Hedwig Pöllöläinen
grrlscientist
Posts by this author
August 28, 2007
tags: lunar eclipse, astronomy
Total eclipse of the Moon 16 September 1997.
Image: Lorenzo Lovato.
Tonight's forecast calls for a 100-percent chance of the moon becoming as blood, with an 80-percent chance of a scattered Apocalypse tomorrow.
As mostly everyone in the United States, and…
August 28, 2007
tags: Marc van Roosmalen, primatology,monkeys, Brazil, research, biopiracy
Dutch scientist Marc van Roosmalen (pictured) was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for trying to auction off the names of several monkey species and for keeping monkeys at his house without proper authorization.…
August 28, 2007
tags: zebras, Image of the Day
Two zebras merge in this image in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
Image: Bob Immitt.
August 27, 2007
tags: researchblogging.org, bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, fishing, fishery, overfishing, sushi
Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus thynnus.
Orphaned image [larger image].
The western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna fishery in the Gulf of Maine is in danger of collapse, according to University of New Hampshire (UNH)…
August 27, 2007
tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, preparing to land on its nest, Kodiak Island National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Image: US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Birds in Science
Here's a question for all of you: whose offspring…
August 27, 2007
tags: parrots, birds, streaming video
Below the fold is a sweet video of Bibi, a one year old African Grey Parrot, as she eats corn on the cob. This bird loves corn, absolutely loves it! [3:18]
Corn-fed Bird - Click here for the most popular videos
August 26, 2007
tags: natural science, blog carnivals
The first edition of the new Natural Sciences blog carnival is now available for your reading pleasure. Be sure to drop in and give them support by reading the linked stories! You will be glad that you did.
August 26, 2007
tags: PRISM, open access, OA
Because you are here and reading this blog, I assume that you value being informed about science and having the opportunity to access original research articles yourself, if you so choose. However, not everyone agrees that providing the public access to this information…
August 26, 2007
Sometime last night, my blog received its one millionth visitor. I had predicted that the one millionth visitor would arrive here in approximately two weeks' time, but thanks to slashdot, which linked to one of my stories, it happened earlier. I am so pleased and impressed with this blog and…
August 26, 2007
tags: eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, Image of the Day
Eastern Gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis.
Last but not least was a demonstration of the so-called "gravity assist" method. It was obvious that this required the most skill but was not always as effective as the the other…
August 25, 2007
tags: eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, Image of the Day
Eastern Gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis.
Students of the history of western civilization will surmise that the "reclining method" harkens back to antiquity. At the height Roman Empire eating while reclining was all the rage…
August 24, 2007
tags: evolution, helping behavior, cooperative breeding, suberb fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus, birds
A breeding male superb fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus.
Image: Martin Fowlie.
Here's a question for all of you: whose offspring would do better; those raised only by their parents, or those raised by…
August 24, 2007
tags: eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, Image of the Day
Eastern Gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis.
Central Park Gray Squirrels congregated in an apparent celebration of the ripening of Black Walnuts. This particular contingent of eight excited furry mammals demonstrated the species…
August 24, 2007
tags: vervet monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops, sexual harassment, Nachu, Kenya, behavior, interspecies communication
A young vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus.
Image: shashamane.
If you live in the small village of Nachu in Kenya, watch out, because a group of approximately 300 marauding…
August 24, 2007
tags: animals, photography, blog carnival
For those of you who enjoy looking at animal images, the 153rd edition of the Friday Ark is now available for you to enjoy.
August 24, 2007
tags: Spanish, langauges, online quiz
You Passed 8th Grade Spanish
Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!
Could You Pass 8th Grade Spanish?
How did you do? Did you think this online quiz was reflective of what one needs to know in eighth grade Spanish?
August 23, 2007
tags: ethics, wifi, piggybacking
Recently, I have been following the stories of people who have been arrested for stealing internet access using their neighbor's wireless connections. For example, a man was recently arrested in London and another man in St Petersburg, Florida is now facing trial…
August 23, 2007
tags: mallard ducklings in a mug, birds, Image of the Day
A pair of tiny abandoned ducklings found battling against waves after being washed out to sea are being nursed back to health -- in a teacup.
The fluffy birds were saved from a watery grave when they were found by passing canoeist Chris…
August 23, 2007
tags: books, AP-Ipsos poll, book reading
As you know, I am trying to learn more about your reading habits and book choices, so I was surprised to learn that one in four adults say they have read no books at all in the past year. Of those who did read, women and seniors were most avid, and religious…
August 23, 2007
tags: humor, Dr Seuss Bible, streaming video
Amusing and my my, those green uniforms near the end of the video are really quite revealing, aren't they? [2:29]
August 22, 2007
tags: JK Rowling, books, writing
Apparently, JK Rowling is writing a detective novel .. big surprise to me (not), since I thought her HP books read like detective novels for kids.
J.K. Rowling has been spotted at cafes in Scotland working on a detective novel, a British newspaper reported…
August 22, 2007
tags: writers, writing, blog carnival
Another edition of Writers from across the blogosphere is now available for you to enjoy. Along with all the other links they have, this blog carnival includes two submissions from me that you might not have read yet.
August 22, 2007
tags: researchblogging.org, evolution, social behavior, cooperative breeding, environment, global warming, climate change, African starlings, birds
Superb starling, Lamprotornis superbus, a cooperative breeding savanna dweller that is abundant throughout northeast Africa.
Image: Dustin R.…
August 22, 2007
tags: researchblogging.org, Egyptian Rousette, Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Marburg hemorrhagic fever virus, Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus, Uganda, zoonoses, pathogen
Portrait of an Egyptian Rousette or Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus.
Image: Wikipedia
Like something out…
August 22, 2007
tags: SciBlings, montage
Here's a montage of all the SciBlings that went to the bash in NYC, courtesy of my friend, fellow SciBling and occasional houseguest, Chris;
[wallpaper size]
August 22, 2007
tags: snails, weird pets, streaming video
Speaking of escargot, these giant African land snails (also known as the Agate Snail or Ghana Tiger Snail) are truly amazing and they weigh up to two pounds (900 grams) -- EACH! They are easy to keep, eating all sorts of vegetables and fruits, and if you…
August 21, 2007
tags: grebes, birds, Image of the Day
Clark's Grebe, Aechmorphus clarkii, in the foreground with a Western Grebe, Aechmorphus occidentalis, behind. Both were photographed on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (north end of the Great Salt Lake) in the spring of 2005. Similar birds, but the field…
August 21, 2007
tags: researchblogging.org, evolution, squirrels, rattlesnakes, tail-flagging, behavior, biology
A mother squirrel rapidly waves her tail to warn off a rattlesnake in a confrontation staged by researchers in May 1987. Adult squirrels are immune to rattlesnake venom, but their offspring are…
August 21, 2007
tags: Patches, the world's coolest horse, streaming video
After watching this video, you'll come to the conclusion that there's nothing like a man and his horse. Not only does this horse enjoy going for rides in the car, but he also likes eating cheeseburgers, answering the phone, watching TV,…