Category Archives: Biology

My physics envy: derailed by pesky exponents

Posted on July 10, 2007 by cicada

Earlier, it seemed like everyone in the biology blogosphere (including me) voiced their opinion on whether biology is perceived to be easier than physics, and whether that explains why we see so much inaccurate popular biology perpetrated by non-biologists. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Frivolity, Science | 1 Comment

A batch of biology education links

Posted on July 10, 2007 by cicada

The Science of Addiction Time Magazine Graphic by Fielding Cage and Joe Lertola • Time currently features a solid non-specialist article on the biology of addiction, including some nicely executed web graphics showing brain structures (above) • These little “Brain … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Education | Comments Off

Wellcome Medical Image Library

Posted on July 9, 2007 by cicada

The Wellcome collection of medical images has been made available for non-profit use under a Creative Commons license. This is a really fabulous resource. Just for fun I searched “trepanation” and got nine images like these: Thanks to Stranger Fruit … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Education, Photography, Retrotechnology, Science | 5 Comments

Memento mori: cadavers in the classroom

Posted on July 8, 2007 by cicada

The LA Times recently reviewed Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab, a memoir by medical resident Christine Montross. I’ve been trying to decide if I want to read it, and I’m still uncertain. Although a … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Books, Education, Science | 6 Comments

How much do I need this?

Posted on July 4, 2007 by cicada

Yeah, that’s right – it’s serotonin! Raven Hanna remixed her biophysics PhD with design and got neurotransmitter-based jewelry. Never mind diamonds–these have got to pack a pretty powerful placebo effect, don’t you think? I want the serotonin necklace and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Frivolity | 1 Comment

Is biology hard?

Posted on July 1, 2007 by cicada

PZ Myers at Pharyngula just generated an interesting thread, “we don’t have physics envy, but we still have to deal with physics snobbery,” about whether biology is regarded as a lesser discipline, compared with “harder” sciences like physics. PZ references … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Department of the Drama, Education | 11 Comments

A is for Ape

Posted on June 26, 2007 by cicada

“Alphabet Animals” series #38 Copyright A.S. Meeker, 1910 A fabulous find out of a drawer of old postcards in an antique shop in a very small town. The original recipient (in February of 1912) was Miss Katie Hedler of Idaho. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Ephemera, Frivolity | Comments Off

Rethinking fat

Posted on June 25, 2007 by cicada

Normalcy One Size Does Not Fit All, 2002 Beverly Naidus A while ago, I promised to share my impressions of Gina Kolata’s Rethinking Thin. I finished the book last month, but I wanted to let my response percolate before posting. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Books, Department of the Drama, Science | 3 Comments

What’s up with the bees?

Posted on June 20, 2007 by cicada

Bee and Echinacea watercolor, 8.5″ square 2007 A few weeks ago, I asked a beekeeper at the Portland (Oregon) farmer’s market whether his bees were ok. “Yeah, they are,” he said, “but I get that question a lot.” On Saturday … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, My Artwork, Science | 7 Comments

Why are peacocks blue?

Posted on June 18, 2007 by cicada

The white color of this albino peacock is due to the missing black melanine pigment. The usual rich colors of the peacock are seen because black pigment which absorbs most of the incident light, allowing us to see only the … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Education, Science | 1 Comment