by Janice Nigro Summer, sommer, l’estate…It’s a poetic word in most languages in most hemispheres summoning up the best of memories from childhood. For me, my memories are of spending all day at the swimming pool, Good Humor bars, and my birthday. As an adult, summer has become the season for art festivals. I have... Continue Reading →
Science, I can’t leave home without it
by Janice Nigro We travel to escape. To escape our work, to escape our lives, and maybe to escape who we are. I would be the first to admit to trying things on holidays that I would never attempt back home. There is ample opportunity; real gelato can only be eaten in Italy. But also no one is there... Continue Reading →
Octopuses: A case of suspended evolution?
by Janice Nigro Scientists just gave us yet another reason to love octopuses: RNA editing. Normally we are stuck with genes the way they are delivered to us when sperm and egg unite. RNA editing is a cellular tool enabling genetic diversity but without changing the DNA. Scientists have recently discovered that octopuses, along with other cephalopods, the cuttlefish and... Continue Reading →
Ode to the marine layer
We picture Los Angeles as a place where summer never ends. Sunshine is what we come west for. The truth is that gray days are as characteristic of the coast as sunny days. If you didn't know, we often wake up to a marine layer in Southern California, especially in summer. June gloom it's called.... Continue Reading →
Underwater photography: what it takes
Underwater photography: what it takes by Janice Nigro All in all, my recent participation in a local artists’ exhibition was a success. At least from my perspective. My name is officially listed under “artists” somewhere on the Internet. There my photographs were. Three small prints hanging on a wall. They were unique in this venue.... Continue Reading →
What made me do it…
What made me do it… by Janice Nigro Taking a look back at my first underwater photographs, I wonder what made me think I should keep on taking them. Now they make me laugh. It was a good thing that I only showed them to other people who had not seen very many underwater photographs either.... Continue Reading →
Go ahead, show off my art in your bathroom
Go ahead, show off my art in your bathroom by Janice Nigro Photos are arguably one of the things in our homes that give us the best perspective of the lives we lead, for our guests and more importantly for ourselves. Yet, despite the fact that our digital world brings us incredible numbers of fabulous images every day,... Continue Reading →
That’s an animal?
That’s an animal? by Janice Nigro There is still debate about where (and how) life began, on land or in the sea? Wherever it started, it feels as if the process is still taking place underwater. Evolution seems to be actively at work in the sea, making seemingly bad experiments into ones that produce results. You have... Continue Reading →
loving to night dive
Loving to night dive by Janice Nigro It has all of the elements of a good thriller. It’s night, it takes place under water, and wildlife is all around. Yes, I am talking about the night dive. I am not into scaring myself; I don’t like horror flicks or roller coaster rides, but I do love... Continue Reading →
What we don’t think about when planning a dive trip
What we don’t think about when planning a dive trip by Janice Nigro A lot of information sometimes goes into choosing a dive trip. What season is it? Is it good for whale sharks, humpback whales, grouper mating, coral spawning? What is the weather going to be like? rain? typhoon? Water temperature? (OK, I am... Continue Reading →