Forrest M. Mims III

Society for Amateur Scientists

The Citizen Scientist, which I edited for the Society for Amateur Scientists from 2003-2010, carried my columns about many aspects of science.

How to Make and Use Retroreflectors
In Country Scientist from MAKE: 35 pp.

How to Document what you Make or Discover
In Country Scientist from MAKE: 34 pp.

1. SELECTED SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

F. M. Mims III and R. Lopina, Ram Air as a Method of Rocket Control, Proceedings of the AIAA Guidance, Control and Flight Mechanics Conference, paper 70-970, August 1970.
 
F. M. Mims III, Relaxation Oscillators Provide Compact Drive for Injection Lasers, Electronics, 88-90, July 19, 1971.

F. M. Mims III, Eyeglass Mobility Aids for the Blind: Preliminary Report, Journal of the American Optometric Association, 43, 6, 673-676, 1972. (Invited paper.)

F. M. Mims III, An Infrared Eyeglass Mobility Aid for the Blind, Southwest IEEE Record, April 1972.

F. M. Mims III, Use LEDs, not Lasers, in Rangefinders, Electronic Design, 48-50. May 1972.

F. M. Mims III, An Active Infrared Mobility Aid for the Blind, Proceedings of the Electro-Optical Systems Design Conference, 14-18, June 1972.

F. M. Mims III, Operate Transistors in Avalanche Mode for Fast Pulses with High Current, Microwaves, 73, February 1973.

F. M. Mims III, Sensory Aids for Blind Persons, New Outlook for the Blind, 407-414, November 1973. (Invited general review paper.)

F. M. Mims III, Energy Radiating Mobility Aids for the Blind: Design Considerations and a Progress Report on an Eyeglass Mounted Infrared Aid, American Foundation for the Blind Research Bulletin, 27, 135-156, April 1974. (Invited paper.)

F. M. Mims III, LEDs Replace CRT in Solid-State Scope, Electronics, 110-111, June 26, 1975.

F. M. Mims III, Bidirectional Optoisolator, Electronics, 127, May 10, 1979.

F. M. Mims III, Optoelectronic Alarm Circuit is Time-Sensitive, Electronics, July 5, 1979.

F. M. Mims III, A Bright Future for Fiber Optic Communication, IEEE Potentials, 18-21, February 1984. (Invited general review paper.)

F. M. Mims III, The First Century of Lightwave Communications, International Fiber-Optic Communications, 10-26, February 1982. (Invited historical review paper.)

F. M. Mims III, Sunspots and How to Observe Them Safely, Scientific American, 262, 6, 130-133, June 1990,

F. M. Mims III, How to Monitor Ultraviolet Radiation from the Sun, Scientific American, 263, 2, 106-109, August 1990.

F. M. Mims III, A Remote-Control Camera that Catches the Wind and Captures the Landscape, Scientific American, 263, 2, 126-129, October 1990.

F. M. Mims III, Sun Photometer with Light-Emitting Diodes as Spectrally Selective Detectors, Applied Optics, 31, 33, 6965-6967, 1992.

F. M. Mims III, and E. R. Mims Fluctuations in Column Ozone During the Total Solar Eclipse of July 11, 1991, Geophysical Research Letters, 20, 5, 367-370, 1993. (Also a poster paper at the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium, University of Virginia, June 1992.)

F. M. Mims III, Satellite Monitoring Error, Nature, 361, 505, 1993.

F. M. Mims III, Project Halo: The Annular Solar Eclipse of 1994, EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 74, 18, 1, 1993.

F. M. Mims III, Project Halo: Measuring the 1994 Annular Solar Eclipse, Sky & Telescope, 102-104, January 1994.

F. M. Mims III, Exceptionally Low Ozone and High Solar UV Radiation at Texas, Proceedings of the Second Pan Pacific Cooperative Symposium on Impact of Increased UV-B Exposure on Human Health and Ecosystem, Kitakyushu, Japan, October 1993. (Invited paper.) (Also presented in part in both oral and poster papers at the Gordon Conference on the Impact of Volcanism on Global Climate, New England College, New Hampshire, 1993.)

F. M. Mims III, Measuring the Radiation at the Top of the Earth's Atmosphere, Science Probe 1, 2, 93-100, April 1991.

F. M. Mims III, Tracking the Ozone Layer, Science Probe 2, 4, 32-41, November 1992.

F. M. Mims III, How to Measure the Ozone Layer, Science Probe 2, 4, 45-51, November 1992.

F. M. Mims III, Surveying Your Environment, Science Probe 2, 4, 3, November 1992.

F. M. Mims III, In Defense of Radioactive Journals, Nature 359, 784, 1992.

F. M. Mims III, The Sun Photometer Atmospheric Network (SPAN): Observations of Record Low Ozone and Other Results of a 4-Year Pilot Study, Proceedings of the UV Index Meeting, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, November 1993. (Invited paper.)

F. M. Mims III, and John E. Frederick, Cumulus Clouds and UV-B, Nature 371, 291, 1994.

F. M. Mims III, Project Halo Update, Sky & Telescope, December 1994.

F. M. Mims III, Beware the glare of black light, New Scientist, 144, 1957/1958, 71-72, 1994.

F. M. Mims III, J. Ladd and R. Blaha, Increased Solar Ultraviolet-B Associated with Record Low Ozone Over Texas, Geophysical Research Letters 22, 227-230, 1995.

F. M. Mims III, William F. Barnard, Arthur C. Neuendorffer and Gordon J. Labow, Unusually Low Ozone Detected Over South-Central U.S. EOS 76, 113-115 (1995).

F. M. Mims III, Aerosol Optical Depth, Ultraviolet-B and Total Sky Irradiance during SCAR-B (Brazil), final report for NASA purchase order No. S-59036-Z, 1995.

F. M. Mims III, Smoke and Rainforests, Science 270, 5243, 1995.

F. M. Mims III, UV Radiation and Field Experiments, BioScience 46, 564-565, 1996.

F. M. Mims III, Biological Effects of Diminished UV and Visible Sunlight Caused by Severe Air Pollution, Proceedings of the International Radiation Symposium, Session 8, Fairbanks, Alaska, 19-24 August 1996, 905-908.

F. M. Mims III, Significant Reduction in UV-B Caused by Smoke from Biomass Burning in Brazil, Photochemistry and Photobiology, 64, 123-125, 1996.

F. M. Mims III, The Science that Happens through Partnerships, Proceedings of the Student-Scientist Partnership Conference, Washington, DC, 23-25 October, 1996.

F. M. Mims III, Aerosol Optical Thickness, Total Ozone, UV-B, Diffuse/Total Solar Irradiance and Sky Polarization Through Forest Fire Smoke and Stratospheric Aerosols During TOMS Overpasses, final report for NASA purchase order No. S-78417-Z, 1996.

F. M. Mims III, Hands-On Activities: The Better Approach to Teaching Biology, Journal of College Science Teaching 26, 377, 1997 (letter).

F. M. Mims III, and D. J. Travis, Aircraft Contrails Reduce Solar Irradiance, EOS 78, 448-449, 1997.

F. M. Mims III, B. N. Holben, T. F. Eck, B. C. Montgomery and W. B. Grant, Smoky Skies, Mosquitoes, and Disease, Science 276, 1774-1775, 1997.

F. M. Mims III, and Bradley S. White, Scientific Studies During the 1997 Burning Season at Alta Floresta, Brazil, final report for NASA purchase order S-97728-Z, 1997.

F. M. Mims III, Health effects of tropical smoke, Nature 390, 222-223, 1997.

F. M. Mims III, Solar corona caused by juniper pollen in Texas, Applied Optics 37, 1486-1488, 20 March 1998.

Brooks, David R., Forrest M. Mims III, Tran Nguyen, and Stephen Bannasch: Characterization of LED-based sun photometers for use as GLOBE instruments. Third Annual GLOBE Conference, Snowmass, Colorado, August 3-7, 1998.

