Sarah Waller

Northwest Scientist Discovers Unlikely Father

Sarah Waller — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:05:55 +0000

There are lots of great dads out there. Not all of them are human. Lissa Ongman is an animal scientist who grew up in Woodinville, Wash. She's known two great models of fatherhood in her life. One was her own dad. The other came from a place she never expected.

Ancient Ritual Kept Alive Through Northwest Trees

Sarah Waller — Fri, 31 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

There are about 1,000 trees in the Northwest that share something in common. You’d never guess what it is just by looking at them. Some are tiny fruit trees. Others are towering cedars. But, under the soil, they’re connected to the same ancient ritual.

Scientists Peek Into The Hidden World Of Tree Roots

Sarah Waller — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:57:08 +0000

When you think of a tree, you probably think of the trunk and all those parts you see above ground. But there’s a whole lot more going on under the soil than meets the eye. Scientists are now digging into the hidden world of tree roots in an effort to illuminate some unexplained mysteries.

Carving Music Out Of Northwest Trees

Sarah Waller — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:50:00 +0000

Before it ever made music, this guitar was a tree. Or more precisely, it was several trees. When you listen to a guitar like this, you may think you’re hearing the strings. But, you’re not. The strings themselves make very little sound. For the most part, you’re hearing the vibration of wood itself. It takes a special kind of wood to give an instrument its unique voice. It’s called tonewood – and the Northwest is home to some of the most prized varieties in the world.

Found A Dead Bird? Science Could Use It

Sarah Waller — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 01:57:47 +0000

THUD. It’s the sickening sound of a bird hitting your window. You hope it’s just stunned; that it will fly off. But there it is: A motionless lump of feathers on the ground. Before you bury it or toss it in the trash, consider an alternative. Some Seattle residents are donating these avian casualties to science.

Seattle Woman's Great Aunt Faced Tough Decision On The Titanic

Sarah Waller — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:16:56 +0000

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Most people who boarded the luxury ocean liner didn’t survive the trip. For some, the only thing separating survival and drowning was a split-second decision.

Now, 100 years after the tragedy, a Seattle woman wonders what she would do if she had been in her relative's shoes on the night of the sinking.

Pink Dolphins In The Trees

Sarah Waller — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:57:48 +0000

The Amazon River is home to a creature that looks like it was conjured out of a dream: pink river dolphins. They have long, toothy snouts, and adult males can turn bubblegum pink. But what really makes these creatures unique is their habitat. When the Amazon River floods each year, the surrounding forest fills with water. The dolphins are free to swim where no other dolphins do: among the tops of trees.