clock | August 26, 2007To a surprising extent the war-lords in shining armour, the apostles of the martial virtues, tend not to die fighting when the time comes. History is full of ignominious getaways by the great and famous.
- George Orwell
clock | August 26, 2007When technological or social changes start altering the business landscape in a particular industry, people involved in that business tend to respond in three general ways.
The visionaries immediately see where their world is going, jump to the front edge of it and make sure that the change is as swift and painless as possible, resulting in as good new business environment as possible. They immediately sell their horses and invest in the development of the internal combustion engine, gear-boxes, brakes and start building car factories.
The followers are much more timid, but they are astute…
clock | August 26, 2007
Viagra Increases Release Of Key Reproductive Hormone, Study Finds:
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison report this month that sildenafil increases the amount of oxytocin released by stimulation of the posterior pituitary gland, a small structure directly underneath the brain that regulates hormone levels in response to neural signals.
Mice Provide Important Clues To Obsessive-compulsive Disorder:
Mice born without a key brain protein compulsively groom their faces until they bleed and are afraid to venture out of the corner of their cages. When given a replacement dose of the…
clock | August 25, 2007The modern American tourist now fills his experience with pseudo-events. He has come to expect both more strangeness and more familiarity than the world naturally offers. He has come to believe that he can have a lifetime of adventure in two weeks and all the thrills of risking his life without any real risk at all.
- Daniel Joseph Boorstin
clock | August 25, 2007This morning bright and early, I went to Weaver Street Market (the one in Carrboro, not the one a block away from me), where I met Paul Jones for coffee and a session of people-watching - a Saturday morning tradition.
Carrboro is like a miniature version of San Francisco in a sense. While Chapel Hill is populated by Birckenstock liberals (hey, I am one, so I feel comfortable), in Carrboro you can wear, figuratevily, anything you want: Birckenstocks, sure, but also sneakers, clogs, slippers, high-heels, army boots, cowboy boots, loafers, sandals, Tevas, or go barefoot and, no matter what,…
clock | August 25, 2007What You're Doing Is Rather Desperate
Traction Lobe
It Has Come To My Attention
Jennomics
Inalienable Rights
Prehistoric Pulp
clock | August 25, 2007Oobleck and Semen are on Jennifer's mind these days. Obligatory Readings of the Day.
clock | August 25, 2007Crested Auklet Birds Rub Tick-repelling Perfume On Their Mates During Courtship:
Hitting it off with members of the opposite sex takes chemistry. University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Hector Douglas has found that, for crested auklets, chemistry has both amorous and practical applications. The birds rub a citrus-like scent, secreted in wick-like feathers on their backs, on each other during courtship, a behavior called alloanointing. It is well known among some mammals, such as peccaries, but until now was not documented among birds. His research also indicates that the behavior could…
clock | August 24, 2007Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.
- Louisa May Alcott
clock | August 24, 2007New on Seed Scienceblogs:
The ScienceBlogs 500,000th Comment Contest
PZ Myers explains
Now, where are the comments on this blog? Just type! It's easy!
New on PLoS - new articles have been published today on:
PLoS Genetics
PLoS Computational Biology
PLoS Pathogens
New on Hirschsprung's Disease:
Short Bowel Syndrome - And the Potential Benefits of Omega-3's
Save the babies!
You can help, perhaps.
New on the blog carnival front:
Should there be a new geology carnival?
Friday Ark #153 is up on The Modulator
New on the Skube debacle:
Nick Anthis: Jay Rosen: Blogs Do Quality Reporting Too
Jay…
clock | August 24, 2007Dave announced that the contest for the icon for denoting posts covering peer-reviewed research is now open. Use your creative skills and/or spread the word.
clock | August 24, 2007James Randerson asks this question, but actually leaving only four slots open as "...If anyone plans not to include Darwin I'm going to have to ask them to step outside." a sentiment with which Peter McGrath agrees. So - your Top 5?
clock | August 23, 2007The last time I saw him he was walking down Lover's Lane holding his own hand.
- Fred Allen
clock | August 23, 2007Tracking Feline Memories On The Move:
When a cat steps over an obstacle with its front legs, how do its hind legs know what to do? A new study in Current Biology reveals that it is the foreleg stepping movement itself that leaves a lasting impression. By comparison, feline memories of having just seen an obstacle proved rather fleeting. Indeed, the researchers found that cats could remember having stepped over a hurdle for at least ten minutes. The findings suggest that cats' working memories can extend much longer than earlier studies had shown, according to the researchers.
Elephantnose…
clock | August 23, 2007Change of Shift, Volume II, Number 5 is up on Nurse Ratched's Place
Carnival of Space #17 is up on The Planetary Society Weblog
clock | August 23, 2007There are some die-hards in the comment thread of this post on Evolgen who assert that the only thing that makes one an author of something is the act of writing, i.e., using writing materials to commit language to paper. Preferably English language... Thus, in their minds, there is something fishy about multi-author scientific papers, i.e., only the individual who crafted the sentences of the paper should be considered an author of that paper.
But...
Leonardo painted Mona Lisa. Leonardo is the "Author" of Mona Lisa. People who named it, framed it, marketed it, hung it up in The Louvre and…
clock | August 23, 2007So, this is a perfect time to take another look at her Notes From Ukraine and check out the last several posts from there. I hope the blog will continue as Notes From Durham including the coverage of her science at Duke and all the local blogger events...
clock | August 23, 2007Matt did it first! And then he told more of us. I like the one Laelaps did. But this is more truthfull: