Patrick Hamilton
Science Museum of Minnesota
Director of Climate Change, Energy & the Environment at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Amateur orchardist. Tweets are my own.
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Articles by Patrick Hamilton
New ‘chronoworkers’ trend lets employees choose their hours based on when they’re sharpest
The hours "9 to 5" make a great movie and an even better Dolly Parton song. But for plenty of people, those set-in-stone banker's hours are a lousy fit. From congesting roads with rush-hour traffic to burdening working families, especially those with small children, it's not ideal. For most workers, it's simply something they have to accept because of corporate culture. But what if your brain fires on all cylinders at 5 a.m.? Or perhaps you do your best creative thinking at 7 p.m.?
New ‘chronoworkers’ trend lets employees choose their hours based on when they’re sharpest
New ‘chronoworkers’ trend lets employees choose their hours based on when they’re sharpest Fri, 16 October 2026 at 11:15 pm UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. An office worker starts to feel burnout during the typical 9-to-5 grind. The hours "9 to 5" make a great movie and an even better Dolly Parton song. But for plenty of people, those set-in-stone banker's hours are a lousy fit.
There’s a psychological reason you can’t stop decorating once you start. Here’s how to break the cycle.
Patrick Hamilton Thu, October 15, 2026 at 12:46 PM EDT 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Two women work on a redecorating project; a portrait of 18th-century philosopher Denis Diderot. Have you ever bought a single throw pillow to refresh your couch, only to suddenly feel like your entire living room looks completely out of sync?
There’s a psychological reason you can’t stop decorating once you start. Here’s how to break the cycle.
There’s a psychological reason you can’t stop decorating once you start. Here’s how to break the cycle. Thu, 15 October 2026 at 4:46 pm UTC Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Two women work on a redecorating project; a portrait of 18th-century philosopher Denis Diderot. Have you ever bought a single throw pillow to refresh your couch, only to suddenly feel like your entire living room looks completely out of sync?
Scientists found a sneaky physical tell that reveals when someone finds you attractive Original
How do you know if someone likes you? Not just enjoys having you around, but likes you, likes you? Anyone who has been dating for a while will tell you that interpreting someone else's signals can be an emotional rollercoaster. It's full of second-guessing every text message, laugh, and lingering glance. But what if the answer isn't hidden in what someone says, but in how your bodies unconsciously react to one another?
We need to work together to preserve our vessel — earth Original
A close friend of mine during my time at the University of Minnesota in Duluth earned money for school by working on a ship carrying iron ore pellets from Minnesota ports on Lake Superior to steel mills along the lower Great Lakes. My roommates and I would slip down to the terminal whenever his ship docked in town to surreptitiously chat with him while he and the other deckhands maneuvered the large vessel back and forth along the wharf to even out the loading of the cargo.
New Orleans was tossing bottles into landfills, so students upcycled 14 million lbs of glass into coastal sand Original
We've all had it drilled into us: reduce, reuse, recycle. But sometimes, putting that practice into motion can feel intimidating. What can one person do beyond sorting our trash where it's allowed and skipping the plastic bags at the grocery store? Two college students in New Orleans saw their city's lack of active glass recycling as an opportunity to make a massive impact. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana loses up to 75 square kilometers of wetlands per year due to normal erosion.
The heart shape doesn’t look like a heart. Here’s the odd story of how it took over.
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The heart shape doesn’t look like a heart. Here’s the odd story of how it took over.
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The heart shape doesn’t look like a heart. Here’s the odd story of how it took over.
Dave Stopera Mon, September 28, 2026 at 1:09 PM EDT 1 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google 1. The most gorgeous name: 2. A wonderul shape: 3. Some important life developments: 4. Some instant regret: 5. An interesting method: 6. A quick facial hair question: 7. The beauty of language: 8. A tiny mistake: 9. What true love looks like: 10. The beginning of a great adventure: 11. A modern-day miracle: 12. Unexplained phenomena: 13.
