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Rick LeCouteur
Inviting young readers to marvel at the wonder of nature's creatures
Rick's Blog
#bunyipsbooksbeyond
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The Dingo’s Dilemma: What it means to be native (#295)
Stretching nearly 3,500 miles across Australia’s arid interior, the Dingo Fence is the longest man-made barrier in the world. Built not...
Rick LeCouteur
Apr 33 min read
Helium in Crisis: Science, sanctions, and scarcity (#294)
We all know helium as the gas that makes party balloons float and gives your voice that squeaky cartoon pitch when inhaled. But behind...
Rick LeCouteur
Apr 25 min read
From Lectures to Likes: Veterinary education is evolving (#289)
Once upon a time, the only way to learn from a veterinarian was in person. In the lecture hall, in the lab, in a practice or on a rural...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 294 min read
Ink, Memory, and Madrid: A Mont Blanc pen and second chances (#287)
In October 2000, I had the pleasure of traveling to Madrid to deliver a series of eight lectures on neurology. The setting was...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 262 min read
Corporate Consolidation & The Opium Wars: Tales of power, profit, & consequence (#286)
I believe that the more you know about the past, the better you are prepared for the future Theodore Roosevelt History often repeats...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 254 min read
Australia’s Global Gift: The origin of songbirds and their sweet tooth (#285)
When you think of iconic Australian contributions to the world, a few things might spring to mind. Vegemite on toast. Marsupial-inspired...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 253 min read
Wi-Fi to Why Try? The rise and stall of Aussie science (#284)
It’s a classic pub-quiz trivia question: Who invented Wi-Fi? The answer, Australians love to say with pride, is: We did! Not so fast...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 253 min read
The Corporate Church: How the Mormon church is buying up Australian farmland (#279)
In recent years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) , commonly known as the Mormon Church , has made...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 194 min read
Nikola Tesla’s Pigeon: Love, loneliness, and a global vision (#277)
Nikola Tesla , the brilliant inventor whose name is synonymous with electricity and wireless technology, was a man of boundless intellect...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 173 min read
More Than a Story: Branding in children's picture books (#276)
Admiral William H. McRaven, renowned for his distinguished 37-year career as a U.S. Navy SEAL and leadership roles, including overseeing...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 163 min read
Elephants and Cancer: Peto’s paradox (#275)
Cancer is a disease that affects millions of species, including humans, yet some animals have developed remarkable resistance to it....
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 163 min read
Veterinary Business Practices: Lessons from the Boxer Rebellion (#274)
You have to know the past to understand the present Carl Sagan The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) was more than just an anti-foreign...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 145 min read
The First “Cat” Scan: A milestone in veterinary medicine (#273)
Cat positioned for the first CAT Scan of a Cat The introduction of computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning, later called computed...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 134 min read
Whiskers and Worship: The Enigmatic Cats of Gokogu Shrine (#272)
Nestled in the coastal town of Ushimado, Japan, the Gokogu Shrine stands as a testament to harmonious coexistence between humans and a...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 123 min read
Feline Silk Road: How cats arrived in China over 1,400 years ago (#270)
The Silk Road was more than just a network of trade routes. It was a lifeline of cultural exchange, carrying goods, ideas, and even...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 124 min read
The Mammouse and Genetic Science: From fairytale to lab (#269)
Nature is full of surprises, but sometimes, the most intriguing creatures are the ones that exist only in our imagination. Enter the...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 113 min read
Biomimicry in Motion: The kingfisher that transformed high-speed rail (#268)
Japan’s Shinkansen , or bullet trains, are an engineering marvel, reaching speeds of over 320 km/h (200 mph) while gliding almost...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 112 min read
The Nostalgia Effect: How memories shape our well-being (#267)
There’s something about nostalgia that tugs at the heartstrings. A bittersweet feeling that blends joy with longing, and warmth with...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 93 min read
Forward Bound: Australia's Coat of Arms (#265)
Did you know that the Australian coat of arms holds a hidden message of progress? The design features two iconic native animals - the...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 62 min read
Failing Forward: A lesson, not a verdict (#263)
Failure is a universal experience, yet it remains one of the most feared aspects of life. We are conditioned to avoid it, to view it as...
Rick LeCouteur
Mar 43 min read
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