F. M. Mims III, Ups and Downs of UV-B, BioScience 48, 646-648, August 1998 (invited book review).

F. M. Mims III, An Inexpensive and Accurate Student Sun Photometer with Light-Emitting Diodes as Spectrally Selective Detectors, Proceedings of the Third Annual GLOBE Conference, 232-239, August 1998.

F. M. Mims III, and David R. Brooks, Sampling strategies for the GLOBE Sun photometer network, Proceedings of the Fourth Annual GLOBE Conference, University of New Hampshire, July 1999 (www.globe.gov).

Brooks, David R., and Forrest M. Mims III: Calibration and Data Collection With the GLOBE Sun Photometer. Fourth Annual GLOBE Conference, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA, July 19-23, 1999.

Brooks, David R., Forrest M. Mims III, George Strachan, Susannah Kim, Jean Yeung, Brent Holben, Alexander Smirnov: Calibrating the GLOBE Sun Photometer. AGU Spring Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, May 31-June 4, 1999.

F. M. Mims III, Amateur Science--Strong Tradition, Bright Future, Science 284, 55-56, 1999.

F. M. Mims III, An International Haze-Monitoring Network for Students, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 80, 1421-1431, 1999 (cover article).

F. M. Mims III, Solar Radiometer with Light-Emitting Diodes as Spectrally-Selective Detectors, Optics and Photonics News 11, 3-4, 2000.

David R. Brooks and Forrest M. Mims III, Development of an inexpensive handheld LED-based Sun photometer for the GLOBE program, J. Geophysical Research 106, 4733-4740, 2001.

Marian Morys, Forrest M. Mims III, Scott Hagerup, Stanley Anderson, Aaron Baker, Jesse Kia and Travis Walkup, Design, calibration and performance of MICROTOPS II handheld ozone monitor and Sun photometer, J. of Geophysical Research 106, 14,573-14,582, 2001.

F. M. Mims III, Solar UV-B measured at the surface and inferred by satellite at a rural Texas site, 1994-2001, Proc. SPIE, Ultraviolet Ground- and Space-based Measurements, Models and Effects 4482, 177-186, 2001.

F. M. Mims III, Spectral Absorption and Response: Does the association of spectral absorption bands in sunlight with the spectral response of photoreceptors in plants imply coincidence, adaptation or design?, Progress in Complexity, Information and Design, 1, Winter 2002.

F. M. Mims III, An inexpensive and stable LED Sun photometer for measuring the water vapor column over South Texas from 1990 to 2001, Geophysical Research Letters 29, 20-1 to 20-4, 2002.

Forrest M. Mims III and David Brooks, Validation of remote-sensing satellites using inexpensive, ground-based instruments (GLOBE Annual Meeting, July 2002).

Brooks, David R., and Mims, Forrest M. III: The GLOBE Aerosol Monitoring Project: Where Are We Now and Where Do We Go From Here? GLOBE Seventh Annual Meeting, July 22-26, 2002.

Brooks, David R., Forrest M. Mims III, Arlene S. Levine, Dwayne Hinton, The GLOBE/GIFTS Water Vapor Monitoring Project:An Educator's Guide with Activities in Earth Sciences. NASA Publication EG-2003-12-06-LARC, 2003.

F. M. Mims III, Five years of photosynthetic radiation measurements using a new kind of LED sensor, Photochemistry and Photobiology 77,30-33, 2003.

F. M. Mims III, Solar aureoles caused by dust, smoke and haze, Applied Optics 42, 492-496, 2003.

F.M. Mims III and Brooks, David R.: A 2-Year Comparison of Aerosol Optical Thickness Measurements by the GLOBE Sun Photometer and the Terra and Aqua Satellites. 8th Annual Meeting, Boulder Colorado, July 25-30, 2004.

Sarah A. Mims and Forrest M. Mims III, Fungal spores are transported long distances in smoke from biomass fires, Atmospheric Environment 38, 651-655, 2004.

Forrest M. Mims III, Avian influenza and UV-B blocked by biomass smoke (letter), Environmental Health Perspectives 113, A806-7, 2005.

F. M. Mims III, Significant changes in the ratio of pigmented to non-pigmented airborne bacteria associated with suppressed UV-B during smoke events in Brazil (in preparation; to be submitted to Photochemistry and Photobiology).

F. M. Mims III, Tannin distribution in conifer branches in Hawaii and Texas is a UV-B dosimeter (still in preparation).

F. M. Mims III, UV-A and green spectral response of larvae and adult Culex pipiens and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (still in preparation).

Forrest M. Mims III, Donald Pfister and John Barnes, Aeolian transport of Chorioactis geaster from Japan to Texas (still in preparation).

2. BOOKS

More than 65 books (including booklets and manuals), some in various editions and in two or more languages and with total sales exceeding 7,500,000 copies.

1. Model Rocket Telemetry (MITS, 1969).

2. Semiconductor Diode Lasers (with Ralph Campbell, Sams, 1972).

3. Light Emitting Diodes (Sams, 1973).

4. Led Circuits and Projects (Sams, 1973).

5. Electronic Calculators (with H. Edward Roberts, Sams, 1974).

6. Optoelectronics (Sams, 1975).

7. 816 Calculator Assembly Manual (MITS, 1970).

8. Altair 8800 Operator's Manual (MITS, 1975).

9. Introduction to Electronics (Radio Shack, 1972).

10. Introduction to Transistors (Radio Shack 1972).

11. Transistor Projects, Volume 1 (Radio Shack, 1973).

12. Transistor Projects, Volume 2 (Radio Shack, 1974).

13. Transistor Projects, Volume 3 (Radio Shack, 1975).

14. Transistor Projects, Volume 4 (Radio Shack, 1976).

15. Integrated Circuit Projects, Volume 1 (Radio Shack, 1973).

16. Integrated Circuit Projects, Volume 2 (Radio Shack, 1974).

17. Integrated Circuit Projects, Volume 3 (Radio Shack, 1975).

18. Integrated Circuit Projects, Volume 4 (Radio Shack, 1975).

19. Integrated Circuit Projects, Volume 5 (Radio Shack, 1976).

20. Integrated Circuit Projects, Volume 6 (Radio Shack, 1977).

21. Electronics Music Projects (Radio Shack, 1977).

22. Computer Circuits for Experimenters (Radio Shack, 1974).

23. Semiconductor Projects, Volume 1 (Radio Shack, 1975).

24. Semiconductor Projects, Volume 2 (Radio Shack, 1976).

25. Security for Your Home (Radio Shack, 1974).

26. Optoelectronic Projects (Radio Shack, 1975).

27. How to Protect Your CB Rig (Sams, 1976).

28. Electronic Circuitbook 1, Project Construction (Sams, 1976).

29. Electronic Circuitbook 5, LED Projects (Sams, 1976).

30. Home Computers (Consumer Guide, 1978).

31. Number Machines (David McKay, 1977).

32. Lasers, the Incredible Light Machines (David McKay, 1977).

33. Radio Shack Introduces the World of Computing (Radio Shack, 1977).

34. What to Look for Before You Buy an Advanced Calculator (Hewlett-Packard, 1976).

35. The Programming Book (Hewlett-Packard, 1976).

36. The Beginner's Handbook of Electronics (with George Olsen, Prentice-Hall, 980).

37. Light-beam Communications (Sams, 1975).

38. A Practical Introduction to Lightwave Communications (IEEE & Sams, 1982).

39. 103 Projects for Electronics Experimenters (Tab, 1981).

