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cortex | October 4, 2007I think the NY Times Style section should invest in a resident evolutionary psychologist. Its pages are often filled with the most blatant examples of human nature and sexual selection. The scientist could also help me understand stories like this:
Dr. David Stoker, a plastic surgeon in Marina Del Rey, Calif., has a surgical cure for the ravages of motherhood. He, like many plastic surgeons nationwide, calls it a "mommy makeover."
Aimed at mothers, it usually involves a trifecta: a breast lift with or without breast implants, a tummy tuck and some liposuction. The procedures are intended to…
cmcclain | October 4, 2007Why is this boy crying? Because we are only at 25% of what we need to fund three needy classrooms. We can definitely do this! Some of you have already helped us meet our end of the week goal and we thank you. I could go on about why you should donate and how important it is, but you already know the reasons. Seriously, take a moment and think of one reason why you shouldn't give a little. Go ahead...do it right now....
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I bet your two reasons are 1) I don't have enough money and 2) It is too much work. You have at least a spare $10 to give so I am not buying number 1.…
sb admin | October 4, 2007by Susan F. Wood, PhDÂ
Over the last 2 days, we've seen two political leaders speak out on the need for science and evidence to drive our policy decisions in areas such as health, food safety, enviroment, climate change, and renewable energy.
Yesterday (Wednesday, Oct. 3), Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and related agencies, gave a policy address on the Future of the FDA at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. Much of her presentation was focused on the need to dramatically…
grrlscientist | October 4, 2007tags: economics, social policy, blog carnival
The XXXV edition of the Economics and Social Policy blog carnival is now available. This is a new blog carnival for me to contribute to, so be sure to go there for a look around at what they have to offer.
cmcclain | October 4, 2007From USA Today...
Hot vents deep in the ocean harbor thousands of previously unknown microorganisms, scientists report. By examining the DNA of microbes taken from two hydrothermal vents [Axial Seamount] off the coast of Oregon, researchers identified as many as 37,000 different kinds of bacteria and 3,000 archaea, a type of microorganism distinct from bacteria, according to researchers from the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass. and the University of Washington. Their findings are reported in Friday's edition of the journal Science." This is sure to make Christine's weekend.
grrlscientist | October 4, 2007tags: blog carnivals, Carnival of the Spineless, invertebrates
It has come to my attention that the latest edition of the Carnival of the Spineless is now available for you to enjoy. Remember that the majority of life on earth consists of living creatures that lack a spine, so there is a great deal of information out there for you to read and learn from.
cmcclain | October 4, 2007The National Museum of Natural History now has the station data and original cruise logs from the research vessels Albatross and Blake online. NOAA Ocean Explorer has a nice online writeup of the importance of both these vessels and the contributions expeditions aboard them made to early oceanography. Hat tip to Kevin.
cmcclain | October 4, 2007Kids pay attention! Oceanography and drugs don't mix.
...a third-year student at UF, was arrested during an Introduction to Oceanography class...for the charges of cocaine selling and possession, which are second and third degree felonies...
pharyngula | October 3, 2007I hear from Andy that you'll be able to listen to a debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox, both of Oxford, on … oh, I bet you can guess what it's about. It's going to be streamed live on a number of Christian talk radio stations, so look it up if you're interested, it should be on in about an hour and a half.
cortex | October 3, 2007Wired has a fascinating interview with Oliver Sacks about music. I particularly enjoyed this question from Steve Silberman about the joys of combining a good melody with drugs:
Wired: You write that there was a time in med school when you took a lot of amphetamines. What's the most vivid experience of music you ever had on drugs?
Sacks: Hume wondered whether one can imagine a color that one has never encountered. One day in 1964, I constructed a sort of pharmacological mountain, and at its peak, I said, "I want to see indigo, now!" As if thrown by a paintbrush, a huge, trembling drop of…
petnoyer | October 3, 2007
Frederick "Ted" M. Bayer, 85, a retired Smithsonian curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and one of the world's leading experts on marine invertebrates, passed away earlier today after a long illness at Washington Home in Washington, DC.
