Everything is ephemeral - including bioephemera.
As of today, May 31, I'm going on hiatus for at least this summer - and probably longer. While I've met many wonderful fellow bloggers and faithful readers through the blog, keeping BioE going has become a significant investment of time that I just don't have. Since I started blogging, there's been an explosion in the number of blogs covering crossover sciart topics, like Morbid Anatomy, where I found the delicious image above. So I just don't feel BioE is strictly needed anymore - if it ever was. And I need to refocus on work, life, and art.
I deeply appreciate all of your interest and loyalty, and hope that someday BioE may return, in a limited form - in the meantime, best wishes to all of you. It's been a blast.
Image: "Yasutaro Mitsui poses with his own steel humanoid, Tokyo, Japan, in 1932." Via Morbid Anatomy via Retroliciousdesigns.
Comments
What a shame. I'll miss you.
Posted by: commandax | May 31, 2010 11:35 PM
I'm really sorry to read this. I find your blog to be one of the more enjoyable things I read anywhere. Also, I'm on the last chapter of, "A Plague of Frogs," the book you recommended. It has been a great read and for me a reminder of what science is, both good and bad, as well as how a personal agenda can effect perception of events. I haven't read this last chapter yet, and was really surprised at the turn of events in the two pages immediately before it. Also, there was a great quote that unfortunately I can't attribute: "Hypothesis are to be tested, not argued. If you want to argue hypothesis you should become a theologian(not a scientist)." Perhaps a bit of a paraphrase...but a really cool quote none the less. Enjoy your time off and I'm sorry to hear you're going.
Posted by: Mike Olson | May 31, 2010 11:57 PM
Oh no!! I always looked forward to your posts very much and will miss them enormously. :( Good luck with things to come.
Posted by: Julia | June 1, 2010 12:30 AM
Aw, I just found out about this place a couple of weeks ago.
Well, have a great summer. (And I hope the blogging withdrawal isn't too bad. Just bad enough that you come back..)
Posted by: magetoo | June 1, 2010 1:02 AM
Bioephemera is wonderful blog, I have only discovered it this year and enjoy reading your posts. I don't suppose blogging less is an option after the summer?
Warm wishes for a wonderful summer anyway and thank you !
Nicola
Posted by: Nicola | June 1, 2010 1:59 AM
BioE is dead. Long live BioE! Good luck with your future projects.
Posted by: Joseph Hewitt | June 1, 2010 3:00 AM
Fare thee well, Jessica. You'll be missed.
Posted by: chezjake | June 1, 2010 5:27 AM
I'll miss your writing as much as the subject!
Best wishes to you Jessica!
Posted by: Glendon Mellow | June 1, 2010 6:44 AM
Well good luck going forward however, & all that. I've been a loyal reader-- let me know if you have future public projects!
Posted by: mordicai | June 1, 2010 7:19 AM
I and my kids will miss you. I'll keep you in my following folder in case you care to post an occasional message from the amazing places art and life will take you. Have a beautiful journey!
Posted by: Virginia | June 1, 2010 7:35 AM
I'm very sad to hear this; it's one of my favourite blogs, and I will really miss it. Good luck with all your future projects!
Posted by: fuchsoid | June 1, 2010 8:23 AM
Noo! I hope you come back after the summer. But if you don't, I will surely miss your always thoughtful writing and diversity of posts.
Good luck and thank you.
Posted by: Joe Leasure | June 1, 2010 8:30 AM
Thanks for an entertaining blog, have a good break!
Posted by: Joe Fogey | June 1, 2010 8:31 AM
I'm sad to see BioE go (even temporarily) Jessica, but I hope the blogging break does you good and that you do come back someday!
Posted by: Brian Switek | June 1, 2010 8:41 AM
Best of luck for the break.
I've been a more-or-less daily visitor. I don't blog sci + art but as an art student at high school who moved to science at university, it's been nice to follow. I don't know if I'll ever get back to art — haven't since I was young after all — but I can understand why you want to spend time elsewhere. I probably better appreciate now that I have a blog of my own to babysit...
