Priscilla Long

Priscilla Long’s latest book is Dancing with the Muse in Old Age. She is also the author of two books of poetry, a collection of essays, the how-to guides Minding the Muse: A Handbook for Painters, Composers, Writers, and Other Creators and The Writer’s Portable Mentor, as well as Where the Sun Never Shines: A History of America’s Bloody Coal Industry.

Imperiled Planet

The ecological havoc we’ve wrought

By Priscilla Long | Tuesday September 3, 2024

We Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet

After Covid-19, what might be next?

By Priscilla Long | Thursday June 1, 2023
A picture of the moon

Ten Sights (I Wish I’d Seen)

Purple ocean’s majesty, the dodo, and other wonderful things

By Priscilla Long | Tuesday September 3, 2019

Becoming a Poet

By Priscilla Long | Monday August 29, 2016

How Chemistry Became Biology

And how LUCA, Earth’s first living cell, became Lucas, my adorable grandnephew

By Priscilla Long | Monday December 7, 2015

What Killed My Sister?

The answer—schizophrenia—only leads to more perplexing questions

By Priscilla Long | Tuesday March 11, 2014

Remembering Steve

A tribute to my friend Stephen Jay Gould

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday July 3, 2013

Till We Meet Again

And thanks for dropping by

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday June 26, 2013

How Mauve Was Her Garment

The effect of coal tar on Queen Victoria’s gown

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday June 19, 2013

Saturn

How the sixth planet from the sun is like a rubber duck

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday June 12, 2013

Life

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday January 11, 2012

Habitat Me

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday January 4, 2012

Oxygen

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday December 28, 2011

Elementary, My Dear …

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday December 21, 2011

Family Matters

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday December 14, 2011

Fungus, Fried

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday December 7, 2011

Our Red Giant

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday November 30, 2011

The Book of Life, Hard Copy

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday November 23, 2011

What Do Worms Want?

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday November 16, 2011

Ocean

By Priscilla Long | Wednesday November 9, 2011

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