the ongoing global pandemic. → Read More
Susan Orlean writes about her fascination with all kinds of creatures in 'On Animals'
Orlean's descriptions of the animals on the Hudson Valley farm where she once lived may evoke a warm feeling — but those of donkeys in Fez and others in her essays may conjure other emotions. → Read More
'Graceland, At Last' Juxtaposes The Good And The Bad In The American South
Writer Margaret Renkl's sense of joyful belonging to the South co-exists with her intense desire for Southerners who face prejudice or poverty finally to be embraced and supported. → Read More
Friendship Between A Woman And A Fox Leads To Transformation In 'Fox & I'
The very antithesis of a fox-taming tale, Catherine Raven's memoir shows us that we are surrounded by wild animals who make thoughtful decisions and experience joys and sorrows on their own terms. → Read More
We've Been Evolving For Millions Of Years, So Why Are Our Bodies So Flawed?
In his debut book Evolution Gone Wrong, Alex Bezzerides mixes the technical anatomical stuff we need to know with vivid examples and humorous phrases — in offering us some answers. → Read More
'Mom Genes' Aims To Examine Biological Transformations Of Motherhood
Abigail Tucker's descriptions of how radically women may change at the time of motherhood — and, as an extension, how this might affect their ability to focus on other things — gets pretty harrowing. → Read More
There Are So Many Flavors Of Potato Chips; 'Hooked' Looks At Why
Investigative reporter Michael Moss explores how some food companies tweak their products to take advantage of evolved biology, creating room for novelty that triggers the brain to make us want more. → Read More
'Exercised' Explains Why It Can Be Hard To Commit To Working Out — And Why We Should
How many steps do you walk each day? If you live in the U.S. and can claim more than 4,774 steps daily, you're exceeding the average American's → Read More
'Exercised' Explains Why It Can Be Hard To Commit To Working Out — And Why We Should
Harvard University's Daniel Lieberman looks at exercise from an evolutionary point of view, concluding that we evolved to limit our physical activity where possible, saving it for survival activities. → Read More
In 'Fevers, Feuds And Diamonds,' Paul Farmer Breaks Down Assumptions About Ebola
The anthropologist and physician teaches that the world needs not only medicine, but something more — a rejection of global racial inequalities and serious investment in the care of all people. → Read More
'Kindred' Dismantles Simplistic Views Of Neanderthals
Rebecca Wragg Sykes describes evidence showing that as innovative tool- and fire-makers, Neanderthals adapted to changing climates, adopted symbolic cultural practices and expressed profound emotions. → Read More
Ever Wonder 'What It's Like To Be A Bird'? David Allen Sibley Has Some Answers
"A bird's experience is far richer, complex, and 'thoughtful' than I'd imagined." This sentence on t → Read More
Ever Wonder 'What It's Like To Be A Bird'? David Allen Sibley Has Some Answers
David Allen Sibley's name is synonymous with his bird field guides. In researching this volume, he became convinced of something new: Birds make complex decisions and experience emotions. → Read More
In 'Becoming Wild,' Carl Safina Takes Us Inside The Cultures Of Animals
Combining the knowledge of a seasoned scientist and the skills of a good storyteller, the ecologist-author invites us to leave our cultural worlds and enter some animal ones to see just how they work. → Read More
In 'Becoming Wild,' Carl Safina Takes Us Inside The Cultures Of Animals
Combining the knowledge of a seasoned scientist and the skills of a good storyteller, the ecologist-author invites us to leave our cultural worlds and enter some animal ones to see just how they work. → Read More
'Giants Of The Monsoon Forest' Explores The Lives Of Working Elephants In Asia
With details at once compelling and disturbing, geographer Jacob Shell describes the lives of the elephants of mountainous Myanmar and northeastern India that haul timber or transport people. → Read More
'Underland' Connects Us To Dazzling Worlds Beneath Our Feet
The beauty of Robert Macfarlane's writing, and of the natural world it describes, is immense. His words also act as a warning, ensuring a recognition of human harms to the environment. → Read More