Category Archives: Science

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

AAAS Update: Drunks with Lamp-Posts

Posted on February 18, 2008 by cicada

Well, the 2008 AAAS Annual Meeting here in Boston was fun! I didn’t expect that. I’m not a huge fan of scientific conferences because I have an extremely short attention span. And I haven’t been blogging a lot – I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Science, Science in culture & policy | 1 Comment

The Golden Age of Scientific Computing?

Posted on February 17, 2008 by cicada

In a Friday session at the AAAS conference here in Boston, Dr. Chris Johnson of Utah’s Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute showed this short video encapsulating some of his team’s striking 3D imaging innovations. He also made what I think … Continue reading →

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

God is more than a flying brain

Posted on February 14, 2008 by cicada

Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam From Paluzzi et al., Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2007 For a few years, Nature Reviews Neuroscience stuck to a humorous theme in its cover art: everyday objects that mimic brains. A dandelion, spilled … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Medical Illustration and History, Museum Lust, Retrotechnology, Science | Comments Off

Please, don’t inhale the pig brains

Posted on February 5, 2008 by cicada

Ok. . . apparently a new neurological disorder has been linked to the inhalation of aerosolized pig brains. According to the Washington Post, The 12 sufferers of the neurological illness — most are Hispanic immigrants — all work at or near the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science | 1 Comment

Seriously, now. . .

Posted on January 19, 2008 by cicada

OK – enough frivolous posts for the moment. There’s an election in the offing, and I want to address those of you who care whether the next President is science-and-technology-literate. Which should be ALL of you, right? Sciencedebate 2008 (of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Science, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Who’s your daddy? Ask PCR

Posted on January 17, 2008 by cicada

Ah, I have the warm fuzzies now for my eppendorfs and thermal cycler. . . but I’m sure it will pass.

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

Because science teachers don’t get enough respect

Posted on January 17, 2008 by cicada

FYI: AAAS will award a $1,000 prize this year to a high school science teacher, for “leadership in science education”. Candidates must be nominated by their chairs or administrators, and must complete an application by March 2: Entries must be … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Science | Comments Off

London: the Icky Tour

Posted on January 13, 2008 by cicada

Greenhouse, Chelsea Physic Garden As I file away the debris of the last year, I realize that I never finished posting about my week in London this summer. It was exhausting, but by no means exhaustive. I feel foolish that … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Destinations, Museum Lust, Science, Wonder Cabinets | 5 Comments

Think outside Schrodinger’s box

Posted on December 11, 2007 by cicada

Can a president who is not comfortable thinking about science hope to lead instead of follow? Earlier Republican debates underscored this problem. In May, when candidates were asked if they believed in the theory of evolution, three candidates said no. … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Science in culture & policy | 1 Comment