Category Archives: Biology

Should fictional narrators stop to explain basic science?

Posted on February 23, 2013 by cicada

Full disclosure: I like the New Yorker. I’m always up for vocabulary-stretching escapism, even if I have to wade through irrelevant front matter (newsflash: the Goings on About Town are mostly useless to readers in the flyover states) bordered by … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Book reviews, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

A Murmuration of Cheese Balls: when nature enters the Uncanny Valley

Posted on August 19, 2012 by cicada

Murmuration, in addition to being a perfectly lovely word, also captures one of the most wonderful phenomena one can encounter in nature. Behold, one of the loveliest viral videos of recent years: Did you get goosebumps? Thomas Jackson’s series “Emergent … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Ephemera, Film, Video & Music, Neuroscience, Science, Web 2.0, New Media, and Gadgets, Wonder Cabinets, Yikes! | Comments Off

BioE is so redundant right now

Posted on July 26, 2012 by cicada

Steam of Consciousness by Chris Conte (updated: look! I found a moving .gif on the artist’s website! It’s at the bottom of the post). It’s really amazing to me how mainstream anatomical art, steampunk, etc. has become in the past … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Blogs and Blogging, Medical Illustration and History, Wonder Cabinets | Comments Off

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

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

What neuroscience tells us about creativity

Posted on March 19, 2012 by cicada

A preview of Jonah Lehrer’s new book on creativity, Imagine: What do you think? I haven’t yet read it, but Lehrer is always an engaging writer; I’m sure it’s both entertaining and literate. My only concern is a general one: … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Books, Neuroscience, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Have your wonder cabinet and eat it too!

Posted on March 3, 2012 by cicada

I’ve been spending too much time browsing etsy lately – it’s like windowshopping, only I don’t have to go out in the dismal drizzle that is Cambridge in March. One of the wonderful, fanciful shops I found is Andie’s Specialty … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Conspicuous consumption, Ephemera, Frivolity, Wonder Cabinets | Comments Off

Conservation photography as social change

Posted on March 3, 2012 by cicada

A few days ago, Sheril told me that I had to watch an amazing short film by Neil Ever Osborne. The video is ~20 minutes long, so I wasn’t able to find time until this morning, but I highly encourage … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Education, Film, Video & Music, Photography, Science in culture & policy, Science Journalism | Comments Off

“You’re radiant, Nikola.” “No, Marie, you’re electrifying.”

Posted on February 19, 2012 by cicada

The folks at eavesmade used to only have scientist ornaments. Now they have scientist valentines and coasters. Adorable! (Can you guess what Wallace and Mendel say on their Valentines?)

Posted in Biology, Conspicuous consumption, Frivolity, History of Science, Science | Comments Off

Whale Fall