Monthly Archives: May 2012

Of Money and Science: Two Book Reviews

Posted on May 18, 2012 by cicada

Paula Stephan’s observation that “not all science is created equal when it comes to funding” will not surprise any researcher who ever labored over a grant. Drugmonkey’s blog is a particularly good source of insight into how the NIH grant … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Book reviews, Books, Conspicuous consumption, Education, Littademia, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Coin-operated morticians are not easy to find

Posted on May 16, 2012 by cicada

Just in case you’ve always wanted a vintage coin-operated morgue diorama with clockwork morticians and mourners, you are totally in luck! Thanks, Morbid Anatomy!

Posted in Medical Illustration and History, Retrotechnology, Yikes! | Comments Off

Histology-Inspired Artist of the Day: Andrea Offerman

Posted on May 16, 2012 by cicada

Andrea Offerman‘s intricate pen and ink drawings are some hybrid of children’s book illustrations and Hieronymous Bosch-ian anatomical panoramas. Andrea says, I was always interested in art but hesitant to make it my profession. I studied medicine for a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Medical Illustration and History | Comments Off

Is Starry Night the discovery, or the experiment?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by cicada

Maria Popova quotes Neil DeGrasse Tyson on the difference between originality in science and in art: If I discover a scientific idea, surely someone else would’ve discovered the same idea had I not done so. Whereas, look at Van Gogh’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Film, Video & Music | Comments Off

Of satellites, maps, and worldbuilding

Posted on May 15, 2012 by cicada

It’s kind of mind-boggling how much technology has changed our relationship with maps over the past decade. I remember when my mental approximation of geography was based either on (depending on the appropriate scale) globes with pastel continents on them, … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Data Visualization, Littademia, Maps, Retrotechnology | Comments Off

Elizabeth Turk’s marble sculpture

Posted on May 15, 2012 by cicada

Inspired by gravity, space, decay, and natural forms (from schools of fish to murmurations) sculptor Elizabeth Turk’s marble sculptures resemble skeletons or corals. They’re particularly lovely when she takes them to the shore and lets the waves crash on them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Film, Video & Music | Comments Off