40. Understanding Digital Computers (Radio Shack, 1979).

41. Engineer's Notebook 1 (Radio Shack, 1979).

42. Engineer's Notebook 2 (Radio Shack, 1982).

43. The Forrest Mims Circuit Scrapbook (McGraw-Hill, 1983).

44. Beginner's Guide to Personal Computers (Radio Shack, 1981).

45. Getting Started in Electronics (Radio Shack, 1983).

46. Reference Data for Radio Engineers (Major Contributor, ITT Publishing, 1975).

47. The New American Academic Encyclopedia (Major Contributor, Arete, 1979).

48. Law and the Writer (Contributor, Writer's Digest Books, 1978).

49. Siliconnections (McGraw-Hill, 1985).

50. The Computer Scientist (Osborne/McGraw-hill, 1985).

51. Engineers's Mini-notebook: 555 Timer IC Projects (Siliconcepts, 1984).

52. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Op-amps (Radio Shack 1985).

53. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Optoelectronics (Radio Shack 1985).

54. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Basic Semiconductor Circuits (Radio Shack 1986).

55. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Digital Logic Circuits (Radio Shack 1985).

56. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Formulas, Tables & Basic Circuits (Radio Shack 1988).

57. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Schematic Symbols, Design and Testing (Radio Shack 1988).

58. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Communication Projects (Radio Shack 1985).

59. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Science Projects (Radio Shack 1990).

60. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Environmental Projects (Radio Shack 1995).

61. VHS-1 Sun Photometer (TERC, 1996 and National Science Teachers Association, 1996).

62. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Sensor Projects (Radio Shack 1996).

63. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Magnets and Magnetic Sensor Projects (Radio Shack 1998).

64. Engineer's Mini-notebook: Solar Cell Projects (Radio Shack, 1999).

65. Electronics Learning Lab, Workbook 1, RadioShack, 2000.

66. Electronics Learning Lab, Workbook 2, RadioShack, 2000

67. Electronic Sensors Lab, RadioShack 2001.

68. Sun and Sky Monitoring Station, RadioShack 2003.

69. Fifty Years of Monitoring a Changing Atmosphere--The Story of Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory (to be published by the University of Hawaii Press in 2010).

3. ENCYCLOPEDIA

4. PERIODICALS (in which 1,000+ articles, columns, peer-reviewed papers, editorials or letters have been published)

5. THE CITIZEN SCIENTIST

A linked list of all my editorials, columns, features, projects and news stories in The Citizen Scientist will eventually be added. To find articles now, please go to www.sas.org and enter "Mims" in the search window.

6. OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS

Brochures, newspaper articles, newspaper science columns, letters in many magazines and newspapers, various scholarly papers in conference proceedings, more than 600 published photographs and numerous Internet and WWW articles and photographs. Most of these will eventually be listed on this page.

7. MAGAZINE ARTICLES

Magazines are listed in alphabetical order. Many of the project articles were reprinted in books.

32. Radio Electronics, November 1988.

8. SCIENCE COLUMNS IN SEGUIN GAZETTE-ENTERPRISE & SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS NEWSPAPERS

This series began 10 January 1999. The column was expanded to the San Antonio Express-News in October 2006.
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Important: The column titles are usually written by headline writers and some are not scientifically accurate.

1. Domain of the ‘devil's cigar' reaches to Geronimo Creek; 20 January 1999.

2. No need to call MUFON; ‘flying' spiders do exist; 17 February 1999.

3. Flood of '98 is not forgotten; 24 February 1999.

4. Birds are guided by ‘compass in the sky'; 3 March 1999.

5. Exposure to UV rays can lead to cancer, other health problems; 10 March 1999.

6. It's time to look for albino wildflowers; 18 March 1999.

7. Beicker builds haze machine, tests in San Antonio; 24 March 1999.

8. A tiny spring adds life as it flows into Geronimo Creek; 31 March 1999.

9. October showers helped to hasten springtime flowers; 7 April 1999.

10. Spectacular butterfly migration is expected this spring; 14 April 1999.

11. Radioactive particles are quite common; 21 April 1999.

12. Animals have different reactions to danger than people; 28 April 1999.

13. Did Asian dust bring ‘devil's cigar' spores to Seguin? 5 May 1999.

14. Central American smoke had its effects on Texas; 12 May 1999.

15. Busy bees play important roles in nature's scheme; 19 May 1999.

16. A wide variety of birds bless south Texas at multiple times during the year; 26 May 1999.

17. A snake in the grass can be your friend; 3 June 1999.

18. Hawaii's volcanoes release pollutants into the atmosphere; 10 June 1999.

19. Avoiding mid-day sun can help prevent cancer; 16 June 1999.

20. The best time to start science fair projects is now; 21 June 1999.

21. Poison ivy prevalent throughout the local area; 24 June 1999.

22. Wild turkeys enjoy creek-side living in Geronimo area; 1 July 1999.

23. Deer common in county, except in agricultural areas; 7 July 1999.

24. Summer means the opening of dragonfly season in Texas; 14 July 1999.

25. Short-term memory loss happens to everyone; 28 July 1999.

26. South Texas haze less than that of the eastern U.S.; 4 August 1999.

27. Total solar eclipse occurred today over Europe; 11 August 1999.

28. Many hummingbird species thrive in Texas; 18 August 1999.

29. Ozone protects from ultraviolet radiation; 25 August 1999.

30. Is the Earth really warming? (Newspaper incorrectly titled this "Temperature doesn't affect global warming); 1 September 1999.

31. Hawaii's observatory best place to measure light; 8 September 1999.

32. Trip filled with not-so-good experiences; 15 September 1999.

33. Crooked road leads to MLO; 22 September 1999.

34. Evolution not completely scientific cure-all; 29 September 1999.

35. Drought a common problem in Texas; 6 October 1999.

36. This weekend anniversary of the great flood; 13 October 1999.

37. Monarchs migrate during autumn; 27 October 1999.

38. Live and let live policy perfect for rattlers; 20 October 1999.

39. ‘Our Century' offers look into UFOs, history; 3 November 1999.

40. Heat prevalent during summer months in Texas; 10 November 1999.

41. Black widows prominent in the area; 17 November 1999.

42. Traveling abroad posed several challenges; 24 November 1999.

43. Balloons in Brazil help with scientific readings; 1 December 1999.

44. Journey for science yields much more; 8 December 1999.

45. Local science fair projects test water; 15 December 1999.

46. Seguin High scientists place well at fair; 22 December 1999.

47. 11-year-old helps father cling to life in treacherous flood waters; 27 December 1999.

