retrospectacle | June 24, 2008
Hi everyone, thought I'd drop by and say hello and remind ScienceBlogs (as well as myself) that I do still exist beyond the lab, and have not yet degenerated into a shadowy specter capable only of writing up data in the bowels of the University of Michigan. I have gotten very pale though, so that may be debatable. Anyway, the thesis work is chugging along and I now have a defense planned for December (of 2008!!!!). I'm currently looking around at post doc positions for after that, but not before I take a good long breather to the tune of 4-5 months playing Wii. Oh, and I'm getting married…
retrospectacle | May 21, 2008
Hi folks. Before you all fall out of your chairs that I am, yes, in fact, blogging, just check out this gem of a story that lured me from the bowels of the UM medical complex. Apparently an African Grey parrot in Japan, a Mr. Yosuke Nakamura, recited his name and address to a vet after he was rescued from a rooftop. This turned out to be his actual address, and was promptly returned to his owners! I think this is a fantastic idea for any owner of a talking parrot, and I really commend the owners of Yosuke for caring enough to make sure the parrot had a surefire way to get home. I'm going to…
retrospectacle | April 22, 2008
Cristiana Senni from World Parrots Trust just let me know that their organization has uploaded several movies to YouTube of African Grey parrots in the wild. I live with a Grey, and was absolutely amazed at their vocalizations and behaviors--pretty much exactly like Pepper. Reminds me that while Pepper is tame, he is still just one generation from his wild brethren. Check out their beautiful videos!
Another under the fold...
retrospectacle | April 21, 2008 The Dalai Lama has been making appearances and giving talks in the US, with his most recent talk at the University of Michigan (where I am) yesterday. Although I was unable to attend the actual talk, since the tickets were sold out within an hour of going on sale, his appearance was videotaped and uploaded (check out the movie here.)
According to the press release from UM, the Dalai Lama's talk skirted most of the tough issues that Tibet is now facing, and focused more on environmentalism--a topic certainly near and dear to the inhabitants of Ann Arbor. Check it out.
retrospectacle | April 18, 2008 Well folks, sorry I've been so AWOL around here lately. Lets just say there's been a lot of long hours in the basement with the confocal microscope, and I've also been in charge of organizing the U of M Neuroscience Spring Symposium, which is next week. I'm super-excited about the three visiting neuroscientists: Nicholas Gaiano, Ed Boyden, and David Sulzer. So, forgive my temporary absence...although I'm sure Steve is keeping everyone entertained.
Speaking of entertaining, I was emailed this awesome anatomically correct brain cake, recipe which I just had to share. Someone put a lot of…
retrospectacle | April 9, 2008
Something to think about next time those vanity pangs hit (Mac-users, I'm looking at you): new research published in the April 2nd Journal of Neuroscience reports that botulium (the toxin in the popular cosmetic Botox injections) can reach the nervous system when injected into the facial muscles of rats. Although the toxin would only reach the nerve in minute amounts, botulinum toxin is potent even in small amounts and may still disrupt nerve activity. Currently the FDA is reviewing the safety of Botox injections, which are used to paralyze the muscles of the face and thereby reduce the…
retrospectacle | March 29, 2008
There are some things I consider news, and some things I just consider "well, duh." File this study, which reported that high school students don't care that loud music damages their hearing, under the second category. Kids These Days (tm) have been listening to loud music as long as their has been loud music to listen to, and I doubt very much that this will change. The reason for that is hinted at in the study itself: that teenagers believe themselves to be invincible, with very "low personal vulnerability" to permanent hearing loss. So despite the understanding that loud noise can damage…
retrospectacle | March 28, 2008
Being a (very) recent convert to the World of Mac, it is with great interest that I read a provocative report by Mindset Media comparing the behavior of Mac-owners vs. PC-owners--specifically, who was snobbier? Mindset surveyed 7500 Mac and PC-owners and found that Mac users were more self-important, intellectually curious, and felt themselves to be extraordinary and superior. Mac users are more likely to use teeth-whitening kits (vanity!), buy organic food, be politically liberal, be willing to pay more for green technology, buy a hybrid car, drink Starbucks, and have bought more than 5…
retrospectacle | March 27, 2008
As I chug along on my thesis and manuscript-writing, I'm often reminded what it means to "see your name in print." There's something about that feeling of being responsible, in front of the world, for your words and thoughts. However, not all first publications are of strictly scientific merit, as a friend of mine recently relayed to me:
As a neuroscientist in grad school finishing up my dissertation, my
mind drifted recently one night to thinking of the first time my name
was in print. Circa 1992, I was pretty nerdy as a youth (still nerdy
now but proud of it), and I was "that kid" who…
retrospectacle | March 26, 2008
As noted in the sidebar here, I'm at the University of Michigan, involved in hearing research. So, I was so thrilled when it was brought to my attention that research from our institute, on the topic of cochlear implants, was being mentioned in this month's 'Economist' magazine! The article is a good summary of the current state of cochlear implant research, and has some interesting diagrams. Download the PDF here.
