Jeremy Mohn

Frog Friday – A Strange Lookin’ Toad A piece of digital art I made of the Forested Crested Toad in all its glory. This here, is a strange toad, it is physically different from any other species that you may encounter in the rest of the world. If you are in North America (north of Guatemala and Belize) then you’re probably seeing members of Anaxyrus (other than the occasional…

Frog Friday – A Strange Lookin’ Toad

A piece of digital art I made of the Forested Crested Toad in all its glory. This here, is a strange toad, it is physically different from any other species that you may encounter in the rest of the world. If you are in North America (north of Guatemala and…

Frog Friday – Green Eyes European Green Toad (Bufotes viridis) Image from Wikimedia Commons Listen to the call of the European Green Toad.

Frog Friday – Green Eyes

European Green Toad (Bufotes viridis) Image from Wikimedia Commons Listen to the call of the European Green Toad.

Winged Wednesday – Ha! Good One! Saddle-Billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) Image from Wikimedia Commons

Winged Wednesday – Ha! Good One!

Saddle-Billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) Image from Wikimedia Commons

Wait, should I stop eating these Slim Jims?

The Octopus: An Invertebrate Genius Did you know that octopuses can open a jar in under a minute? It might sound impossible, but it’s true! This is just one example of the many surprising talents an Octopus possesses. From being able to recognize people to solving puzzles, this animal demonstrates significant intelligence. Let’s explore what makes these creatures so remarkable! Image of a still common octopus…

The Octopus: An Invertebrate Genius

Did you know that octopuses can open a jar in under a minute? It might sound impossible, but it’s true! This is just one example of the many surprising talents an Octopus possesses. From being able to recognize people to solving puzzles, this animal demonstrates…

Mammal Monday – Un-Bear-ably Adorable! Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Image from Wikimedia Commons Read more about this species here.

Mammal Monday – Un-Bear-ably Adorable!

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Image from Wikimedia Commons Read more about this species here.

Frog Friday – Fossil Frog Ancient Frog (Palaeobatrachus grandipes) Image from Wikimedia Commons

Frog Friday – Fossil Frog

Ancient Frog (Palaeobatrachus grandipes) Image from Wikimedia Commons

Mysteries of Axolotls What is an Axolotl? The Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a unique amphibian that comes from the lake areas of Mexico City. Unlike most salamanders, which grow out of their baby stage and move onto land, the axolotl stays in its juvenile form for its entire life. The Axolotl is an important animal for scientists as it stays young forever and can regrow major body parts, and can be able to study development, evolution, and new treatments.

Mysteries of Axolotls

What is an Axolotl? The Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a unique amphibian that comes from the lake areas of Mexico City. Unlike most salamanders, which grow out of their baby stage and move onto land, the axolotl stays in its juvenile form for its entire life. The Axolotl…

The Trojan Horse for Cancer Image from Wikimedia Commons We all know the Greek myth of the Trojan horse – the wooden horse used by the Greeks to defeat the city of Troy. What if we could use a “Trojan Horse” to combat and provide a treatment for cancer? Research at Columbia Engineering has built a cancer treatment that uses both bacteria and viruses to accurately target and kill cancerous tumors.

The Trojan Horse for Cancer

Image from Wikimedia Commons We all know the Greek myth of the Trojan horse – the wooden horse used by the Greeks to defeat the city of Troy. What if we could use a “Trojan Horse” to combat and provide a treatment for cancer? Research at Columbia Engineering has built a…

Winged Wednesday – Black Pegasus Black Pegasus (Pegasus bellerophon) Image from pngimg.com Did you think they'd all be real organisms?

Winged Wednesday – Black Pegasus

Black Pegasus (Pegasus bellerophon) Image from pngimg.com Did you think they'd all be real organisms?

