Margaret Osborne

Moab, United States

Freelance science writer, fact-checker & producer | bylines @SmithsonianMag, @TheScientistLLC, @WSHUPublicradio + more | producer @TWC_pod | @SBUjournalism grad

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Articles

32 of the world's smartest animals

Sep 25, 2024 | livescience.com | Margaret Osborne

Measuring animal intelligence is tricky. As humans, we can only compare the smarts of other creatures with our own — an inherently biased benchmark. "Asking which species is smarter is like asking if a hammer is a better tool than a screwdriver," Brian Hare, founder and director of Duke University's Canine Cognition Center, told PBS in 2018.
What happens to meat as it's cooked?

Aug 31, 2024 | livescience.com | Margaret Osborne

When you cook steak over the grill, it becomes firmer, turns brown and begins to give off an enticing smell. But exactly what is happening to the meat as it's being cooked? "There's a lot of processes that go on," Wes Osburn, an associate professor of meat science at Texas A&M University, told Live Science. "It goes through a pretty complex series of chemical reactions."One of these processes is called protein gelation. Proteins are structurally important in meats.
Why do cats hate closed doors?

Aug 23, 2024 | livescience.com | Margaret Osborne

If you've ever witnessed a cat in front of a closed door, you might notice how much they seem to be annoyed by it. They might poke a furry arm under the crack, begin to paw at the door or even attack it while letting out agitated meows. But why do cats seem to hate closed doors so much? Both evolution and pet owners themselves play a role, experts say. Part of it is that cats are curious and have a fear of missing out (FOMO), said Dr. Karen Sueda, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
The Smell of Human Stress Leads Dogs to Make More Pessimistic Decisions, Study Suggests

Jul 26, 2024 | msn.com | Margaret Osborne

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The Smell of Human Stress Leads Dogs to Make More Pessimistic Decisions, Study Suggests

Jul 26, 2024 | smithsonianmag.com | Margaret Osborne

Dogs are renowned for their incredible sense of smell. With noses up to 10,000 times more sensitive than our own, our canine companions can sniff out bombs, track down missing people and sense illness or stress in humans. Now, in a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have discovered that smelling stressed-out humans may influence how a dog behaves. “For thousands of years, dogs have learned to live with us, and a lot of their evolution has been alongside us.
If birds are dinosaurs, why aren't they cold-blooded?

Jun 21, 2024 | livescience.com | Margaret Osborne

For more than 100 years, researchers assumed that dinosaurs were like giant lizards: sluggish reptiles that spent most of their day basking in the sun. This image changed when we started to realize that dinosaurs were far more similar to birds than to modern-day lizards. Today, researchers agree that birds are technically dinosaurs — the only ones to have survived the mass extinction 66 million years ago. Yet, if that's true, why aren't birds cold-blooded like most modern-day reptiles?
Moab’s Community Artist in the Parks hunts for native wildflower blooms

May 2, 2024 | moabsunnews.com | Jason Strother |Kelly Smith |Margaret Osborne

Annie Dalton has been finding artistic inspiration in the vast desert landscapes of the Southwest for years. From rock and erosion patterns to native wildflowers, elements of the natural world seep into her work as both a ceramicist and a two-dimensional artist. Earlier this month, Dalton began her tenure as the 2024 Community Artist in Parks.
Talking Trash: Local advocates bring recycling education to Moab students

May 2, 2024 | moabsunnews.com | Jason Strother |Margaret Osborne |Kelly Smith

The U.S. creates more waste than anywhere else in the world, with the average American producing nearly 1,800 pounds annually. It’s widely recognized that reducing, reusing, and recycling are key parts of the fight to maintain a healthy planet – and local advocates are hoping to instill the importance of those tactics to young people in Moab.
Cosmo’s Corner: a concert connoisseur cat

May 2, 2024 | moabsunnews.com | Jason Strother |Kelly Smith |Margaret Osborne

Good day, and a hearty meow, my friends. What a splendid time of year it is to hear music out of doors! I love few things more than sitting outside in the library courtyard listening to the symphony of bird song all around. Birds aren’t the only thing performing in the library courtyard this month. I’m excited to announce that the library is hosting a courtyard concert this weekend featuring a human musician, Sean Gaskell. This Saturday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in the courtyard of the Moab Library (257 E.
Citizen Scientists Document a Recovering Colorado River

Jan 25, 2024 | smithsonianmag.com | Margaret Osborne

Sitting around a fire at a campsite along the Colorado River in Utah, boater Mike DeHoff flips through old photos of the area. Scientists from the United States Geological Survey circle around him and peer interestedly over his shoulder. He points to an old picture of the North Wash boat ramp, where the group is camped.