Olivia L. Dobbs
Bio
Science Enthusiast, Naturalist, Dreamer, Nerd.
I crosspost my Medium articles here :)
You can find my main account on Medium: https://medium.com/@oliviadobbs13
Check out my science! -> bit.ly/DobbsEtAl
Stories (96/0)
Breaking Barriers: The Historic Encounter — Scientists Engage in the First-Ever Conversation with Whales
Late in 2023, scientists made yet another breakthrough that made our modern era seem a smidge more sci-fi. To better understand non-human communication, scientists from UC Davis used playbacks of whale recordings to talk with a female humpback whale named Twain and, amazingly, it worked. Twain echoed back distinct calls and moved about in response to the whale sound recordings. This incredible milestone is already making waves in the scientific community — especially in animal behavior and astrobiology.
By Olivia L. Dobbs3 months ago in Earth
5 Ethical Ways to Use AI to Enhance Your Writing Process
Should you mention ChatGPT in a room full of writers, you’d be hard-pressed to not see at least one of them bristle. For many of us, the mainstream-ification of AI is horrifying. That’s deeply valid, considering how close it is to generating human writing already. The concept of automation of human thought and expression feels rather dystopian, for good reason, it does have the potential to be dystopian if not addressed properly.
By Olivia L. Dobbs3 months ago in 01
How to Successfully Keep Your New Year’s Resolution: 10 Science-Backed Tips for Long-Term Success
New Year’s celebrations have come and went and we are, once again, on a precipice of a new beginning. On this momentous occasion, it’s almost poetic to begin anew, motivated to grow with the impending spring growth.
By Olivia L. Dobbs4 months ago in Lifehack
Interested in Learning More About Biology and Nature This Year? Read These 10 Books:
Nonfiction deserves a lot more love — it’s the gateway to intellectual fun, knowledge, and exploration! Unfortunately, it often gets a bad rap for being dull and stuffy. But fear not, dear reader, this list breaks free from that stereotype. Whether you’ve resolved to read more nonfiction, you’re eager to dive into the wonders of biology, or you simply have a deep love for nature, these books below are absolute must-adds to your reading list.
By Olivia L. Dobbs4 months ago in BookClub
Year in Review — The Coolest Scientific Advancements and Discoveries of 2023
2023 has been a tremendous year for science and technology. The rate at which we’re learning and improving is mind-boggling. It’s been such a prolific year for advancement, in fact, that you likely have missed some of the most incredible ways scientists improved our collective knowledge this year. Interested in reminiscing on the incredible advancements this year has brought? Read on below to discover the Top 40 coolest scientific and technological advancements and discoveries that occurred in 2023, definitively ranked.
By Olivia L. Dobbs4 months ago in Earth
We Are Tremendously Close to the De-Extinction of the Dodo Bird
In our lifetimes, we may see extinction counteracted by genetic advancement — only in my wildest dreams did I think I might one day type those words to begin a nonfiction article. Modern genetics already felt dangerously close to sci-fi with Dolly the Sheep and CRISPR. But, now, biotech has the potential to undo the wrongs of the human past, nullifying the species we eradicated as we colonized our way across the globe. Truly, we’ve almost reached a near Jurassic Park level of genetic ability, and the revelations obtained by approaching it already have incredible potential to improve our world.
By Olivia L. Dobbs4 months ago in Earth
Is the COVID-19 Pandemic Over Or Are We Just Letting This Be Our New Normal?
In the middle of May 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States declared the end of COVID-19’s public health emergency. After a wide swath of folks from the United States received vaccinations and/or gained protection after previous infections, the acute number of hospital admissions declined, leading to a less stressed healthcare system. That factor, combined with an improved understanding of the disease and better treatment, has led to a better survival chance than it used to have.
By Olivia L. Dobbs5 months ago in Humans
Chimpanzees are Using Human-like War Strategy
A study published in early November 2023 altered the way we perceive the intelligence of chimpanzees. Though it was previously known that the species engaged in some war-like activities between groups, scientists working in Côte d’Ivoire reported behavior much more sophisticated: chimpanzees are engaging in reconnaissance and surveillance.
By Olivia L. Dobbs5 months ago in Earth
10 Wild Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Virginia Opossums
In early November 2023, the internet was taken by storm by an incredible video of an opossum being dragged away off the field at the start of the second quarter of a college football game. The video quickly became memed by social media, celebrating the absolutely silly moment that had just aired on live television. It was truly a delight, the little fella baring its teeth as it dug its paws into the grass and was reluctantly pulled off the field.
By Olivia L. Dobbs5 months ago in Earth
The Hiccup Mystery: Exploring the Scientific Reasons Behind an Annoying Reflex
Weird fun fact about your author - I am exceptionally prone to hiccups. I’m talking about daily, unwarranted, random hiccups that plague me for a couple of minutes at a time, and it’s been like that since I was young. It’s become a weird joke amongst friends - I hiccup on a schedule. To make it worse, for some reason, the other folks around me don’t ever hiccup! Frustrated, and sick of that nasty twitchy feeling in my chest, I set to the internet to figure out what on earth is up with my unfortunate, glitchy diaphragm.
By Olivia L. Dobbs6 months ago in Earth
Radical Grass-tivism: Reshaping your Home’s Plant Composition for a Better Future
Have you ever stopped to think about your lawn? It's more than just a patch of green – it's a vital part of your local ecosystem. The traditional approach of cultivating manicured lawns with non-native grass is a centuries-old tradition, but it's time to reevaluate its impact on the environment.
By Olivia L. Dobbs6 months ago in Earth