Category Archives: Science

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

Sciencedebate 2012: Should this be the top question for the next President?

Posted on March 24, 2012 by cicada

You can vote for the science questions you’d most like the presidential candidates to answer, and add your own questions, here: We’re not interested in quizzing candidates on the 4th digit of pi or the particulars of cell mitosis. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Lunch Break: The Constructal Law

Posted on March 22, 2012 by cicada

I’ve been reading a book called Design in Nature, by Adrian Bejan and J. Peder Zane. It’s an extremely thought-provoking book and I haven’t fully decided what I want to say about it, so my review is still coming, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Books, Design, Education, Film, Video & Music, Science, Web 2.0, New Media, and Gadgets | 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

I love it when Robert Krulwich agrees with me!

Posted on March 16, 2012 by cicada

NPR science correspondent Robert Krulwich, he of the oh-so-familiar voice, quoted me/BioE in a sciart blog post yesterday about “Magnetic Movie,” a short film by the artistic team of Ruth Jarman and Joseph Gerhardt. Here’s the original BioE post quoted … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Data Visualization, Film, Video & Music, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Anatomical chairs for your medical library?

Posted on March 15, 2012 by cicada

From my friend Shana: wonderful anatomical wingchairs: “Tante Wera” wingchairs: “Flow” Limited edition

Posted in Conspicuous consumption, Frivolity, Medical Illustration and History, Science | Comments Off

Adapting scientific illustration to modern needs

Posted on February 25, 2012 by cicada

The Bora Zivkovic pointed out this article by Brian Hayes for American Scientist. After convincingly arguing that static, 2D scientific figures (in research papers and in popular science writing) fail to maximize the communicative potential of current technology, Hayes suggests … Continue reading →

Posted in Data Visualization, Science | 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

Posted on February 19, 2012 by cicada

Whale Fall (after life of a whale) by Sharon Shattuck is a charming and unusual film that uses paper puppetry to show the ecological “afterlife” of a whale. The overall effect is a little Steve Zissou, a little arts-and-crafts, and … Continue reading →

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

Helping a young postdoc help elephants

Posted on December 13, 2011 by cicada

Shermin de Silva just finished her PhD. Now she wants to continue her research on Asian elephants, the lesser-studied cousins of African elephants. Her goal? To understand how local farmers and elephants live together. Shermin has raised half of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Destinations, Random Acts of Altruism, Science | Comments Off