Deadliest Viruses in History: Marburg Virus When people think about deadly viruses, names like Ebola, HIV, or even COVID-19 usually get all the attention. But there's another virus out there that is just as dangerous, even though most people have never even heard of it. That virus is called Marburg. Although it doesn't make headlines like Ebola does, it is a part of the same viral family…

Deadliest Viruses in History: Marburg Virus

When people think about deadly viruses, names like Ebola, HIV, or even COVID-19 usually get all the attention. But there's another virus out there that is just as dangerous, even though most people have never even heard of it. That virus is called…

"I challenge you to a dementia test!" is not the flex he thinks it is.

Lights, Camera, Sneeze! Image from Wikimedia Commons Have you ever heard someone say “ I need to sneeze” and then that person proceeds to look up at the sun or overhead lights? Or have you ever continuously sneezed after your eyes meeting the sun even for a brief moment? Well, that is called phonic sneeze reflex. Phonic sneeze reflex is known by many names, one of them being autosomal dominant compelling helio-ophthalmic outburst syndrome or its widely known acronym "ACHOO syndrome."

Lights, Camera, Sneeze!

Image from Wikimedia Commons Have you ever heard someone say “ I need to sneeze” and then that person proceeds to look up at the sun or overhead lights? Or have you ever continuously sneezed after your eyes meeting the sun even for a brief moment? Well, that is called…

Mammal Monday – Stand By Your Manatee West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) Image from Wikimedia Commons Read more about this species here.

Mammal Monday – Stand By Your Manatee

West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) Image from Wikimedia Commons Read more about this species here.

Every mistake is so demoralizing because it means so much. Get a score out of halftime, and this is anyone’s game.

Game of Genes: De-Extinction and “Reviving” the Dire Wolf When people hear the term “dire wolf” many will think of the animal on the coat of arms of the fictional “House Stark” in the renowned show Game of Thrones. However, more recently, dire wolves have been in the news for supposedly being brought back to life. On April 7th, 2025 the company Colossal Labs claimed to bring back direwolves through the scientific process of de-extinction.

Game of Genes: De-Extinction and “Reviving” the Dire Wolf

When people hear the term “dire wolf” many will think of the animal on the coat of arms of the fictional “House Stark” in the renowned show Game of Thrones. However, more recently, dire wolves have been in the news for supposedly being…

Hydrogen Bonds and Desertification Deserts are not fixed areas and naturally shift over time, growing and shrinking due to various natural processes. This is easily observable on an individual level. For instance, on flat, sandy beaches (areas with similar physical geographies to deserts), one may notice sand is lifted and thrown by the wind, resulting in natural changes in the shape and elevation of the beach.

Hydrogen Bonds and Desertification

Deserts are not fixed areas and naturally shift over time, growing and shrinking due to various natural processes. This is easily observable on an individual level. For instance, on flat, sandy beaches (areas with similar physical geographies to deserts), one may…

Migraines Explained Migraine headaches are a relatively common disorder affecting more than a billion people globally. They can present with significant variance in symptoms, severity, and triggers, and though they have been studied since the days of Ancient Egypt, there are many aspects of the condition that are not fully understood. One key characteristic of migraines is that they tend to develop over the course of multiple days and they do so through…

Migraines Explained

Migraine headaches are a relatively common disorder affecting more than a billion people globally. They can present with significant variance in symptoms, severity, and triggers, and though they have been studied since the days of Ancient Egypt, there are many aspects of the…

The Evolution of Genetic Engineering Image from Wikimedia Commons A very important field of engineering is genetic engineering and not many people know about it. Genetic engineering is a manipulation of an organism’s genes by using technology and other processes to change its genetic makeup. This process is important because it is used to improve medicine by producing life saving drugs, enhancing agriculture by helping create more nutritious crops, and advancing scientific research by looking at different gene functions.

