Ask the Author: Thor Hanson
Answered Questions (9)
Thor Hanson
Hi Dianne,
Thanks for your kind words, and for this excellent question. The answer is . . . yes and no. During its lifetime, an individual plant certainly responds to immediate and past environmental conditions and can adjust the number and quality of seeds that it produces. For example, drought, disease, or other stressors may decrease seed quality if the plant is weakened, or in some cases may spur increased seed production in a sort of "last gasp" attempt to reproduce. There is little evidence, however, that an individual plant can anticipate the future. However, at the species level, evolution often produces great variability in seed traits and how they are expressed, which in a sense does prepare those seeds for a wide range of future weather conditions. I hope this helps, and thanks again for the question.
Thanks for your kind words, and for this excellent question. The answer is . . . yes and no. During its lifetime, an individual plant certainly responds to immediate and past environmental conditions and can adjust the number and quality of seeds that it produces. For example, drought, disease, or other stressors may decrease seed quality if the plant is weakened, or in some cases may spur increased seed production in a sort of "last gasp" attempt to reproduce. There is little evidence, however, that an individual plant can anticipate the future. However, at the species level, evolution often produces great variability in seed traits and how they are expressed, which in a sense does prepare those seeds for a wide range of future weather conditions. I hope this helps, and thanks again for the question.
Thor Hanson
Cool bees and good coffee is a pretty enticing offer! Though I don't have plans for Australian travel at the moment, I can at least suggest a marvelous bee behavior to keep an eye out for in your neck of the woods. If you haven't heard of it already, check out this article and video of the "head-banging" blue-banded bees: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/201512....
Thor Hanson
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your question, and for the kind words! My reading list is extremely varied - from scientific papers and creative nonfiction to novels and poetry. I enjoy all of it (or at least aspects of all of it!), but for pure relaxation I'm a great fan of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories (and Laurie King's terrific Mary Russell spin-offs), as well as anything by P. G. Wodehouse or poets like Mary Oliver and Billy Collins.
Thanks for your question, and for the kind words! My reading list is extremely varied - from scientific papers and creative nonfiction to novels and poetry. I enjoy all of it (or at least aspects of all of it!), but for pure relaxation I'm a great fan of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories (and Laurie King's terrific Mary Russell spin-offs), as well as anything by P. G. Wodehouse or poets like Mary Oliver and Billy Collins.
Thor Hanson
Hi Keshia,
"The Triumph of Seeds" contains 35 black and white images, including photographs, historical prints, and a series of lovely new seed illustrations from botanical artist Suzanne Olive.
Good luck in the Giveaway!
Best,
Thor
"The Triumph of Seeds" contains 35 black and white images, including photographs, historical prints, and a series of lovely new seed illustrations from botanical artist Suzanne Olive.
Good luck in the Giveaway!
Best,
Thor
Thor Hanson
The Triumph of Seeds came about in a perfectly natural way: my little boy told me to write it. He's always been obsessed with seeds - eating them, planting them, sorting them, and digging them out of any unsuspecting piece of fruit close to hand. Seeds were a constant topic of conversation in our house when I was choosing a new book topic, and since I share his fascination, I was happy to oblige!
Thor Hanson
I don't wait for inspiration - I write anyway so that when inspiration comes I will be there with pen and and paper in hand.
Thor Hanson
1. Read. 2. Write. 3. Repeat. This old adage is still the best advice I know for the writing life. The only thing I would add is the importance of reading aloud. Nothing reveals the awkward spots (or the inspired ones) in a piece of writing more quickly than giving voice to the words.
Thor Hanson
I think writers are all fundamentally curious people, and writing is one of the best ways to learn. My work allows me to immerse myself in topics that fascinate me, wading through a flood of information in search of compelling stories. (On the flip side of this question, one of the worst parts about writing is deciding which of those stories will be told, and which ones - however interesting - must to be left by the side of the road!)
Thor Hanson
I write very slowly, which sometimes makes it difficult to tell the difference between writer's block and my normal pace! Either way, I find the best cure is to keep at it - putting in the time even when the output seems paltry. The slow and steady approach may not be glamorous, but it means that I'm there working when the logjam does finally break.
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