Now on ScienceBlogs: Global Warming Alarmist Conspiracy Emails Hacked!!!11!!
The trials, tribulations, and joys of a Neuroscience gradute student writing her thesis in the postmodern, post-Y2K world.
Shelley Batts is a Neuroscience PhD candidate at the University of Michigan. She studies hair cell regeneration in the cochlea, and is just embarking on that quixotic quest called 'thesis.' She lies awake at night pondering how science intersects with politics, culture, policy, money, medicine, and religion in an attempt to be more than just a niche scientist sitting in the oh-so-lovely ivory tower. Follow me and my parrot on the quest to get funded, get a PhD, and stay sane.
Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth, are never alone or weary of life. ~Rachel Carson
Cochlear Hair Cell Regeneration
Interview With Dr. Irene Pepperberg
On Religion and Taking the 'Red Pill'
Neuroscience of Cocaine Addiction
Parrots Have Object Permanance
Retrospectacle is now Of Two Minds!
November 30, 2007
Category: Stem Cells
Time has a great article about the recent breakthrough in stem cell research (that certain types of skin cells can regain pluripotency)--specifically on whether this so-called resolution to the stem cell debate might help the GOP. Stem cell research has...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 11:46 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
November 29, 2007
Category: Blogging
Worrisome news: A Cairo human rights activist and blogger, Wael Abbas, posted videos of torture by Egyptian police on YouTube. YouTube received some "complaints" about the material and responded by suspending Abbas' account there, citing his material was "inappropriate." One...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 7:59 PM • 11 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Marine Bio
During the Thanksgiving break, a friend of mine took this great photo of a cuttlefish at the New England Aquarium. A few days ago, a really cool website called Digital Cuttlefish was brought to my attention by a comment someone...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 6:40 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
November 28, 2007
Category: Disease
Gene therapy is the isolation of a gene, which is then packaged into a vector for introduction into the body in hopes that it can correct some aspect of genetic disease. Often this "vector" is a type of virus which...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 11:34 AM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
November 27, 2007
Category: Tastes Like Neuroscience
In a response to a "What are You Thankful For" request by ABC4.com, a rare and interesting neurological case study was described: penetration of the brain by a deer antler. CNN.com also has a video describing the event and the...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 6:06 PM • 15 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Inner Ear Biology
The Scientist has a fastastic illustrated feature on the workings of cochlear hair cells in their current online issue. In addition to pointing out the different cell types in the inner ear, there are a few informative blurbs about mechanotransduction...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 11:07 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
November 26, 2007
Category: Tastes Like Neuroscience
Well I arrived back in Michigan after a deep-fried Thanksgiving in Florida, hope you all had an as opulently greasy and delicious a meal as I did. I have to share a funny anecdote from my drive to the airport...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 8:21 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
November 22, 2007
Category: Holiday Specials
The South is a great place to spend Thanksgiving. There's pecan pie and fried ocra, green-bean casserole, and ham AND a turkey, and lots and lots of gracious hospitality. Except for my parents, my entire extended family lives in the...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 8:54 AM • 14 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
November 21, 2007
Category: Marine Bio
Slaughtering whales for human consumption or for scientific research? Japan hopes you don't ask that question.
Posted by Shelley Batts at 9:06 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The War on Science
I have a love-hate relationship with Florida. The "hate" part of the equation comes from their shameful treatment of the manatee issue, their conservative Republican politics, their wanton destruction of the Everglades, and now, giving consideration to putting intelligent design...
Posted by Shelley Batts at 12:19 AM • 20 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
