TRITON Magazine Fall 2021 | Page 4

FEATURES

Laboratory Yellowstone

PAGE 24 It ’ s a story epochs in the making : how microscopic wildlife from a primordial pool in Yellowstone National Park unlocked the many applications of DNA science and kicked off a bioprospecting boom featuring several Tritons as players .
Early viewers of this issue ' s cover didn ' t know what to make of it : A psychedelic cell ? A flamboyant microorganism ? Close — just multiply by a few billon . The bright colors in this aerial shot of Yellowstone ' s Grand Prismatic Spring are microbial mats that thrive in hot water . Learn more on p . 24 , and stay on the boardwalks ! ( pictured on the left side )
Meet “ Darwin ’ s Monkey ”
Drawing upon 50 years of fieldwork in Africa , Professor Shirley Strum ’ s anthropological research yields new perspectives on baboon society .
Heat of the Moment
As the war with wildfire only gets worse , UC San Diego lends unique talents and technologies to first responders to help humanity fight smarter against a growing threat .
Wild at Art
Whether they use tree branches and backyard dirt or bright pink neon and sparkling glitter , alumni artists find the medium that captures their mode of expression .

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