48. Pollen wreaks havoc on county residents; 29 December 1999.

49. Cedar fever strikes again; 5 January 2000.

50. Storm systems becoming more powerful; 12 January 2000.

51. What's in our drinking water should concern us; 13 January 2000.

52. Killer storms affecting more people, cities; 19 January 2000.

53. Today's personal computers had rough start; 26 January 2000.

54. How a little company started PC era; 2 February 2000.

55. Winter rains bring winter mosquitoes; 9 February 2000.

56. NASA using satellites to study fires; 16 February 2000.

57. Time for some sheep science; 23 February 2000.

58. Laser lights shouldn't be used as toys; 1 March 2000.

59. Ten years of measuring the atmosphere; 8 March 2000.

60. Where does dust in air over Seguin originate? 15 March 2000.

61. Seguin wins big at Regional Science Fair; 22 March 2000.

62. Shades of green on Geronimo Creek; 5 April 2000.

63. What do rockets, Vietnam and Microsoft have in common? 12 April 2000.

64. Walnut Creek holds memories, potential; 19 April 2000.

65. Children relate their own storm stories; 26 April 2000.

66. Use caution, but give snakes a break; 3 May 2000.

67. Texan among top Duracell winners; 10 May 2000.

68. It's a fact – fire ants are back; 17 May 2000.

69. Get away from it all along the Geronimo Creek; 24 May 2000.

70. Playing with fire can be costly and dangerous; 31 May 2000.

71. Lightning quickly earns your respect; 7 June 2000.

72. The rings of a tree tell many tales; 14 June 2000.

73. Sun near peak of its 11-year sunspot cycle; 21 June 2000.

74. Time to watch out for those UV rays; 28 June 2000.

75. Are you a scientist? 5 July 2000.

76. Net connects the world in seconds; 12 July 2000.

77. The dust of the Sahara over Texas; 19 July 2000.

78. How the ant lion manages to keep its cool; 26 July 2000.

79. Tiny satellite receivers better than compass; 2 August 2000.

80. Levitating pebbles along the creek; 9 August 2000.

81. A visit to the Secret City; 16 August 2000.

82. It's time to start science fair projects; 23 August 2000.

83. What gives a chili pepper its bite? 6 September 2000.

84. Chili peppers are really good for you; 13 September 2000.

85. What's happening to the weather? 20 September 2000.

86. Mud daubers having tough summer; 27 September 2000.

87. Science from the string of a kite; 4 October 2000.

88. Lines in sand separate good and evil; 11 October 2000.

89. Artifacts being exhibited at Seguin Public Library; 18 October 2000.

90. Elections mean it’s time for sheep science; 25 October 2000.

91. Fall brings showers, flowers, birds along Geronimo Creek; 1 November 2000.

92. Recent rains evoke memories of record flood of October '98; 8 November 2000.

93. The good, the bad and the ozone; 15 November 2000.

94. Ozone in the air may lighten your wallet; 29 November 2000.

95. Mims speaks to local AARP chapter; 3 December 2000.

96. Outdoor plants get ready for spring in Texas; 6 December 2000.

97. Galveston known in science circles for more than just beaches; 13 December 2000.

98. December a month to remember in Guadalupe County; 20 December 2000.

99. Science in Action: Science fair projects offer lessons; 27 December 2000.

100. Young Science: Science fair winners break new ground, 3 January 2001.

100. Devil's Cigar: Rare fungus can be found along Geronimo Creek, 10 January 2001.

101. Heavenly Bodies: Winter perfect time for sky gazing, 17 January 2001.

102. Wanted: Have you seen these extremely rare mushrooms? 18 January 2001.

103. Winter Visitors: Wood ducks make stop in area, 24 January 2001.

104. Binary Images: Digital cameras changing face of photography, 31 January 2001.

105. The Birds: Grackles making themselves known in city, 2 February 2001.

106. Signatures in the Sky: Jet contrails seen from up above, 7 February 2001.

107. Fog Creeps In: Fogs beauty can be dangerous, 14 February 2001.

108. Natural Resource: Sulfur a read double-edged sword, 21 February 2001.

109. Tough Tree: Bald cypress makes positive contributions, 28 February 2001.

110. View From Above: Look at things from new angle, 7 March 2001.

111. Nature's Technology: Crane flies not giant mosquitoes, 14 March 2001.

112. Man's impact not all negative on wildlife, 21 March 2001.

113. Water's Wonder: Water common, but not ‘normal', 28 March 2001.

114. Brazilian Skies: Scientist shares stories from research in Amazon, 4 April 2001.

115. Brazil poses challenges for researchers, 11 April 2001.

116. Cristalino River not so clear after all, 18 April 2001.

117. Number of lessons learned in jungles of Brazil, 25 April 2001.

118. Geronimo Creek Return: Spring wildlife brightens up local area, 2 May 2001.

119. Letters to the Editor: Cheers to columnist Forrest Mims for telling the truth, 6 May 2001.

120. Sinister or Simple? On contrails, chemtrails and the truth, 9 May 2001.

121. Points of Light: Fireflies lighting up Geronimo Creek, 16 May 2001.

122. Nature's Fireworks: Lightning a serious natural hazard, 23 May 2001.

123. Leopard frogs invade Geronimo Creek, 30 May 2001.

124. Scorpions make their home in Rock Company, 6 June 2001.

125. Spider webs: Welcome to spider country, 13 June 2001.

126. Seguin lucky to have top notch science teachers, 20 June 2001.

127. Summer Science: Summertime a good time to start work on projects, 27 June 2001.

128. From the Mountaintop: A decade at Mauna Loa Observatory, 4 July 2001.

129. Beaming Up: Mountain hosts science adventures, 11 July 2001.

130. Geronimo Creek dragonflies are poetry in flight, 16 July 2001.

131. Science vs. Religion: Clash claims victims in the scientific community, 25 July 2001.

132. Scientific Wrangling: Perils of magazine publishing, 1 August 2001.

133. In the Public Eye: Scientific American battle rages, 8 August 2001.

134. Scientific American affair has a silver lining, 15 August 2001.

135. Ultraviolet Light: Did you get your rays today? 22 August 2001.

136. Sunlight: There are beneficial effects of sunlight, 29 August 2001.

137. Weather radar keeps an eye on the sky, 5 September 2001.

138. Remembering the World Trade Center, 13 September 2001.

139. Life goes on along the creek, 19 September 2001.

140. Science not unaffected by war, 26 September 2001.

141. Scientist takes aim at proposed emissions tests, 30 September 2001.

142. Lessons can be learned from tree rings, 3 October 2001.

143. Air pollution evident over South Texas, 10 October 2001.

144. Enforcement of air quality rules needs study, 17 October 2001.

145. Regulations should be based on science, fact, 24 October 2001.

146. Insects on parade in Guadalupe County, 31 October 2001.

147. Taking a look at bacteria and anthrax, 7 November 2001.

148. Mailed anthrax spores changed bioterror, 14 November 2001.

149. Giving thanks for the wildlife in the area, 21 November 2001.

150. Caterpillars munching on rare mushrooms, 28 November 2001.

151. Hi-Tech ways to capture holiday memories, 5 December 2001.

152. Science fair has Seguin's talent on display, 12 December 2001.

153. It's been a great year for science in Guadalupe County, 26 December 2001.

154. It's time for a Juror's Bill of Rights, 28 December 2001.

155. After a dip, the fire ants are back in the county, 2 January 2002.

156. Chilly air brings acres of frosty beauty to area, 9 January 2002.

157. Sunlight's brilliance dominates winter season, 16 January 2002.

158. Nature of airline security changing with times, 23 January 2002.

159. Science equipment versus airline security, 30 January 2002.

160. Science can help stop potential terrorists, 6 February 2002.

161. Minerals and nutrients important to health, 13 February 2002.

162. Monarchs make their presence known in area, 20 February 2002.