If your break gets gets you are as far away as New Zealand, let me know ;-)
Posted by: Grant | June 1, 2010 8:44 AM
Noooooo.... I'll miss you. You might not think your blog is unique or special but plenty of us think otherwise, and you're the one that makes it so. Enjoy your life and hopefully we'll be hearing from you now and then. I'll keep you on my google reader subscriptions for whenever you post again :)
Posted by: Patricia | June 1, 2010 9:43 AM
Good luck with all your future projects! I'll miss reading your blog. Have a great summer!
Posted by: LRU | June 1, 2010 10:08 AM
I've enjoyed this blog so much...but real life comes first. I know you'll be making this world a far more interesting place, no matter WHAT you're doing!
Posted by: Dana | June 1, 2010 10:19 AM
Sad to hear, but completely understandable. Just know your blog was on my RSS feed and has led me to many wonderful places that I never would have seen otherwise. Enjoy your summer and best of luck with your future pursuits.
Posted by: Agnes | June 1, 2010 10:29 AM
Will miss you.
There may be other blogs that cover similar topics, but that doesn't make BioE any less special. I've always liked the personality of this blog. Morbid Anatomy (to use your example) seems to have a drier, more journalistic style, and is also much more narrowly focussed.
Posted by: Adrian Morgan | June 1, 2010 10:47 AM
Best of luck!
Posted by: Snail | June 1, 2010 11:15 AM
So sorry to hear that you're taking off for an extended period. I always look forward to your posts. They're not anything like I would encounter on my own rummaging of the internet. Thank you for all those new things you've brought out. You may not think that the site is needed, but it's been greatly appreciated. All the best!
Posted by: mylasticus | June 1, 2010 11:15 AM
Love you Jessica! bioe is awesome =)
Posted by: Anon | June 1, 2010 11:45 AM
Enjoy the free time!
I hope, after a break, you find and enjoy new ways to continue your public communication.
Posted by: bsci | June 1, 2010 12:00 PM
Hi Jessica
I will sincerely miss you on the blogosphere. You were one of my chief inspirations for starting Morbid Anatomy; you blog was one of the first who made me see the potential of blogging in the first place.
You will be missed, but hope to meet you in person some day soon.
Love,
Joanna
Posted by: Joanna | June 1, 2010 12:01 PM
I'll miss you!!!! I hope you come back soon!
Posted by: Scicurious | June 1, 2010 12:31 PM
One of my favorite is going silent....
I'm sure you'll be back. You'll be back. I'm sure.
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 1, 2010 12:32 PM
Just a post week, that's all your faithful following asks... Don't give it up totally, you're one of the few sane ones left on this site.
Posted by: Onkel Bob | June 1, 2010 12:46 PM
I really enjoyed your blog! Best wishes
Posted by: Jonathon Smith | June 1, 2010 1:04 PM
You know that I'm gonna miss you like crazy.
Big squishy nerdy hugs.
Posted by: Esmeralda | June 1, 2010 1:17 PM
You know that I'm gonna miss you like crazy.
Big squishy nerdy hugs.
Posted by: Esmeralda | June 1, 2010 1:17 PM
Good luck!
Posted by: The Science Pundit | June 1, 2010 1:21 PM
Your blog has been a treasure. Thanks for hanging in as long as you did. Enjoy your extra time.
Posted by: Jon Hanson | June 1, 2010 1:47 PM
Your ability to consistently find imagery that amazes and delights will be sorely missed by this reader. Good luck with current and future endeavors!
Posted by: DrugMonkey | June 1, 2010 1:55 PM
We'll miss you, but there is life after blogging. Enjoy it!
Posted by: sciwo | June 1, 2010 2:25 PM
:(
Posted by: Geoffrey | June 1, 2010 8:35 PM
Nay nay nay! I am so very sorry to see you depart.