Nanny shares the secret of the most ‘intellectually advanced’ kids she’s ever cared for
Patrick Hamilton Mon, September 28, 2026 at 8:50 PM EDT 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google A young child sits on a couch and enjoys their tablet screen. A professional nanny observed that two toddlers who have never touched a screen are highly advanced in their development, speaking in full sentences and organizing toys by climate and time period.
FBI agent shares 3 red flags skeptical people consider when they think they’re being scammed
Most people like to think they can easily spot a scam. We've trained ourselves to believe that fraud is pretty obvious. Like in those poorly worded emails promising millions from a distant stranger. Well, times have changed. Modern scamming has transformed from one-off groups of unorganized individuals into a slick global criminal enterprise. Fraudsters design sophisticated psychological traps to bypass logic entirely.
Carbon-free future awaits those who plug in now
Let me propose an antidote if you are feeling discouraged, given our federal government’s current backsliding on environmental protection. Consider pursuing electrification, the substitution of electricity for the natural gas and gasoline you use in your daily life. First, electricity in Minnesota has been transformed from being our dirtiest source of energy to our cleanest.
Study finds Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ and nine other albums are linked to a 15% rise in car wrecks
Follow Study finds Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ and nine other albums are linked to a 15% rise in car wrecks Wed, September 9, 2026 at 7:51 PM EDT Taylor Swift plays songs from her 'Midnights' album during her Eras Tour, and a car wreck in Minneapolis, MN. Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Hospice nurse shares the ‘last word’ nearly every patient says before passing. It’s heartbreaking.
Critical care nurses report witnessing a subtle "shift" in patients right before death, with many expressing a clear awareness of their impending passing. Patients in their final moments frequently speak three distinct phrases: "Can you please tell my family I loved them?", "I don't feel good," and "I know I'm going to die," reflecting a peaceful acknowledgment of mortality. Peace activist and Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh once wrote that "Birth and death are two sides of the same coin.
Hospice nurse shares the ‘last word’ nearly every patient says before passing. It’s heartbreaking.
Patrick Hamilton Thu, September 3, 2026 at 6:29 PM EDT 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google A man in hospice utters his last words. The most common final word uttered by dying patients is "Mom," reflecting a foundational desire for comfort and safety. Critical care nurses report witnessing a subtle "shift" in patients right before death, with many expressing a powerful awareness of what is about to occur.
Experts share the thermostat ‘sweet spot’ to stay cool while keeping A/C costs down
Patrick Hamilton Mon, August 31, 2026 at 8:03 PM EDT 4 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Use your thermostat right and you won't sweat that electrical bill nearly as much. Summertime is here. Sun's out, kids are done with school, and temperatures are on the rise. According to forecasters, Americans are headed for a record-breaking scorcher of a summer.
‘Twilight Zone’ creator Rod Serling was asked where his ideas came from. His response was profound.
When we think of legendary television creators, few names carry the profound aura of Rod Serling. As the mastermind behind The Twilight Zone, he transported millions of viewers into dimension after dimension of imagination, shock, and surprise. He scripted beloved episodes like "Time Enough at Last," which finds Burgess Meredith's character pining for time to read, only to survive a nuclear blast because he was inside the bank vault at work—and then break his only pair of glasses.
USC roomies turn boring dorm into retro dream pad for $1300 with movie props and thrift store finds Original
Remember your college dorm room? Chances are it was utilitarian and bland by design. It probably featured cinderblock walls painted institutional beige that you and your roommate tried to improve by sticking up posters, photos, and art prints with removable putty. Today, the social-media-fueled craze to transform small dorm spaces into luxe landing pads is costing some families tens of thousands of dollars per year. For interior designers, business is booming.