163. Winter is the time of year to make a nest quest, 27 February 2002.

164. Technology breeds new hi-tech flashlights, 6 March 2002.

165. Global warming debate wages on, 13 March 2002.

166. Seguin should be proud of science students, 20 March 2002.

167. Spring brings severe weather to Texas, 3 April 2002.

168. Cardinals busy raising families in area, 10 April 2002.

169. Storms make nature smile ear-to-ear, 17 April 2002.

170. Science Stars: Seguin cleans up at science contest, 21 April 2002.

171. How Seguin High excels in science, 24 April 2002.

172. Where Seguin's science prowess started, 1 May 2002.

173. Airborne dust from Sahara detected, 8 May 2002.

174. Freed hostage speaks at SPC fund-raiser, 16 May 2002.

175. Mosquito diseases are on the move, 29 May 2002.

176. Watching owls turns out to be hoot, 5 June 2002.

177. Lowly lichens actually very complex, 12 June 2002.

178. Seeing Spring Lake well worth the trip, 19 June 2002.

179. Ozone hazards affect Guadalupe County, 26 June 2002.

180. Dragonflies beat man-made aircraft, 3 July 2002.

181. What exactly is a ‘l00-year flood? 7 July 2002.

182. Safe cleanup after flood important, 10 July 2002.

183. Debris needs to be properly destroyed, 17 July 2002.

184. Storms necessary part of Texas ecosystem, 24 July 2002.

185. Findings indicate NASA Satellite might be off, 2 August 2002.

186. Cleanup crew clears Canyon Dam, 7 August 2002.

187. Flood bad for residents, good for nature, 14 August 2002.

188. Tree experts await results of old cypress remains, 21 August 2002.

189. The Air Up There: Concerns aired at AACOG meeting, 22 August 2002.

190. Ozone violations, data are skewed, San Antonio Express News, 27 August 2002.

191. Drummond did the work on Texas nature, 28 August 2002.

192. Animals a bit more friendly than expected, 4 September 2002.

193. Stagnant air, smoke fouls Texas skies, 18 September 2002.

194. Africanized honeybees can be a pain, 25 September 2002.

195. AACOG's Clean Air Plan Debated, 29 September 2002.

196. Ozone necessary for all life on Earth, 2 October 2002.

197. Car drivers need to learn about ozone, 9 October 2002.

198. Heavy rains affect amphibian population, 16 October 2002.

199. World Space Congress convenes in Texas, 23 October 2002.

200. West Nile spreads faster than predicted, 30 October 2002.

201. Serious problems face forests in Southwest U.S., 6 November 2002.

202. Western America's forests are in trouble, 13 November 2002.

203. In search of trees, haze and mushrooms, 20 November 2002.

204. Thefts blamed on ‘coon bandits, 27 November 2002.

205. What would the world be like without glass, 4 December 2002.

206. It's science fair season once again in Seguin, 11 December 2002.

207. Science fair project measures athletes' body fat, 18 December 2002.

208. Take time of enjoy nature's Christmas gifts, 25 December 2002.

209. Science makes major news in 2002, 1 January 2003.

210. Time to welcome back El Nino, 8 January 2003.

211. Students to attend science fair in San Antonio, 15 January 2003.

212. Mosquitoes still abundant despite cold, 22 January 2003.

213. Frost flowers appearing all over country, 29 January 2003.

214. Great discovery requires great risk, 5 February 2003.

215. Science rooted in achievements of amateurs, 26 February 2003.

216. Texas Academy of Science holds meeting, 5 March 2003.

217. Father of Intelligent Design gives presentation, 12 March 2003.

218. Students continue tradition of excellence, 26 March 2003.

219. Science short on answers in matters relating to race ethnicity, 2 April 2003.

220. Local lizards provide excellent insect control, 9 April 2003.

221. Owner's warned to protect birds, poultry from foreign virus, 16 April 2003.

222. Springtime offers chance to get reacquainted with nature, 23 April 2003.

223. An update on AACOG and air quality issues, 25 April 2003.

224. Participation in television documentary offers new insight, 30 April 2003.

225. Mims takes part in Japanese television documentary, 7 May 2003.

226. Fires generating thick smoke continue to burn, 14 May 2003.

227. Childhood heroes make quite an impression, 28 May 2003.

228. Avoid UV ray during hot summer months, 4 June 2003.

229. SOLC a unique opportunity for area youth, 18 June 2003.

230. The sky's the limit on Hawaii's mountains, 25 June 2003.

231. Dust, pollution lead to high ozone levels, 11 July 2003.

232. Hurricanes pose risks to Texas, 16 July 2003.

233. Dust devils put interesting spin on summertime fun, 23 July 2003.

234. Comet chaser earns honor for backyard discoveries, 30 July 2003.

235. Father of human flight takes aviation to new heights, 6 August 2003.

236. Electric industry sees winds of change, 13 August 2003.

237. Coming months to offer flowery shows, 3 September 2003.

238. Rising ozone levels may cause EPA action, 14 September 2003.

239. Nature weaves weird web of wonderment, 17 September 2003.

240. Trees are an essential component in creating cleaner air, 24 September 2003.

241. Old fashioned camera technique can be fun, 3 October 2003.

242. Bees, wasps keep active when among bright goldenrod gardens, 8 October 2003.

243. Armadillos happy to till gardener's soil in search of dinner, 15 October 2003.

244. Fall breezes bring opportunity to observe nature, 22 October 2003.

245. Hill Country autumn a natural wonder to behold, 29 October 2003.

246. Planes have progressed in 100 years, 5 November 2003.

247. Internet transforms day-to-day life, 12 November 2003.

248. Wildlife management can save the land, 19 November 2003.

249. Natural landscape welcomes many animals, 26 November 2003.

250. Seguin High students answer questions with science, 10 December 2003.

251. Special flower brightens winter nights, 24 December 2003.

252. Shuttle crash was biggest science story of '03, 31 December 2003.

253. NASA scores big with Mars exploration, 7 January 2004.

254. Find bird nests in winter, 14 January 2004.

255. The paradox of juniper pollen, 21 January 2004.

256. ‘Time machines' are all around, 28 January 2004.

257. What's next in the realm of space exploration? 4 February 2004.

258. Powered parachutes gaining popularity, 11 February 2004.

259. Student scientists from Seguin present projects at annual convention, 18 February 2004.

260. Calculators' prices have tumbled over time, 25 February 2004.

261. Counting with pebbles: how to use an abacus, 3 March 2004.

262. Enjoy Seguin's clean environment, 10 March 2004.

263. Chasing rabbits on Mars, 17 March 2004.

264. TLU is home to new equipment, 24 March 2004.

265. Priorities changing at NASA, 31 March 2004.

266. Chasing Asian smoke across Texas, 7 April 2004.

267. Smoke from Asia finds its way to Texas, 14 April 2004.

268. Well-rounded ‘bugs' roam near homes, 21 April 2004.

269. Tropical smoke hinders forecasters, 28 April 2004.

270. Stenzel gives girls straight talk, 12 May 2004.

271. 5 Kingdoms make up all living things, 19 May 2004.

272. Community leaders work to preserve Walnut Branch, 9 June 2004.

273. Last week's flood alters landscape, 16 June 2004.

274. Nationwide wildfires are a sure sign that summer has arrived, 21 July 2004.

275. More than meets the eye with birds, feathers, 28 July 2004.

276. Questions on ‘junk science', 4 August 2004.

277. Cats top list of current news makers, 11 August 2004.

278. Mims to give speech at NASA space center, 11 August 2004.

279. Murky haze covers much of eastern United States, 18 August 2004.

280. Bidding farewell to a humble genius, 24 August 2004.

281. Assassin bug just as fierce as its name sounds, 25 August 2004.

282. '04 a good summer for wild Texas grape vines, 1 September 2004.

