Sam Anderson

Sam Anderson

Sam Anderson takes any writing assignments he can talk his way into while intermittently traveling the American West and Mexico in search of margaritas — er, adventure. He parlayed a decade of roving trade work into a life of fair-weather rock climbing and truck dwelling before (to his parents' evident relief) finding a way to put his BA in English to use. Sam loves animals, sleeping outdoors, campfire refreshments and a good story.
a hamster wheel vessel resting on a beach

Knife-Wielding Florida Man Arrested in Homemade Hamster Wheel

A repeat offender in a hamster wheel — is...
a fat monkey

Plus-Size Primates: Study Finds Obese Humans Have Ample Company

Conventional wisdom says humans are “the fat primate.” A new...
electron microscope image of a three-noded object

Strange Ocean ‘Beads’ Suggest Interstellar Origin

Nestled deep underwater off the coast of Papua New...
a man and a dog travel up a wild river in a canoe

Justin Barbour Finishes First Leg of 3,800km Northern Journey

Northern explorer Justin Barbour recently reported the first major...
a man resting on a mountain against a gray sky

Weekend Warm-Up: Pride and Pointlessness in ‘Enchainment’

Climb to get records and capture fame, or climb...
two adult emperor penguins standing on sea ice with a chick in between

Unprecedented: Over 9,000 Emperor Penguin Chicks Die from Sparse Sea Ice

Emperor penguins have experienced a disastrous breeding failure, Antarctic...
a stone hand ax dating to at least 1.2 million years ago, with detail

Ancient ‘Workshop’ With 500+ Tools Operated by Mysterious Hominins

A dig in Ethiopia yielded an obsidian mother lode...
A black bear climbing rock

A Bear Climbed Half Dome!

Bears are great climbers; it’s a fact. That’s what makes...
nile crocodiles feeding

Bad News: Hungry Crocodiles Sense Stress in Infants Better Than Humans

Natural selection is an indifferent mother. Crying babies trigger...
Artist's impression of Venetorapter gassenae, a predecessor of the pterosaurs.

Researchers Discover ‘Edward Scissorhands’ Pterodactyl Predecessor

If the Venetorapter gassenae had regular hands, it would...
Annapurna iv skyline

Medieval Annapurna IV Landslide Would Have Pulverized This Nepal City

In the year 1190, something unusual happened: Annapurna IV...
Aonach Eagach Ridge

Hikers Die on Famed Highland Ridge, But Details Remain Unclear

Three hillwalkers, or hikers, died in the Scottish Highlands...
the roseate spoonbill is a long-legged pink bird with a long, flat bill

Northern U.S. Sees Wave of Strange Birds in Possible Global Trend

News flashed this week as one striking, pink-feathered aquatic...
a triangular reflective sail attached to tethers in space in front of a bright distant object

Space Parasol Tied to Asteroid Could Save Planet, Researcher Says

Yesterday at 105˚F in my central Texas city, I...
The two parka-wearing women from the film

Weekend Warm-Up: ‘Dare to Jam’ is Only Good if Personal Revelation Results

Climb in Zion long enough and you’re bound to...
loch ness monster

Nessie or ‘Eelie?’ Recent Intrigue Roils Loch Ness Legend

"Nessie." Generations of humans have experienced instant recognition of...
a climber high on a big wall above an icy sea

Weekend Warm-Up: Anything to Catch a Ride to the Horn of Upernavik

In a world gone mad for bouldering gyms, an...
top down view of a hemeted climber on a rocky peak

Climbers Touch Thajiwas Summit for First Time in 78 Years, But Urgent Rescue Ensues

The last time anyone stood atop Jammu and Kashmir’s...
two hungover men prepare to go bouldering

How To Find New Boulders to Climb: A Misguided Take on Good Advice

Once, there was only one way. Finding new rock to...

New Insights into Australia’s Ancient Humans

The planet’s first Australians lived on a continent wholly...
space rock near earth

New Moon Discovered Orbiting Earth

Why should Saturn and Jupiter have all the new...
findlay on lead, run out, hard moves, top down view

Weekend Warm-Up: Findlay’s Tin Foil Tactics For Dangerous Climbing

Muy Caliente! is dangerous and terribly hard. On a...
a satellite orbiting mars with earth in the background, artist's rendering

Watch the First Live-Stream From Mars Today

Cancel your viewing plans for Friday. You’re going to...
hvaldimir the beluga wearing his alleged spy harness

Russian Spy Whale Goes Rogue In Search of Most Dangerous Game

Agent 00-Blubber has struck again — though this time,...

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