Author Archives: cicada

Looking to Remember

Posted on March 18, 2007 by cicada

Cognitive Daily: Artists look different Cognitive Daily alerts us to a study quantifying the different visual scanning techniques used by artists and non-artists. Here’s a figure from the study, tracking eye movements in yellow: The trained artist (right) looks at … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology | 4 Comments

Poem of the Week: Mnemonic

Posted on March 16, 2007 by cicada

Apparently you can selectively wipe out a single memory in rats. If you believe that our memories make us who we are, the implications are disturbing. I joke about wanting to block out portions of my life – usually chunks … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | 1 Comment

Vampire Hunting, Victorian-Style

Posted on March 15, 2007 by cicada

A vampire-hunting kit, from Thomas Sandberg’s Wonder Cabinet: An incredible Victorian novelty. Complete in mahogany box with revolver, silver bullets, garlic powder, silver dagger, ivory cross, mirror, Professor Blomberg`s New Vampire Serum, wooden stake, etc. Fortunately, Clive Thompson assures us … Continue reading →

Posted in Museum Lust, Wonder Cabinets | 3 Comments

I just hope it’s not mad

Posted on March 14, 2007 by cicada

from Modern Mechanix Which incidentally reminds me of . . .

Posted in Frivolity, Uncategorized | Comments Off on I just hope it’s not mad

So I’m a liberal-arts-educated scientist. So what?

Posted on March 13, 2007 by cicada

This cartoon makes me happy and nostalgic. Yes, I know I’m weird. Happy Pi Day. Saint Gasoline » Archive » The Allegory of the Trolley Problem Paradox

Posted in Frivolity | 1 Comment

Buy yourself a “Cabinet of Curiosities”

Posted on March 13, 2007 by cicada

I can’t justify purchasing all the expensive science and art books I really want, so they languish on my Amazon wishlist forever. A case in point would be Patrick Mauries’s Cabinets of Curiosities, an oversized hardbound book with lots of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Wonder Cabinets | 1 Comment

Flowers and Fossils

Posted on March 13, 2007 by cicada

Struthiomimus and Tulip oil on panel David Dodge Lewis, Evolution Series A series of still life paintings playing on the relationship between fossils and modern organisms, and featuring especially well-rendered flowers. The show opens March 28 at the Atkinson Museum, … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Science | 2 Comments

Top 50 SF/F Booklist

Posted on March 13, 2007 by cicada

This list is going around the science blogosphere. It seems de rigueur to comment on the choices and mark the ones you’ve read. This is a book meme I can support – although I was surprised I’d missed so many. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 1 Comment

Cloning with a dicot accent: a biologist’s take on linguistic inconsistency

Posted on March 11, 2007 by cicada

Language Log: Foolish Hobgoblins It’s been many long years since I was an English major. That’s my standard justification when I get sloppy and split some infinitives, or use “which” when I ought to write “that.” I put punctuation inside … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Words | 4 Comments

Happy Birthday PZ!

Posted on March 9, 2007 by cicada

my apologies for the lateness of this post – although it is still Friday here on the West Coast. I’ve been without a computer most of this week, but I had to post SOMETHING for PZ Myers‘ birthday. So I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Cephalopodmania, Frivolity | Comments Off on Happy Birthday PZ!