grrlscientist | September 6, 2007I thought I would feel better today, but instead, I feel worse. I am worried that this illness (I think it is bronchitis) will require medical intervention. Which means more unpaid hospital ER bills. But I am at the library today where I have access to a free, and very stable wifi connection, so I am working on a story for you right now.
grrlscientist | September 6, 2007tags: Pale Male, NYC red=tailed hawk, Image of the Day
The photographer writes: I caught the world famous celebrity Red-tailed Hawk Pale Male in a patriotic mood on one of his favorite perches atop the flagpole at the Castle in Central Park. No doubt he was getting into the spirit of this holiday weekend. Let him be an inspiration to us all. Viva Labor Day. It appears to me the city could find the budget to buy a new flag. This one's a bit worn around the edges but then some of us feel the same way.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [larger].
grrlscientist | September 5, 2007I am still ill, and I have been going through an incredibly rough time these past few days, but things are getting better now. I will be back tomorrow, ready to tell you lots of science stories, so be looking for me then! Until then, take care of yourselves and give those whom you love an extra long hug today. You know, just because I said so.
grrlscientist | September 5, 2007tags: female Regal Fritillary, Speyeria idalia, Image of the Day
Female Regal Fritillary, Speyeria idalia.
Image: Dave Rintoul. [larger].
grrlscientist | September 4, 2007tags: female Regal Fritillary, Speyeria idalia, Image of the Day
Female Regal Fritillary, Speyeria idalia.
Image: Dave Rintoul. [larger].
The photographer writes: I was out on the Konza yesterday and captured some more images that your readers might appreciate. This is a female Regal Fritillary, Speyeria idalia, a large and showy butterfly that is endemic to the tall-grass praire. As such, it is a "species of concern" on the USFWS lists. It is also a butterfly not commonly seen by many lepidopterists.
Besides being gorgeous, these critters are really interesting. The males emerge in late…
grrlscientist | September 4, 2007tags: cats, kittens, blog carnivals
There are a couple cat-oriented carnivasls available for you to enjoy. The first one is the 180th edition of The Carnival of Cats. The other one is a relatively new one, Bad Kitty Cat Chaos, which was having issues being published due to power outages over the weekend. Be sure to check them out!
grrlscientist | September 4, 2007I am ill and have been so for a couple days now, so I won't be writing as much as I usually do until I start feeling better. This is mainly because I don't feel well enough to make my usual trek to the library, and I lack a stable wifi connection from my apartment. I am sorry about this, but I did want to let you all know that I am thinking about you.
grrlscientist | September 3, 2007tags: books, writing, blog carnivals
For those of you who love to read, the 3 September edition of the Carnival for Literary Junkies is now available. This carnival includes book reviews, literary criticism and some writing as well. It's a nice way to wrap up your farewell to summer.
grrlscientist | September 3, 2007tags: giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, Image of the Day
The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, is not at an "evolutionary dead-end", according to new research. Previous studies suggested that the bears' isolation, unusual dietary requirements and slow reproductive rates had led to a lack of genetic diversity, which would ultimately lead to extinction.
Image: Yange Yong. [larger].
grrlscientist | September 3, 2007tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Among the animals Darwin spotted on the Galapagos Islands were the blue-footed boobies, Sula nebouxii excisa. The males show off their blue feet to potential mates with high-stepping dances.
Image: Stephen C. Quinn, AMNH. [larger].
Birds in Science
A new study published in the leading ornithological journal Ibis has uncovered that for the vast majority of bird species, there are more males than females. The discovery suggests that populations of many of the world's threatened birds could therefore be overestimated,…
grrlscientist | September 2, 2007tags: researchblogging.org, bipolar disorder, manic-depressive illness, mental health, research
Those of you who suffer from bipolar disorder, as I do, will be pleased to learn that some novel treatments are being developed for this illness, thanks to research combined with careful observations.
Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. It is a mood disorder where a person who suffers from it experiences tremendous emotional shifts, from crushing depressions to intense mania and back again. These mood swings often are independent from what is happening in the person's…
grrlscientist | September 2, 2007tags: NASA, STEREO spacecraft, Sun
NASA just released a streaming video of the Sun, captured by the twin STEREO spacecraft. The video, in Quicktime format, features 2.5 days of the Sun, and shows it slowly rotating, with solar prominences blasting out into space.
The series of images were captured by STEREO from August 16-18, 2007, and then stitched together into a single animation. The prominences that you see on the edges of the Sun were captured in extreme ultraviolet light by the Ahead spacecraft (the one leading the Earth in orbit). And if you watch right to the end, you'll see a…
grrlscientist | September 2, 2007tags: politics, blog carnivals
The September 2, 2007 edition of The Carnival of Political Punditry is now available. They included a contribution from me, so be sure to go there and check it out.
grrlscientist | September 2, 2007tags: Carolina Sphinx Moth, Tobacco Hornworm Moth, Manducca sexta, Image of the Day
Manducca sexta, or the Carolina Sphinx Moth.
The larva, is known as the tobacco hornworm, or tomato worm. It has seven diagonal white lines on each side, and a red "horn" at the end of the abdomen. It feeds on plants in the nightshade family, and is known for its voracious appetite which can decimate a small tomato garden in no time! This one was first spotted on the window screen on the 2nd floor porch of my house. After I photographed it,
it was released unharmed. Although I have seen many tomato…
grrlscientist | September 2, 2007tags: kittens, cats,streaming video
This is a delightful streaming video of cats and kittens being .. themselves. Music is by Bjork, "It's Oh So Quiet". [3:36]
grrlscientist | September 2, 2007tags: insanity, blog carnivals
The Labor Day edition of The Carnival of the Insanities is now ready for you to enjoy. This carnival highlights the insane, the bizarre, the ridiculous, and the completely absurd are highlighted for you to read about.
grrlscientist | September 1, 2007tags: cancer, smokers, pets
Maybe this will surprise you but, having worked in cancer research for a few years, it isn't surprising to me to learn that secondhand smoke can cause cancer in your pets as well as in people. I mean, this just makes sense, ya know?
However, according to a study study done by the Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine, some of the nuances of this cancer risk might be unexpected. For example, of all pets, cats living with smokers are three times more likely to develop oral cancers (also known as squamous cell carcinoma) because they lick carcinogens from their fur…
grrlscientist | September 1, 2007tags: raccoon, Procyon lotor, Image of the Day
Central Park raccoon, Procyon lotor.
I dipped inside my almost-too-cute-for-words file to present you with this image of a critter I found foraging with its Mother and sibling in Central Park's Ramble one evening. I bet you find it as irresistible as I do.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [larger].
grrlscientist | September 1, 2007tags: kittens, cats,streaming video
This video shows "box kitten" finally climbing out of her box.
By the way, all kittens found a home in the photographer's neighborhood. Two of them live together with one family and the other three have a family each to themselves. They live happily ever after. [0:56]
grrlscientist | September 1, 2007tags: kittens, cats,streaming video
A delightful streaming video of kittens playing around and in a box. Music called "Sister Jack" by Spoon. The kitten in the background wants to get back in the box soooo bad. But this kitten took over. How did that kitten get out of the box? I'll post that video in an hour. [1:38]