283. Remembering the 1900 Galveston storm, 7 September 2004.

284. Mysterious mirages have scientific explanation, 15 September 2004.

285. Hurricanes less frequent in recent years, 22 September 2004.

286. With 6.5 million acres in Texas, cotton is king, 29 September 2004.

287. Earthquakes used to study volcanic activity, 6 October 2004.

288. Texas is big on growing pecans, 13 December 2004.

289. Alaskan science involves country's most interesting resources, 20 October 2004.

290. Green flash a rare but beautiful sight, 27 October 2004.

291. Twilight illuminates skies with pastel glow, 3 November 2004.

292. NASA's own research craft, 10 November 2004.

293. Going for a ride, 17 November 2004.

294. Underfunded museums could team with citizen scientists, 24 November 2004.

295. Citizen Scientist publishes 300th column, 28 November 2004.

296. Technology tackles etiquette, decorum, 1 December 2004.

297. SHS students show their scientific prowess at fair, 8 December 2004.

298. SHS students get high marks at annual science fair, 15 December 2004.

299. Scientists weren't always leery of discussing faith, 22 December 2004.

300. Rare South Texas snow storm a spectacle to see, 29 December 2004.

301. Large death toll from S. Asian tsunami avoidable, 5 January 2005.

302. What is a tsunami? 12 January 2005.

303. First PC marks 30th anniversary, 19 January 2005.

304. Hindenburg's fatal explosion brought end to airship era, 26 January 2005.

305. Robins make good sport for shutterbugs, 9 February 2005.

306. Why do we have so many 100-year floods? 16 February 2005.

307. Stay out of the way of flood plain areas, 23 February 2005.

308. Political science plays large role in flooding solutions, 2 March 2005.

309. El Nino waning as spring approaches, 9 March 2005.

310. This winter provided the perfect conditions for chorus of bullfrogs, 16 March 2005.

311. Arrival of Mexican free-tailed bats rings in springtime in Texas, 232 March 2005.

312. Glaciers are melting away at alarming rate, 6 April 2005.

313. Railroad safety procedures need boost to protect all along the tracks, 10 April 2005.

314. Reasons to leave bees and wasps alone, 13 April 2005.

315. The name of plants and animals, 20 April 2005.

316. Spittle bug lives youth inside cluster of bubbles, 27 April 2005.

317. Spring means it's poison ivy season, 4 May 2005.

318. Big wonders come in smaller packages, 11 May 2005.

319. Dust devils can put an interesting ‘spin' on summertime activities, 18 May 2005.

320. Volcanic eruptions can have an impact on the planet, 25 May 2005.

321. Beautiful bluet damselfly makes home along creek, 1 June 2005.

322. What would happen if an asteroid hit Earth? 8 June 2005.

323. Talking about science behind wastewater, 15 June 2005.

324. Seguin's nuclear stockpile secure, 29 June 2005.

325. Africa pays another visit to Texas, 3 July 2005.

326. Summer is prime sunburn season, 6 July 2005.

327. To burn or not to burn is the question, 13 July 2005.

328. A summer stroll along the creek, 20 July 2005.

329. Rain transforms plants and animals, 27 July 2005.

330. Talking intelligently designed science, 17 August 2005.

331. Important to remember we live in flood country, 14 September 2005.

332. This column brought to you by the Internet, 5 October 2005.

333. Influenza a killer through history, 12 October 2005.

334. Monarchs make their long trip south, 19 October 2005.

335. Students are doing some serious science, 26 October 2005.

336. Mars providing a sky show for viewers, 2 November 2005.

337. There are area signs of fall along Geronimo Creek, 9 November 2005.

338. Take steps to avoid the flu bug, 16 November 2005.

339. Harvest time, and planting for future, 23 November 2005.

340. Taking a walk through SHS science fair, 7 December 2005.

341. Last look at the SHS science fair, 21 December 2005.

342. Bluebonnets sprouting along local creek, 28 December 2005.

343. Bluebonnets sprouting along local creek, 28 December 2005

344. Are paper or plastic cups better, 4 January 2006.

345. Are paper or plastic cups better, 4 January 2006.

346. Christmas Bird Count an Audubon success, 11 January 2006.

347. Do frequent flyers catch colds more frequently? 18 January 2006.

348. Much has changed in education over the years, 25 January 2006.

349. Get out your pencils, can you do the math? 1 February 2006.

350. The education crisis is our crisis, 8 February 2006.

351. Can you point out Iraq on a map? 15 February 2006.

352. Fixing education will take a team effort, 22 February 2006.

353. Will the local drought continue, 1 March 2006.

354. The mockingbirds of Texas spring, 8 March 2006.

355. The giant silk moths of Texas, 15 March 2006.

356. Just a taste of red, 22 March 2006.

357. From sand dunes to cypress leaves at meeting, 29 March 2006.

358. Calculators' prices have tumbled, 5 April 2006.

359. Different ‘time machines' are all around us, 19 April 2006.

360. Event shows that science rules at Texas Lutheran University, 26 April 2006.

361. Invasion of the pill bugs prompts questions, 3 May 2006.

362. Giant thunderstorms visit South Texas, 10 May 2006.

363. Texas Lutheran has a Hawaii connection, 28 June 2006.

364. Jellyfish: Phantoms of the ocean, 11 July 2006.

365. Bidding farewell to a great scientist, 19 July 2006.

366. Annexation points for council to ponder, 23 July 2006.

367. Summer flowers are now in bloom, 2 August 2006.

368. Just how hot is hot? 23 August 2006.

369. Hawaii a land of natural forces, 26 October 2006.

370. Swamp Gas: Bubble along Geronimo Creek, 3 November 2006.

371. How to become an astronaut, 10 November 2006.

372. Overcoming fear of snakes, 17 November 2006.

373. STARTUP Gallery celebrates origins of the personal computer, 26 November 2006.

374. Fall Colors, 1 Dec 2006.

375. BaldCypress, 8 Dec 2006 .

376. Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory, 15 Dec 2006.

377. The Christmas Scientist, 25 Dec 2006.

378. Seventeen years of sun and sky observations, 1 Jan 2007.

379 The Texas star, 5 Jan 2007.

380. The pollen corona, 12 Jan 2007.

381. Insects of winter, Jan 19 2007.

382. Coping with Ice, Jan 26 2007.

383. Bluebonnets in Ice, 2 Feb 2007.

384. Fire and Smoke, 9 Feb 2007.

Column appears in two newspapers.

Dates above are for Seguin Gazette Enterprise (usually Fridays).

Dates below are for San Antonio Express-News (Mondays).

385 12-Feb-07 Burning is illegal for good reason

386 19-Feb-07 Flashlight has come a long way

387 26-Feb-07 A look at the stuff of birds’ nests

388 5-Mar-07 Window seat is the place to be

389 12-Mar-07 Just wild about a wild chile

390 19-Mar-07 The regional flora and fauna signal spring

391 26-Mar-07 Signs of spring abound in area

392 2-Apr-07 Achoo! Spring does have its downside

393 9-Apr-07 Danger looms in a real flash

394 16-Apr-07 Smoke from afar adds color

395 23-Apr-07 Got milkweed? Keep it and feed the monarchs

396 30-Apr-07 Those fearless Scottish plant hunters

397 7-May-07 Snakes on the plains, hills not always cause for alarm

398 14-May-07 Scientific integrity — no fooling

399 21-May-07 Dust, smoke make for bad-air days in springtime

400 28-May-07 A driveway encounter with the coral snake

401 4-Jun-07 Life was slower in years gone by

402 11-Jun-07 Asian dust, pollutant levels high

403 18-Jun-07 Texas state plant is one that knows how to defend its fruit

404 25-Jun-07 The good, the bad and the UV

405 2-Jul-07 Haze does not block sunburn

406 9-Jul-07 The Summer Chorus

407 16-Jul-07 Rain brings bounty of bugs

408 23-Jul-07 Science made strides in 1957

409 30-Jul-07 You're just a few clicks away from tracking thunderstorms

410 6-Aug-07 Frogs Love Texas Rain

411 13-Aug-07 Spiders, webs amazing up close

412 20-Aug-07 The finest nature classroom is found out in the wilderness

413 27-Aug-07 Cumulus clouds provide clues about the weather

414 3-Sep-07 Shrikes catch, kill prey and store them on barbs

415 10-Sep-07 MacCready was pioneer in experimental aviation

416 17-Sep-07 Pelicans put on great show along the Texas Gulf Coast

417 24-Sep-07 Up close with dragonflies

418 1-Oct-07 Sputnik launch created a boy's special memory

419 8-Oct-07 Science fairs can mean first-class experiments

420 15-Oct-07 Ragweed is our price for cool, wet summer

421 22-Oct-07 Digital camera is perfect for capturing nature shots

422 5-Nov-07 Fall blooms spawn insect frenzy

423 12-Nov-07 With help from their mates, damselflies begin laying eggs

424 19-Nov-07 Franklin's study of turkeys is worth a work of thanks

425 26-Nov-07 Native pecans really taste better

426 3-Dec-07 A record stretch of clear sky

427 10-Dec-07 Mare's tails or contrails cirrus rides high in sky

428 17-Dec-07 Vacuum tubes triggered revolution with electricity

429 24-Dec-07 Christmas gift of transistor radio parts led to a career in science