The Evolution of Genetic Engineering

Image from Wikimedia Commons A very important field of engineering is genetic engineering and not many people know about it. Genetic engineering is a manipulation of an organism’s genes by using technology and other processes to change its genetic makeup. This…

Frog Friday – Green Is Always in Style Central American Smilisca (Smilisca phaeota) Image from Wikimedia Commons Listen to the call of the Central American Smilisca

Frog Friday – Green Is Always in Style

Central American Smilisca (Smilisca phaeota) Image from Wikimedia Commons Listen to the call of the Central American Smilisca

Winged Wednesday – Strike A Pose Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) Image from Wikimedia Commons

Winged Wednesday – Strike A Pose

Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) Image from Wikimedia Commons

Survival of the Fittest, or the Fastest Grown? Imagine yourself winter-fishing at your favorite Johnson County-run lake with your family, and the fish at the end of your line is a beautiful Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). You instantly start admiring its sleek, colorful, and wild look. The thing is, it's not wild. What you may not realize is that this fish has spent its entire life in a hatchery, where food is abundant, and predators are non-existent.

Survival of the Fittest, or the Fastest Grown?

Imagine yourself winter-fishing at your favorite Johnson County-run lake with your family, and the fish at the end of your line is a beautiful Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). You instantly start admiring its sleek, colorful, and wild look. The…

How Understanding Our Environment Can Help Treat Disease On the 23rd of December, 2025, I was admitted to the hospital and underwent surgery for the removal of a perennial fistula: one of the many symptoms those who live with Crohn’s disease may face daily. Along with other symptoms, like stomach pain and excessive weight loss, this is the reality for many who have some variation of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease, a type of…

How Understanding Our Environment Can Help Treat Disease

On the 23rd of December, 2025, I was admitted to the hospital and underwent surgery for the removal of a perennial fistula: one of the many symptoms those who live with Crohn’s disease may face daily. Along with other symptoms, like stomach…

Mammal Monday – Bye-Bye Woolly Mammoths Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) skeleton Image from Wikimedia Commons Read more about wooly mammoths here.

Mammal Monday – Bye-Bye Woolly Mammoths

Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) skeleton Image from Wikimedia Commons Read more about wooly mammoths here.

White protest sign that reads: “No Kings!” [Painting of orange and black monarch butterfly] “This is the only orange monarch I will follow.”

White protest sign that reads: “NO KINGS” [AI-generated painting of a bald eagle’s head staring straight into the camera pictured in front of the Stars and Stripes] “EAGLY DISAPPROVES”

These are my signs for tomorrow.

The Eagly from “Peacekeeper” reference may not make sense to everyone, but I like it anyway.

Mysterious Meow-tations Image from Wikimedia Commons From Garfield, to Puss in Boots, to your neighbor’s crazy cat, orange cats are everywhere in society and in the media. Because of this, it’s common knowledge to many cat-loving people that orange cats are, shall we say, special (i.e. they have earned themselves a reputation as colorful as their fur). Now, though, two separate studies done by a…

Mysterious Meow-tations

Image from Wikimedia Commons From Garfield, to Puss in Boots, to your neighbor’s crazy cat, orange cats are everywhere in society and in the media. Because of this, it’s common knowledge to many cat-loving people that orange cats are, shall we say, special (i.e. they have…

Frog Friday – Silence Is Golden Golden Toad (Incilius periglenes) Image from Wikimedia Commons Sadly, this amazing creature is thought to be extinct. It has not been seen since 1989.

Frog Friday – Silence Is Golden

Golden Toad (Incilius periglenes) Image from Wikimedia Commons Sadly, this amazing creature is thought to be extinct. It has not been seen since 1989.

Climate Change and Its Profound Impact Climate change, exacerbated by plastic pollution and unsustainable production methods, poses a considerable threat to both biodiversity and the health of ecosystems. Immediate changes in how we produce and consume goods are essential to mitigate these issues that are caused as a result of climate change. People in society often wonder, what really is climate change? At its core, climate change refers to the significant alterations in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions over extended periods of time.

Climate Change and Its Profound Impact

Climate change, exacerbated by plastic pollution and unsustainable production methods, poses a considerable threat to both biodiversity and the health of ecosystems. Immediate changes in how we produce and consume goods are essential to mitigate these issues…

Winged Wednesday – Administrative Assistant Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) Image from Wikimedia Commons

Winged Wednesday – Administrative Assistant

Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) Image from Wikimedia Commons