Hanne Strager

Experience the hauntingly beautiful world of orcas, and discover the stories that unfold when humans enter oceans alongside them.Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award by the NOBA Foundation, Honorable mention for the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Awards by the Northland CollegeWhen intrepid biology student Hanne Strager volunteered to be the cook on a small research vessel in Norway's Lofoten Islands, the trip inspired a decades-long journey into the lives of killer whales—and an exploration of people's complex relationships with the biggest predators on earth. The Killer Whale Journals chronicles the now internationally renowned science writer's fascinating adventures around the world, documenting Strager's personal experiences with orcas in the wild. Killer whales' incredible intelligence, long life spans, and strong family bonds lead many people to see them as kindred spirits in the sea. But not everyone feels this way—like wolves, orcas have been both beloved and vilified throughout human history. In this absorbing odyssey, Strager traces the complicated relationship between humans and killer whales, while delving into their behavior, biology, and ecology. She brings us along in her travels to the most remote corners of the world, battling the stormy Arctic seas of northern Norway with fellow biologists intent on decoding whale-song, interviewing First Nations conservationists in Vancouver, observing Inuit hunters in Greenland, and witnessing the dismantling of black market "whale jails" in the Russian wilderness of Kamchatka. Through these captivating stories, Strager introduces us to a diverse cast of characters from Inuit elders to Australian Aboriginal whalers and guides us through the world's wild waters, from fjords above the Arctic circle in Norway to the poaching-infested waters off Kamchatka. Featuring astonishing photographs from famed nature photographer and conservationist Paul Nicklen, The Killer Whale Journals reveals rare and intimate moments of connection with these fierce, brilliant predators.

A marvelously illustrated look at wild orcasOf the world’s iconic predatory species, orcas are among the most fearsome. Their awesome physical power combined with their cooperative hunting skills and ability to problem-solve make them uniquely efficient killers. Yet orcas also celebrate births, grieve losses, and maintain lifelong family bonds. This stunningly illustrated book draws on five decades of field research and cutting-edge science to provide an incomparable look at the biology, natural history, culture, and conservation of these awe-inspiring marine animals. It explores the behaviors and characteristics of the world’s diverse orca populations—from Antarctica, Iceland, and South America to Norway, Spain, South Africa, the Pacific Northwest of Canada, and the United States —and reveals the startling discoveries that scientists have made in recent years. Wild Orcas takes you on an epic ocean excursion to encounter these magnificent creatures as you have never seen them before.Features a wealth of breathtaking color photosCovers everything from social structure and family dynamics to evolution, physiology, interactions with humans, and the fascinating ways orcas learn from each otherExplores orcas’ underwater lives, such as how they “see” with soundDiscusses the innovative and state-of-the-art ways researchers study orcasSheds light on orca culture, from vocal dialects and hunting strategies to behaviors such as greeting ceremonies, beach rubbing, and porpoise tossing

In the 1930s, the pioneering Danish scientist Inge Lehmann (1888–1993) made a groundbreaking discovery about the nature of Earth. Analyzing data from earthquakes, she determined that the heart of the planet is a solid inner core. Her discovery overturned the widely accepted theory of the core being fluid, but she trusted her calculations: “If I am right, and I know I am,” she wrote in a letter. A fiercely independent thinker, Lehmann forever changed our understanding of our planet.If I Am Right, and I Know I Am provides a powerful portrait of an extraordinary woman while guiding readers through the fascinating history of earth science. Hanne Strager tells the story of Lehmann’s life and accomplishments, recounting how she battled inner demons and a mental breakdown and how she overcame pervasive prejudice to forge her own path in a male-dominated scientific world. In Lehmann’s era, women were expected to conform to rigid roles and were discouraged from pursuing serious academic careers. Even as Lehmann became a leading geophysicist, she had to navigate not only gender bias but also the isolation of being a lone woman in an overwhelmingly male field. Strager also follows the traces of an elusive love letter linking Lehmann romantically to another woman. The first biography of Lehmann, this book seamlessly weaves together her personal life and scientific achievements, highlighting her resilience and brilliance.

Hanne Strager fortæller om sine egne oplevelser med spækhuggere og om sine rejser rundt i verden, hvor hun har samlet beretninger om forholdet mellem mennesker og spækhuggere.Blandt andet:Den islandske spækhuggerkrig i 1950’erne, hvor amerikanske soldater fra Keflavik-basen med dybvandsbomber og maskingeværer dræbte mange hundrede spækhuggere.Hanne Stragers forskningsprojekt om norske spækhuggeres dialekter.Twofold Bay i det sydøstlige Australien, hvor hvalfangere og spækhuggere gennem 70-80 år samarbejdede om at dræbe bardehvaler. Spækhuggerne spiste tungen og læberne – hvalfangerne var kun interesserede i spækket. Spækhuggerne annoncerede en stor bardehvals ankomst ved at slå med halen. Samarbejdet eksisterede i 70-80 år.Det russiske forskningsprojekt ved Kamchatkahalvøen, hvor man har identificeret 25 familier med 800 individer og studerer spækhuggernes sociale struktur. Om spækhuggere som angriber både i Biscayen og har i nogle tilfælde sænket dem. Bogen er illustreret med 50 af Hanne Stragers fotos fra hele verden.

Skyggezone, af biolog og forfatter Hanne Strager, er den første biografi skrevet om Inge Lehmann. Bogen er blevet til på baggrund af en lang række breve, dokumenter og videnskabelige artikler fra Rigsarkivet og personlige breve i familiens eje. Inge Lehmann, 1888-1993, var geofysiker og var med til at grundlægge seismologien, en helt ny videnskab, i 1930’erne og årtierne derefter. En lidenskabelig trang til at blive til noget, havde fået hende til at overhøre alle de velmente råd fra sin familie, der på ingen måde syntes, hun skulle studere, og hun endte med at blive den første kvindelige seismolog i verden. I 1936 fremførte hun hypotesen, at Jorden har en fast indre kerne, hvilket skulle vise sig at være rigtigt. Hun trådte ind i en international forskerverden med imødekommende kollegaer, men hjemme i Danmark mødte hun akademisk snobberi, mandschauvinisme og vanetænkning. Hanne Strager tegner et nueanceret portræt af vores store danske seismolog, som blev anderkendt i udlandet før herhjemme, og som først er blevet kendt bredere i den danske befolkning de senere år.

The stories behind the greatest treasures of the museum lead the reader into worlds of sea monsters and stranded whales, stones falling from the sky and prehistoric animals emerging from the ground. They tell of ancient human skulls found in Brazilian caves and beautiful flowers in the Danish landscape; of the very last pair of great auks in this world; and about a unique gift from Darwin that was first lost and forgotten but recently rediscovered. The stories tell of objects meticulously collected throughout centuries from every corner of the world - by explorers, naturalists and scientists. And now they are to be found, guarded and stores with care, at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. This book serves as a tribute to our collection, our history, our treasures - our Precious Things.

Historierne om museets største skatte handler om søuhyrer og strandede hvaler, om sten der falder ned fra himlen, og fortidsdyr, der dukker op af jorden, om menneskekranier i Brasiliens huler og smukke blomster i det danske landskab, om verdens allersidste to gejrfugle og en enestående gave fra Darwin, der først blev glemt og siden genfundet. Det er historier om genstande fra hele verden, der gennem århundreder er samlet ind af opdagelsesrejsende, naturhistorikere og videnskabsfolk, og som nu befinder sig på Statens Naturhistoriske Museum. Bogen er en hyldest til vores samlinger, vores historie, vores skatte – det dyrebare.