430 31-Dec-07 Texas star is a real rarity

431 7-Jan-08 Winds may have forged old link between Japan, Texas

432 14-Jan-08 Grass fire

433 21-Jan-08 Climber's humility remembered 

434 28-Jan-08 Watch frost flowers materialize 

435 4-Feb-08 Contrails can lead to cooler days and warmer nights

436 11-Feb-08 Temperature trends for San Antonio show slight increase

437 18-Feb-08 Heat island effect keeps S.A. warmer than its rural neighbors

438 25-Feb-08 All that asphalt, concrete make cities the hottest places to be 

439 3-Mar-08 Science fairs are key to developing young minds in the field

440 10-Mar-08 Firefighter' water, sunshine help grass reclaim burned field

441 17-Mar-08 Charting rain, drought trends

442 24-Mar-08 Corpus park a fine perch for birding

443 31-Mar-08 Under microscope, muddy rain shows mostly dust, not ash

444 7-Apr-08 Coyotes considered 'nuisance wildlife' in Texas

445 14-Apr-08 Wildflowers so-so this season

446 21-Apr-08  'Piggybacking' enhances science

447 28-Apr-08 Clashing air masses lead to lightning, hail

448 5-May-08 Solar time can vary greatly from time that's on the clock

449 12 May 08 When the vultures circle

450 19-May-08 When hawk and snake crash, neither one gets off lightly

451 26-May-08 Spear grass can take care of itself...but it's painful

452 2-Jun-08 Without water vapor, imagine frozen seas and brutal cold

453 9-Jun-08 Turns out that angry serpent was a Texas rat snake

454 16-Jun-08 Lots of stuff in air over Hawaii

455 23-Jun-08 Midwest floods as S. Texas suffers through drought

456 30-Jun-08 Dust of Africa's Sahara Desert invading South, Central Texas

457 7-Jul-08 The miracle of colorful light is a basis of the miracle of life.

458 14-Jul-08 You think Texas is dusty?  Beijing sky is loaded with it.

459 21-Jul-08 Electronic memory has come a long way since l962.

460 28-Jul-08 Laughing gulls are fun to watch, photograph.

461 4-Aug-08 Personal computer era's humble beginnings

462 11-Aug-08 Beijing's problem with pollution holds lesson for S. Texas

463 18-Aug-08 U.S. fleet's 1838 voyage had important mission

464 25-Aug-08 Humans have weaved history from plant fiber

465 1-Sep-08 Sheep, goats were an early part of a developing Texas

466 8-Sep-08 Sunspots thought to be factor in temperature

467 15-Sep-08 Alaskan volcano paints Texas sky

468 22-Sep-08 Mosquito infestations follow behind rainstorms

469 29-Sep-08 Wasps serve useful role in controlling of pests

470 6-Oct-08 Yellow puff capable of a sudden movement when touched

471 13-Oct-08 Mother Nature puts a shine on night vision

472 20-Oct-08 Natural world offers respite from global financial woes

473 27-Oct-08 Ozone in atmosphere produced naturally and by humans

474 3-Nov-08 Man and Nature cause changes in Earth's protective ozone

475 10-Nov-08 Apollo 11 astronauts linked Texas observatory to moon

476 17-Nov-08 Tree rings provide a living history

477 24-Nov-08 Solar power is perfect solution in some cases

478 1-Dec-08 Science behind many of our gadgets is as good as gold

479 8-Dec-08 DIY sensor beats satellite

480 15-Dec-08 U.S. weather data often flawed

481 22-Dec-08 Nature wears holiday colors for Christmas

482 29-Dec-08 Make science part of kids’ lives

483 5-Jan-09 One day closer to next rain

484 12-Jan-09 Texas is leading producer of lighter-than-air helium

485 19-Jan-09 When eyes don't work, one hears what others see

486 26-Jan-09 Why you need to know the dew point

487 2-Feb-09 Evil plot or just condensation?

488 9-Feb-09 Incandescents:  An idea whose time has come--to an end

489 16-Feb-09 Mercury is toxic, but has its uses

490 23-Feb-09 Flint a popular Stone Age material

491 2-Mar-09 Can't stand the heat?  Get off urban island

492 9-Mar-09 Metates underscore corn's rise in importance

493 16-Mar-09 Meteors leave marks on planets

494 23-Mar-09 Windmill technology not outdated

495 30-Mar-09 Giant West Texas wind generators provide electricity for S.A.

496 6-Apr-09 Wind and oil both have powerful role

497 13-Apr-09 Ball moss benign to its tree host

498 20-Apr-09 Watching nature note what's absent

499 27-Apr-09 Close encounters of the stinging kind

500 4-May-09 Getting wise on owls, other creatures of night

501 11-May-09  Limestone is a Texas tradition

502 18-May-09 Deciphering some difficult language used by science

503 25-May-09 Analyzing the thick, gray cloud hanging over San Antonio area

504 1-Jun-09 Looking to sun to provide answers about global warming and cooling

505 8-Jun-09 UV exposure is good or bad, depending on whom you ask

506 15-Jun-09 Coneflowers thrive in drought

507 22-Jun-09 Teach kids about dangerous snakes

508 29-Jun-09 This drought is more than just an annoyance

509 6-Jul-09 International space station is definitely worth a look

510 13-Jul-09 Canyon Lake drought the worst in 45 years

511 20-Jul-09 Be prepared for critters with stickers, stingers, fangs

512 27-Jul-09 High-flying dust from Africa may suppress tropical rain systems

513 3-Aug-09  Try your hand at growing baldcypress saplings

514 10-Aug-09  Drought offers chance to see ant lions in action

515 17-Aug-09  In search of cool spots

516 24-Aug-09 Weather radar images are ready and waiting

517 31-Aug-09 Keeping an eye out for dust devils

518 7-Sep-09 Drought saps trees of life

519 14-Sep-09 Drought's severe effect on trees

520 21-Sep-09 Lilies making appearance after rains

521 28-Sep-09 Even in a drought, there can be plenty of water vapor overhead

522 5-Oct-09 Buffalo  gourds sprout from thirst-quenching rainfall

523 12-Oct-09 Readers not shy to comment

524 19-Oct-09 Annual migration of hawks can be a spectacular sight

525 26-Oct-09 The landscape has been transformed post-drought

526 2-Nov-09 Looking back at contributions of Goddard

527 9-Nov-09 Texas Star fungus a rare, wonderful sight

528 16-Nov-09 Resource we tend to take for granted

529 23-Nov-09 Giving thanks--for the rain

530 30-Nov-09 Climate change controversy still rages

531 7-Dec-09 A cochineal comeback

532 14-Dec-09 Rockets played role in microcomputer revolution

533 21-Dec-09 Shining a new light on season

534 28-Dec-09 Bluebonnets arrive in time for Christmas

535 4-Jan-10  Celebrating 35 years of personal computing

536 11-Jan-10 Great blue herons make a fuss when they want privacy

537 18-Jan-10  Arctic air brings more than cold

538 25-Jan-10  Stint at magazine turned troublesome

539 1-Feb-10 Shifted purpose to develop solid research

540 8-Feb-10 Unwelcome nutrias wreak havoc on vegetation, structures

541 15-Feb-10 Jefferson: Statesman and early weather-watcher

542 22-Feb-10 February rains bring spring visitors

543 1-Mar-10 El Nino's pattern through history

544 8-Mar-10 Wildlife corridor along creek is picture-perfect

545 15-Mar-10 Native plants are good landscaping alternatives

546 22-Mar-10 Arsenic levels in soil may affect the color of blooms

547 29-Mar-10 Greening of trees represents the basis of all life

548 5-Apr-10 Gobi desert marches on as a Yellow Dragon

549 12-Apr-10 Dandelions, anemones ride on the breeze

550 19-Apr-10 Be considerate while searching for the elusive white bluebonnet

551 26-Apr-10 Roberts, a computer pioneer, is the reason PC became popular

552 3-May-10 Bluebonnets tickle readers pink with their display of colors 

553 10-May-10 Insects and birds finally showing signs of activity

554 17-May-10 Snake Farm 

555 24-May-10 Caterpillar Invasion

556 31-May-10 Texas lignite 

557 7-Jun-10 With so many kinds, tea caters to many tastes.