Slightly less noble, but kind of humorous, is that the research was also mentioned as a blurb in the most recent Playboy. Not that you read the articles or anything!
retrospectacle | March 18, 2008 I once had a conversation with a doctor about Gulf War Syndrome (GWS). They said,"Its frustrating to treat something that you can't describe and that has no definite cause." However, the numbers of affected soldiers, coming back to the US after the first Gulf War with a bevy of mysterious chronic ailments, speak to the reality of *some* cause.
Officially, symptoms attributed to this syndrome encompass chronic fatigue, loss of muscle control, headaches, dizziness and loss of balance, memory problems, muscle and joint pain, indigestion, skin problems, shortness of breath, and even insulin…
retrospectacle | March 17, 2008 Bats are sneaky, silent, and stealthy...so why shouldn't they be spies? Engineers at the University of Michigan are currently developing a six-inch, robotic spying device modeled after a bat that could gather data via an embedded camera and send back data in real time.
Forget Ceiling Cat! Sneaky bat-robots are watching you!
Obviously, the military is funding it, and has awarded UM a 5 year, $10 million grant to design and implement the flying-n-spying robot:
They will develop sensors, communication tools and batteries for this micro-aerial vehicle that's been dubbed "the bat." Engineers…
retrospectacle | March 16, 2008
American news-watchers are so jaded as to the lack of objectivity in the news and media, that we rarely ever take any story or quote at face-value (and I doubt this is limited to America). We have become ingrained with the idea that some media outlets are overly-liberal, singing the praises of the likes of Hillary and Obama, while others are inherently conservative and tend to be apologetic to the antics of Bush and his ilk. Is it really true though? Or are we only confirming out own biases?
Erik Bucy, a communications studies professor, has an interesting podcast on the topic, specifically…
retrospectacle | March 13, 2008
Pepper has brought to my attention a noteworthy event. This is the first LOLAfricanGrey I've seen on the front page of ICanHasCheezburger!
retrospectacle | March 12, 2008
We've all been to some *bad* science presentations over the years. Heck, I think I've given a few. No more! This 6 minute video (by 2 UM students) points out some common issues with Powerpointing and how to have your audience salivating for more of your data.
From the author:
I think there should be more of an acceptance of "walking out of talks" in science. I have been tempted so many times to get up and walk out in the middle of a presentation or even to heckle the presenter with "Did you actually prepare in any way for this talk? I take time out my day/experiments/writing to see this"…
retrospectacle | March 12, 2008
It is well accepted that there are a few components to Alzheimer's risk: age (risk increases in old age), environment (severe head trauma, high cholesterol, obesity, or some drugs may increase risk), and genetics. A recent study published in the Archives of Neurology has contributed new evidence towards how genetics may be key. The authors examined more than 100 families, and the incidence of Alzheimer's therein, and found that more than 22% of adult children who had a parent with Alzheimers developed the disease themselves. This risk grew with age--42% of adults 70 and older who had a…
retrospectacle | March 10, 2008
Not that I worry much what the Pope thinks of me these days, but I was a bit startled to see that him list a brand-spankin'-new sin: performing genetic manipulations.
When asked to list the new areas of sinful behavior, Girotti denounced "certain violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments, genetic manipulations."
Guess what I do all day? Yeah, over-express and manipulate genes (to try to regenerate hair cells and restore hearing). I wonder if the Pope would grant me a pardon due to the altruistic nature of my work? Doubtful.
Now does that include gene therapy…
retrospectacle | March 10, 2008 The Beijing Olympics are not too far away, and an iconic part of the preparation for the 'Games' is the passing of the Olympic torch. As part of the official torch relay, the flame will be taken up Mt. Everest--it will be carried up the southern side of Everest in Nepal and back down the north side into Tibet.
"The torch will be designed in order to burn at such a high altitude," said Beijing Olympics official Liu Jingmin.
However, how can the torch be carried up a mountain, and in a low-oxygen environment no less? This question bugged me and my friends, until fellow UM Neuroscience student…
retrospectacle | March 7, 2008In response to Steve's post about what clinical psychologists do, I just had to post this hilarious video about what anesthetists do while a patient is sleeping by the Amateur Transplants. The group is composed by two humorous (and real) doctors who I'd rather see on the other side of a microphone than at my bedside.
For bonus laughs, check the singer's pronunciation of 'anesthetist.' If you love these guys as much as I do, check out their equally hilarious "Careless Surgeon."
retrospectacle | March 7, 2008
According to this life expectancy calculator, I should plan on living to 102 years old---a result of quite a lot of factors, including the fact that my family is particularly long-lived and cancer-free. Not sure I buy into these types of calculator (but they are morbid fun), but the general topic of life expectancy has been hot in the news lately. Some sources are claiming that the upward-creeping life expectancy that developed nations have been enjoying for decades might come to a screeching halt, or even worse, begin to decline. The subject of much finger-pointing is, unsurprisingly,…