USC roomies turn boring dorm into retro dream pad for $1,300 with movie props and thrift store finds
Remember your college dorm room? Chances are it was utilitarian and bland by design. It probably featured cinderblock walls painted institutional beige that you and your roommate tried to improve by sticking up posters, photos, and art prints with removable putty. Today, the social-media-fueled craze to transform small dorm spaces into luxe landing pads is costing some families tens of thousands of dollars per year. For interior designers, business is booming.
The true definition of a ‘good friend’ depends entirely on when you were born
Everyone wants a good friend—someone they can trust, share their feelings with, and bond over moments big and small. Finding friends in this digitally dominated age isn't easy, especially with the generation gap. If you've ever felt like you and your younger (or older) friends speak completely different languages, you're not imagining things. Across generations, our definitions of what makes a "good friend" shift dramatically.
Cheesecake Factory broke every rule with its massive 21-page menu. Here’s why it works.
Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Key takeaways Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Remember the last time you had a meal at The Cheesecake Factory?
War in Iran unleashes clean energy boom, but Trump leaving America behind
Back in the late '90s, I would meet occasionally with the project manager of the construction of the new Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul. She occupied a cramped cubicle just outside the president's office.
Book lovers will be happy to learn that reading is the greatest ‘cognitive enhancer’ known to man.
Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Key takeaways Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Bored by the same activities? Try some ‘Type 2’ fun. The joy hits later, but lasts a lot longer.
Picture this: You're halfway up a steep hiking trail. Your lungs are burning, your heart rate is climbing. Then rain suddenly pours from the sky, seeping through your "waterproof" jacket. Your buddies promised this would be a "fun" adventure, but now you're questioning every decision that brought you there. In that moment, you're undeniably miserable. Yet three days later, you're showing everyone photos of the view, beaming, and looking forward to getting back out there to do it all again.
That voice telling you you’re ‘not smart enough’ just lost its favorite argument
Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Key takeaways Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Ten-year-old butterfly researcher discovers that memories can be passed down through generations Original
The typical elementary-aged child in Japan spends their free time playing baseball, collecting Pokémon cards, and reading all the manga they can get their hands on. For Jo Nagai of Kobe, Japan, however, his spare time was filled with a more eclectic pursuit. He started hand-raising swallowtail butterflies. Asian swallowtails are identified by the bright dots that outline their wings. They're also fantastic pollinators for local plants and flowers.
Ten-year-old butterfly researcher discovers that memories can be passed down through generations
Apps 2 hours ago Shhh, It's a Secret: This Is the Best Way to Have a Private Conversation on Your iPhone CNET - Nelson Aguilar • 2h I use my iPhone's Notes app whenever I need to send discreet messages. Here's how it works. I use my iPhone to communicate with all my friends and family, but there are certain things I can't tell everyone.
Ten-year-old butterfly researcher discovers that memories can be passed down through generations
The typical elementary-aged child in Japan spends their free time playing baseball, collecting Pokémon cards, and reading all the manga they can get their hands on. For Jo Nagai of Kobe, Japan, however, his spare time was filled with a more eclectic pursuit. He started hand-raising swallowtail butterflies. Asian swallowtails are identified by the bright dots that outline their wings. They're also fantastic pollinators for local plants and flowers.
Opinion | If Musk really wants to colonize Mars, he should start with Antarctica
Opinion | If Musk really wants to colonize Mars, he should start with Antarctica Despite intensive exploration, it is still the only continent on Earth without permanent human habitation. Guest contributor(s) to the Minnesota Star Tribune Canyons formed by breaks in the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, Jan. 16. (CHANG W. LEE/The New York Times) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
Scientists found Vincent van Gogh’s hidden ‘fingerprint’ and it’s catching art forgers red-handed
Vincent van Gogh's work is instantly recognizable. Those swirling skies, the vibrant sunflowers, and the thick, heavy layers of paint that give his canvas a three-dimensional look. His boundary-pushing style captivates art lovers and historians alike. But as it turns out, the legendary Dutch Post-Impressionist left behind a truly unique signature. And no, we're not talking about his name scrawled in the corner of a canvas.