558 14-Jun-10 Bell set the stage for today's connected world.

559 21-Jun_10 Fiber-optic communication began 130 years ago.

560 28-Jun-10 Texas weather:  From bone dry to soaking wet.

561 5-Jul-10 Texas tortoise makes a rare appearance

562 12-Jul-10 Natural leaks emit oil into Gulf of Mexico

563 19-Jul-10 First laser in 1960 set off technological leaps

564 26-Jul-10 Allergies, solar aureole side effects of dust in the wind

565 2-Aug-10 Don't succumb to itch to touch poison ivy leaves

566 9-Aug-10 Deciphering between softwood and hardwood is an art

567 16-Aug-10 Bumblebees take revenge when nest is threatened

568 23-Aug-10 A tree with many names also has many uses

569 30-Aug-10 Hot on the trail of a grass fire along the highway

570 6-Sep-10 Ladybug is everyone's favorite

571 13-Sep-10 Pesky ragweed can be a giant problem

572 20-Sep-10 Bois d'arc ring pattern provides glimpse of past

573 27-Sep-10 Hearing-aid repair is a snap

574 4-Oct-10 Non-native giant reeds causing trouble 

575 11-Oct-10 Thank Columbus for Swiss chocolate 

576 18-Oct-10 Pollen is raining down 

577 25-Oct-10 Pollinating insects finally coming back

578 1-Nov-10 Twig girdlers can leave path of destruction

579 8-Nov-10 With a wood duck, only the name is dull

580 15-Nov-10 Green or brown, anole lizards truly are masters of disguise

581 22-Nov-10 Plenty of food brings abundance of wild turkeys

582 29-Nov-10 Fog presents roadway hazard

583 6-Dec-10 Dirty floors may be the real security threat at airports

584 13-Dec-10 Poor glove practices may contaminate belongings

585 20-Dec-10 Possumhaws red berries add Christmas cheer

586 27-Dec-10 LEDs are just the latest advance in artificial lighting

587 3-Jan-11 Bird-watching programs growing in popularity

588 10-Jan-11 Self-confidence hasn't helped raise test scores in U.S.

589 17-Jan-11 Capture the beauty of a bird nest with a camera

590 24-Jan-11 Water striders are fascinating subjects to study

591 31-Jan-11 Arrival of woodpeckers is a welcome event 

592 7-Feb-11 Tracking tremors near and far in Texas

593 14-Feb-11 S.A. gets a taste of an old-fashioned Texas winter

594 21-Feb-11 Scientist's legacy lives on in Hawaii's solar telescopes

595 28-Feb-11 Controlled burns require careful planning, execution

596 7-Mar-11 It's a gas to think about what makes up atmosphere

597 14-Mar-11 Science is the name of the game at annual gathering

598 21-Mar-11 Power game is serious business

599 28-Mar-11 Radioactive fallout is latest concern in Japan disaster

600 4-Apr-11 Low-level radiation exposure is an everyday occurrence

601 11-Apr-11 The Bubble Guy expands the minds of young scientists

602 18-Apr-11 Good science fair projects require quite a bit of planning

603 25-Apr-11 Mix of smoke and dust create a spectacular sight

604 2-May-11 Seguin student uses science to uncover the past

605 9-May-11 Paul Allen, Bill Gates--it's a love-hate relationship

606 16-May-10 Ladder-back woodpeckers make themselves at home

607 23-May-11 Barn swallows are raising their families

608 30-May-11 Back to basics with the abacus

609 6-Jun-11 Adding up the benefits of Japanese abacuses

610 13-Jun-11 Don't mess with Texas thorns unless you like pain

611 20-Jun-11 Sun time is a little different from watch time

612 27-Jun-11 Kodak remains a legend in field of photography

613 4-Jul-11 Don't forget to wear a hat and use sunscreen

614 11-Jul-11 This annual trip to Hawaii isn't for a vacation

615 18-Jul-11 Truth is, this drought could be much worse

616 25-Jul-11 Amateur scientists have paved the way for pros

617 1-Aug-11 Humans wouldn't be able to get by without salt

618 8-Aug-11 Hurricane researcher takes job very seriously

619 15-Aug-11 Measure heat of objects with an infrared thermometer

620 22-Aug-11 Checking more temperatures with infrared thermometer

621 29-Aug-11 Right conditions for rain just aren't there yet

622 5-Sep-11 Remembering a clear New York day at 2 WTC

623 12-Sep-11  Instruments long a source of suspicion at airports

624 19-Sep-11 Thinking about the victims of recent fires

625 26-Sep-11 You, too, can help record drought of 2011

626 3-Oct-11 Watching the hummers

627 10-Oct-11 Gauging the drought

628              17-Oct-11            Amazing migratory visitors have started arriving

LINKS TO ALL CURRENT COLUMNS ARE AT THE SAN ANTONIO-EXPRESS-NEWS SITE. 

The columns are published on Friday or Sunday by the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise and the following Monday by the San Antonio Express-News. Prior to May 2010 some were also published in "Forrest Mims' World of Science" in The Citizen Scientist (http://sas.org/tcs). This list will occasionally be updated.

9. REJECTED PUBLICATIONS

While most of my scientific papers and articles have been published, some were rejected. One, by my son Eric and me, was a paper submitted to Nature that would have been the first to report reduced ozone in the ozone layer following the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. One of the reviewers felt that my homemade instrument that detected the reduction (TOPS-1) was too unknown. Another rejected our findings outright. Yet other papers reporting the same phenomenon were eventually published in various journals. (TOPS-1 later found a significant drift in NASA's TOMS ozone instrument on NIMBUS-7 satellite, a finding that I published in Nature .) In view of the growing number of papers reporting function and purpose for "junk" DNA, it seems appropriate to post here a letter that was rejected by Science in 1994 (a similar letter was rejected in 2003):

December 1994
Letters
Science
1333 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

To the Editor:

Finally, Science reports "Hints of a Language in Junk DNA" (25 November, p. 1320). Those supposedly meaningless strands of filler DNA that molecular biologists refer to as "junk" don't necessarily appear so useless to those of us who have designed and written code for digital controllers. They have always reminded me of strings of NOP (No OPeration) instructions. A do-nothing string of NOPs might appear as "junk code" to the uninitiated, but, when inserted in a program loop, a string of NOPs can be used to achieve a precise time delay. Perhaps the "junk DNA" puzzle would be solved more rapidly if a few more computer scientists would make the switch to molecular biology.

Forrest M. Mims III
Geronimo Creek Observatory

10. PEER REVIEW

Some scientists who are requested by a journal editor to review a prospective paper assign the task to a graduate student or some other less qualified individual. This is a serious abuse of the peer review system, for the reviewer is not necessarily a peer of the author(s). In spite of its flaws, peer review has served an important role in improving some of my scientific publications.

I have reviewed papers for several leading scientific journals. The papers were about sun photometry, ultraviolet radiation, solar energy, waves in the ozone layer during various solar eclipses and other atmospheric topics. Additionally, I have served as a paid reviewer for NASA, the National Science Foundation and for a number of textbooks for McGraw-Hill, Academic Press and Prentice-Hall.

An especially interesting (and compensated) review assignment was the Atlas of Science Literacy, Volume 2, American Academy for the Advancement of Science Project 2061 (2007). This project, which was supported by the National Science Foundation, is part of a major program to significantly improve science, mathematics and technology curriculum for "all Americans."