Category Archives: Biology

Half a million buys a lot of bones

Posted on April 17, 2007 by cicada

Mammoth skeleton sets auction record – Boston.com On Monday, a rare Siberian mammoth skeleton sold for nearly half a million dollars at auction. The skeleton was inexplicably named “The President.” A number of other curiosity-cabinet staples, like a bezoar, also … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Museum Lust, Science, Wonder Cabinets | 2 Comments

Ouch, ouch, ouch

Posted on April 13, 2007 by cicada

A very nice video of childbirth by the animators at Nucleus Medical Art. It shows the way the baby turns as it exits the mother’s pelvis. I would, however, watch it with the sound off, since – at least for … Continue reading →

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

Physicians are not biologists (especially in church)

Posted on April 8, 2007 by cicada

Alba, The GFP Bunny (www.ekac.org) Photo: Chrystelle Fontaine Happy Easter. I’m flying coast-to-coast all day today. When I finally decided to book my tickets a few days ago, I was astonished at the availability of last-minute flights. It took me … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Education, Science | 17 Comments

A drug patent standoff in Thailand

Posted on April 6, 2007 by cicada

Image source: UNESCO (visit site for higher-res image) This week, Patent Baristas have an excellent (as usual) post on Abbott Labs’ ongoing conflict with the government of Thailand. This unfortunate situation illustrates some key difficulties in getting expensive pharmaceuticals to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science | 7 Comments

What should the female brain look like?

Posted on April 4, 2007 by cicada

Language Log notes that the British softcover edition of Louann Brizendine’s The Female Brain is out, and the cover art differs significantly from the US hardcover edition. Such differences are not unusual, but what is interesting here is the change … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Books, Science | 10 Comments

Hey, my biology degree is good for something after all!

Posted on March 23, 2007 by cicada

Modern Mechanix » Hen Changed to Rooster by Biologists Those crazy Biologists! What will they do next? And what is that huge black rubber apparatus? (Possible sign that poultry modification is my vocation: our high school’s mascot was a chicken. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Frivolity, Science | 1 Comment

I assume it’s a rhetorical question

Posted on March 22, 2007 by cicada

“Biology and Art: Two Worlds or One?” (April 14 at NYAS) The best part is that Wim Delvoye, creator of the Cloaca Project, will be there. Enough said. Cloaca Project Musée d’Art Contemporain, Lyon Wim Delvoye, 2003 Via Adventures in … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology | Comments Off

Bilingual birds

Posted on March 20, 2007 by cicada

Red Breasted Nuthatch – Desire oil and mixed media on panel Caroline James, 2006 One bird species learns another’s lingo (MSNBC.com) When we lived in the woods, we had our own flock of nuthatches. They were our favorite birds. The … Continue reading →

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

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

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