Experts share the thermostat ‘sweet spot’ to stay cool while keeping A/C costs down
Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Key takeaways Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Summertime is here. Sun's out, kids are done with school, and temperatures are on the rise.
Need your cash to stretch further in this economy? Try feng shui. Original
Grocery bills, gas prices...it feels like the cost of everything is going through the roof. So, it's not surprising that people are trying whatever they can to make their money stretch further. You might start up a side hustle. Perhaps cut a subscription or two. Or maybe you downgrade that dream vacation with the kids into a more cost-effective staycation. But what's there to do when even that doesn't feel like enough?
Algae blooms in the Boundary Waters show threat of global warming Original
Lienne Sethna and Adam Heathcote, scientists with the Science Museum of Minnesota, were paddling toward a portage in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on a mild, sunny August afternoon in 2024 when their canoe sliced through a glistening green scum floating on the water. The scientists, who are part of the St. Croix Watershed Research Station, were in the BWCAW to follow up on increasing reports in recent years of people encountering blue-green algae blooms on wilderness lakes.
An energy retrofit saved the Science Museum of Minnesota millions — why not do it everywhere? • Minnesota Reformer Original
The landline phone — remember those? — that sat on my desk rang in August 2008. On the line was the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Xcel Energy account manager. He kept the museum in his portfolio — tiny though we were compared to his large government and academic clients — because he liked collaborating with us on innovative energy education projects. He wanted to introduce the museum to someone achieving remarkable feats of building energy efficiency.
To create a healthy U.S. auto industry, stop bucking EV transition
In November 2024, my wife and I attended the global climate change summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Sandwiched between Russia to the north and Iran to the south, this country of about 10 million hugs the Caspian Sea’s west coast and is rich in oil and gas, which comprise 95% of the country’s total export revenues.
Trump's words don't match his actions on energy
By Patrick Hamilton These are just a few examples of the Trump administration's actions contradicting its own energy priorities while failing to address China's commanding leads in many vital 21st-century energy technologies. Its hostility to renewable energy is thwarting increased domestic energy production, reliability and security while kneecapping the creation of good-paying jobs for Americans in the clean energy economy.
Why Canada wildfire smoke is now a summer fixture in Minnesota
Opinion editor's note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here. I have added a new step to my morning routine. After promptly looking up the weather upon waking, I now check the air quality. If it's bad, how bad is it and how long might I have to try to avoid it? And if it's good, how long can I hope to enjoy it?
What the nation is now doing on climate instead of science
Going it alone, with neglect. March 18, 2025 at 10:29PM "Given the overwhelming scientific evidence that human-caused climate change is an urgent threat to the well-being of all of us, why does the Trump administration insist on denying reality?" Patrick Hamilton writes. (Jose Luis Magana/The Associated Press) Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of guest commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
‘Drill, baby, drill’ is a dead-end for most states
In contrast, Minnesota has economic opportunities in renewable energy if the political climate will allow them. January 7, 2025 at 11:29PM "While the amount of solar energy varies greatly across the U.S., the stunning decline in the cost of solar panels over the past decade means that solar energy is now economical virtually everywhere in the country," Patrick Hamilton writes. Above, the University of Minnesota Law School's solar panel array in Minneapolis.
Let’s Go All In
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2022 issue of Museum magazine, a benefit of AAM membership. Last summer, when my wife and I started making arrangements to attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow that November (her sixth and my fifth), the United Nations estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 would attend.
OPINION EXCHANGE | Lessening the urban/rural solar divide
One of us was a fourth-generation farmer, and the other has called the Twin Cities home for more than 40 years. While our backgrounds and experiences differ, we share a commitment to the economic and environmental well-being of all Minnesotans and the importance of rural-urban partnerships to accomplish these goals. Here is a modest proposal that, while it would not resolve all our urban/rural differences, could lessen them while indicating how we might reduce them even more.
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