John Pickrell
Cosmos Magazine
Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Past articles by John:
Rewriting the history of feathered dinosaurs
Paleontologists thought they had a good idea of the diversity of these feathered carnivores. But a recent finding left them scratching their heads. → Read More
A guide to the sea snakes of Australia
Australia has an abundance of true sea snakes, with about half of the 70 or so named species found here. They have evolved to fill a wide variety of niches, and although many are not yet listed as endangered, populations are declining. → Read More
This dinosaur may have been a cannibal, gnarly bite marks reveal
Newly discovered fossils show that the fierce Allosaurus may have scavenged its own species, possibly in lean times. → Read More
Size matters: inside Australia’s National Measurement Institute
You’ve probably never heard of this national institute, but it’s got your measure every day from the moment you wake. → Read More
Rare long-necked dinosaur that roamed the polar world unearthed in Australia
Discovery of a single vertebra of an elaphrosaur in Victoria hugely expands known range of the group, which had teeth as juveniles but beaks as adults → Read More
Smoke from Australia's bushfires killed far more people than the fires did, study says
Exclusive: Poor air quality also contributed to more than 4,000 hospital attendances, new research in Medical Journal of Australia shows → Read More
This ‘wonderchicken’ walked the Earth with dinosaurs
An early ancestor to ducks and chickens waddled along the shores of modern-day Europe just before the asteroid impact that caused a global extinction event. → Read More
Wildfires have spread dramatically—and some forests may not recover
An explosion in the frequency and extent of wildfires worldwide is hindering recovery even in ecosystems that rely on natural blazes to survive. → Read More
Thousands of Ancient Aboriginal Sites Probably Damaged in Australian Fires
The sites are rich in cultural history, but the blazes might also reveal some unknown ones, say archaeologists → Read More
Australia's raging fires will create big problems for fresh drinking water
When huge quantities of ash wash into rivers, dams, and eventually the sea, they will likely pollute water supplies and kill aquatic wildlife. → Read More
As fires rage across Australia, fears grow for rare species
Plants and animals with small ranges and few individuals at high risk → Read More
Ghosts of Christmases past: where are all the Christmas beetles?
Do you remember when hordes of large, brightly coloured scarab beetles used to descend on Aussie summertime gatherings like mobile festive decorations? → Read More
Giant reptiles once ruled Australia. Their loss sparked an ecological disaster
Study finds that in the absence of apex reptiles, mammals began to decimate ecosystems → Read More
New discovery shows how T. rex kept its brain cool
It’s hard to keep big heads cool. Tissues rich with blood vessels solved the problem for some dinosaurs. → Read More
From the moon to deep beyond: Australia’s future in space exploration
What Australia’s fledgling space agency lacks in size it hopes to make up for with a smart operating strategy and a bold vision → Read More
Mass rodent poisoning on this remote Australian island could bring back giant stick insect
"Landmark" Lord Howe Island project alarms some residents but will likely save local fauna → Read More
Baby bird was born ready to run, fossil feathers reveal
A new look at a very old animal backs up the notion that dinosaur-era birds had to be quick on their feet. → Read More
Tim Flannery: people are shocked about climate change but they should be angry
The author and scientist, who has returned to his roots at the Australian Museum, says the world is about to see a major shift towards climate action → Read More
Strange fossil may be rare insect preserved in gemstone
The “incredibly unlikely object” has experts clamoring to study how it formed and what secrets it may reveal. → Read More
Wet and wild: why Australia must learn to love the animals on its beaches
Australia is in danger of loving some beaches to death. By fostering a passion for wildlife, we can turn the tide on degradation → Read More