Posted by: David Dobbs | June 1, 2010 8:51 PM
Aww, we'll miss you!!! Thanks for all the cool posts - your blog is one of my favorites.
Linda
Posted by: LindaCO | June 1, 2010 10:22 PM
AAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm gonna miss BioE- I do hope you'll stop back now and again with more crazy science art.
Posted by: Alex Wild | June 1, 2010 11:14 PM
oh! this is sad news indeed. I look forward to the eclectic offerings your blog has offered and will miss reading your posts. wish you well and hope that BioE rises like a phoenix from the ashes.
Posted by: pupating | June 2, 2010 12:46 AM
I'll miss you, BioE! Enjoy your break, though. It is well deserved.
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | June 2, 2010 1:38 AM
I completely agree with all the comments above, and here in Yorkshire (UK) you will be missed not just by me, but by my teaching colleagues here at college and my students who I constantly bug to look at your great posts... My mornings will be that much more dull and less inspired with your blog now going into cryo-freeze...
Regardless, thank you for all the great posts you gave us previously... and good luck in all your endeavours in the real world.
Take care, and 'bye,
g.
Posted by: Gareth Sleightholme | June 2, 2010 3:54 AM
Thanks for all the great things you've found for us over the years... I hope we'll find you again in another incarnation!! Best wishes - Kattato Garu
Posted by: Kattato Garu | June 2, 2010 4:47 AM
Oh no! I'll miss your writings and insight terribly! Thank you so much for expanding my horizons and may your art-related ventures prosper.
Posted by: E du Plessis | June 2, 2010 5:29 AM
Sad news indeed, but I wish you well on your new ventures. BioE has been the morbid little light in my life and I will sorely miss it.
Many thanks, Jessica!
Posted by: Kirsten Imani Kasai | June 2, 2010 1:00 PM
I've been reading BioE for some time. While there are other SciArt sites, I think your insight and point of view is far too unique to be dismissed as not "strictly needed anymore - if it ever was."
Good luck with what you do. You'll be missted.
Posted by: Steven Popkes | June 2, 2010 4:48 PM
I agree with Mr. Popkes-- you do have a unique perspective. you will be missed.
Posted by: Cindy | June 2, 2010 5:08 PM
That "... for now" sounds hopeful.
Best wishes!
Posted by: LAJ | June 2, 2010 7:43 PM
What a bummer! Your blog has become one of my favorites. I'll definitely miss it.
Posted by: Meggan | June 2, 2010 10:30 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Comrade PhysioProf | June 4, 2010 3:57 PM
Too late! BioE has left the building. ;)
Seriously, thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement - I'm so glad you enjoyed the blog! It's been fun, hasn't it? But there is much more out there on the internetz to explore. . .
(requisite on-point xkcd comic)
Posted by: Jessica Palmer
| June 5, 2010 1:36 PM
As much as I utterly sympathise with your situation, BAAAWWWWWWW!
Thankyou so much for so many delicious titbits of art and science since I've been reading, and I hope you have fun with whatever things you choose to fill your newly BioE-less time with.
Posted by: Oscar | June 7, 2010 8:35 AM
I am so sad to read this post. While I agree that there is a lot to explore out there on the web, I particularly enjoyed your insight and witty posts. BioE is unique and is among my favorite blogs. Good luck. I'm really going to miss it.
Posted by: Kari | June 9, 2010 4:22 PM
No way! My favorite Science Blog:(
YES, this blog is needed! And it has never disappointed. But I imagine it is a lot to keep up with.
Thanks for all your hard work, and hope you come back. In the meantime have a great summer!
Posted by: Isabel | June 10, 2010 2:01 AM
You have a lot on your plate, so I'm not surprised. Just sad, and yet inspired to seek out the wonderfully wacky web-stuff for myself now. Best of luck to you - BioE was a very special blog and you're the one who made it so. Enjoy the journey!
Posted by: Fifi | June 14, 2010 12:18 PM