Dr. Bayer published over 130 papers and books on the taxonomy and natural history of soft corals (i.e., octocorals: sea fans and sea whips), describing over 170 new species, 40 genera, and even three new families. He was long acknowledged as the doyen of soft coral research, attracting visitors and collections to the Smithsonian from all parts…
cmcclain | October 3, 2007We are slowly creeping toward our $1100 goal. I know from our site stats that we have several hundred returning readers. Now if 100 of you all gave $10 then we would could reach our goal! All that for $10! You probably have $10 in loose change laying around. Of course if you gave $20 not only could we reach our goal faster but may have extra to fund other projects. I am counting on you to make this happen!
Just remember there is a negative correlation between me nagging and you giving!
cmcclain | October 2, 2007Jason over at Cephalopodcast has generously donated a copy of The Bioluminescence Coloring Book (with glow-in-the-dark paint!) and the video Marine Bioluminescence: Secret Lights in the Sea to give away for donors. This means the person who gives the largest donation and two random donors will receive gifts. Again the list of current swag is
Monterey Bay Aquarium T-Shirt, Socks, Hat, or other such thing
A vial of mud from the ocean floor at 3500m with a framed map and certificate of authenticity.
The Bioluminescence Coloring Book (with glow-in-the-dark paint!) and the video Marine…
nisbetmc | October 2, 2007
The editors at The Scientist have made our October cover story on framing freely available for the month of October. Make sure you check out our 4,000 word feature, the common set of frames that apply across science debates, the sidebar emphasizing eight key recommendations for moving forward, editor Richard Gallagher's views on framing, the reader poll, and the ongoing discussion forum hosted by The Scientist (at the end of the feature).
sb admin | October 2, 2007Several recent news stories highlight things you should know if you want to keep your brain healthy.
Killer Amoebas: The Associated Press warns, "Killer amoebas living in lakes can enter the body through the nose and attack the brain, where they feed until you die."
Sports: The New York Times reports that among high school athletes, girls are more susceptible to concussions than boys playing the same sports. Football, which attracts more male players, still has the highest rate of concussions in high school sports, though.
Conscientiousness: Reuters explains the findings of study published…
cortex | October 2, 2007You know what I think of when I read stories like this?
The pace of change [in the polar ice caps] has far exceeded what had been estimated by almost all the simulations used to envision how the Arctic will respond to rising concentrations of greenhouse gases linked to global warming. But that disconnect can cut two ways. Are the models overly conservative? Or are they missing natural influences that can cause wide swings in ice and temperature, thereby dwarfing the slow background warming?
I think of the Atlantic Cod. These fish used to be everywhere. (Once upon a time, they were considered…
cmcclain | October 2, 2007...but there is more than one species of bone-eating worm! The genus Osedax (Annedida: Siboglinidae) are common features of dead whale falls and obtain their nutrition through bone-penetrating roots that host symbiotic bacteria. Whale bones don't have chance! The first species was described in 2004 and since then 3 more have been described (O. rubiplumus, O. frankpressi, O. mucofloris, and O. japonicus). A new study by Braby et al. identifies 4 more new species. The 4 tentative species are both morphologically and genetically distinct (based on mtCO1). Interestingly, they may be…
cmcclain | October 2, 2007
I am holding the two beloved Friday features, that I know you all love, for ransom. Unless $100 in donations roll in by late Thursday PM, your Friday will not be as interesting!
cortex | October 2, 2007The transition from basic science to useful technology is so unpredictable. Look, for example, at DNA. Ten years ago, everybody assumed that the payoff of the genetic revolution would arrive in the form of gene therapy. We'd cure disease by tinkering with our genome. Well, that didn't work out so well. Who could have guessed that one of the most important contributions of the genetic revolution would be the use of DNA in the criminal justice system? We know so little about what our new knowledge will do.
State lawmakers across the country are adopting broad changes to criminal justice…
cmcclain | October 2, 2007So after the first day we already at 5% of our total amount in 2007 DSN Education Fundapalooza. It's a great start but we have a long way to go. For the highest donor and the random donor, there will be prizes! You will get your choice of some Monterey Bay Aquarium swag or a vial of mud from the ocean floor at 3500m with a framed map and certificate of authenticity. It is for a great cause so reach into your wallet pull out that credit card and give! Just $10 from all our visitors would put us well on our way.
Click on the thermometer to the left to head on to the Fundapalooza challenge!