Author Archives: Roger Gosden

About Roger Gosden

A British/ Canadian/ American scientist specializing in reproduction & embryology whose career spanned from Cambridge to Cornell's Weill Medical College in NYC. Married to Lucinda Veeck, the embryologist for the first successful IVF team in America. They retired to Virginia, where he became a master naturalist and writer affiliated with William & Mary. He also writes on Substack at What’s Hot in Fertility? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Gosden

Cold Finger

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Roger Gosden

The last time we had a really cold snap like last week I dug up something unexpected in my backyard. It was not as exciting as a human skeleton, but nonetheless interesting. I was digging frozen turf with a sharp … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia | Tagged Audrey Smith, cryobiology, Raynaud's phenomenon, science, wood frog | 1 Comment

Shifting Baselines

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Roger Gosden

In 1608 Captain John Smith led a crew of fourteen to explore the Chesapeake Bay in a shallop brought over from England in the hold of the Susan Constant. Leaning over the side of the small craft they could see … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged American chestnut tree, Captain John Smith, Chesapeake Bay, Chief Seattle, Daniel Pauly, Forests, Gaudineer Scenic Area, George Washington, Global warming, naturalist, Ocean health, science, Shifting baselines | Comments Off

Christmas Birds

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Roger Gosden

Our friends and neighbors turned up early for a hand-out on Christmas Eve in Williamsburg. They looked snug in their colored winter jackets and were eager for suet, seed, and nuts. I recorded them in my FeederWatch tally sheet—northern cardinals, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia | Tagged birds, Christmas, ornithology, robin | 2 Comments

In a Nutshell

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Roger Gosden

“This chestnut orchard (or forest as one may call it) spread along the mountainside as far as the eye could see. The expanse of broad-topped, fruitful trees was interspersed with a string of villages of stone houses. The villages were … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomedical, Other | Tagged agronomy, almond, Appalachia, chestnut, Corsica, food supply, grain cereals, Green Revolution, horticulture, low carb diet, Malthus, nut trees, permanent agriculture, Russell Smith | 6 Comments

Another Remembrance Day

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Roger Gosden

Veterans Day came round again last week. It brought to mind a boy standing in the drizzle beside a war memorial near London on what is called Remembrance Day over there. I have a black and white picture in my … Continue reading →