Randy Olson

Ethiopia’s Omo Valley | Africa’s Last Frontier, National Geographic Magazine

This is a fairly simple and sad story—a snapshot of cultures in southern Ethiopia that will disappear. The … … More

7 Billion Humans in 2011 | National Geographic Magazine

By the United Nations estimates, the world’s population is now over seven billion. The first billion people accumulated over … … More

China’s “Comfort Class” | The Bling Dynasty, National Geographic Magazine

“Never in the course of human history has a larger number of people gained more wealth in such … … More

Kamchatka, Russia | Where the Salmon Rule, National Geographic Magazine

This is a story about fish and the social fabric that exists around the last salmon stronghold on … … More

7 Billion Humans | Empty Pockets, The Youth Bulge in Developing World

Empty pockets – Fertile Developing World: Half of Uganda’s population is under the age of 15 and they … … More

The Human Cost of Gold | National Geographic Magazine

Throughout civilization, gold has commanded more respect than any other substance. King Ferdinand of Spain said, “Get gold … … More

Indus Valley | Clues to an Ancient Civilization, National Geographic

Nearly 5,000 years ago as Bronze Age civilizations developed in Mesopotamia and Egypt, great cities arose along the … … More

7 Billion Humans | Empty Nests in the Aging Developed World

Empty Nests: Europe, Russia and Japan are aging and producing more empty nests than offspring. Every child in … … More

Shattered Sudan | Drilling for Oil, Hoping for Peace, National Geographic

Sudan is the largest country in Africa. Two and a half million Sudanese have died—the most casualties anywhere … … More

Global Fish Crisis | Still Waters, National Geographic Magazine

The diversion of low-value fish from the mouths of people in developing countries into the mouths of well-fed … … More

7 Billion Humans | Immigration

Immigration: In this urbanized world where rich, poor, young and old from all cultures and with different customs … … More

Ituri Forest Pygmies | Who Rules the Forest? National Geographic Magazine

“Pygmy” refers to any human group whose adult males reach less than 150 cm (4 feet 11 inches) … … More

Black Sea Culture, Crucible of the Gods, National Geographic Magazine

The Black Sea, lying along the northern border of present-day Turkey, was the end of the world for … … More

7 Billion Humans | Urbanization

Urbanization: Population shift into and out of the cities is a particularly interesting dynamic. We became an urban … … More

Maasai: Lost in the Stampede, National Geographic Magazine

The Serengeti may be one of the healthiest ecosystems on the planet. But while many work tirelessly to … … More

Rural America’s Last Hurrah, County Fairs, National Geographic

County fairs—a celebration of harvest, skills, productivity, and survival—are reality shows for city dwellers, and an annual last … … More

Remote Russia: Expedition to Putorana Plateau, National Geographic

It takes two vans to get everything to the airport. The helicopter is a flying gas tank, carrying … … More

Australia’s Monsoonal North, Wet Down Under, National Geographic

I was assigned to do a story about monsoon season in Northern Australia. Simple really, a story about … … More

Search this site