Uncategorized
More bed bug science here.
Uncategorized
Charlie checks out Flight of the Conchords
Science
How to brew beer in a coffee maker, using only materials commonly found on a modestly sized oceanographic research vessel has picked up a second wind today thanks to Boing Boing. Several new readers have asked about that puzzling picture in the post, featuring a research vessel apparently sinking with its bow pointing straight out … Read More “The Ship that Flips” »
Conservation, Science
When most people think of an animal threatened by global warming, images of a polar bear drowning because of lost ice habitat come to mind. Few know that climate change can also threaten animals used to living in environments much warmer than the Arctic. Even when you’re used to heat, too much heat can be a serious problem- particularly in vulnerable early life history stages.
One example of this phenomenon is the sea turtle. Though one species (the leatherback) often ventures into Arctic waters, the other species are largely confined to tropical and temperate climates. All seven species are threatened or endangered due to decades of bycatch mortality and habitat destruction, and they are in serious trouble as a result of warming beach temperatures.
Read More “Altered sea turtle sex ratios: Can global warming harm warm-water animals?” »
Conservation, Science
A major threat facing sharks is the loss of important nursery habitat. In this week’s Shark Science Monday, Thomas Farrugia discusses how effective habitat restoration can be. Feel free to ask questions for Thomas in the comments. ~WhySharksMatter
Uncategorized
Chapter 20 of Herman Melville’s classic – Moby Dick. Read along with us and discuss this chapter or the book as a whole in the comments. Visit this page for the complete collection to date: Finding Melville’s Whale. All Astir The day after the prophet’s pronouncement the Pequod’s crew were made to load their chests … Read More “Finding Melville’s Whale: Chapter 20 – All Astir” »
Uncategorized
Charlie checks out a bizarre curiosity – somehow the Southern Fried Scientist is a sergeant in the Baltimore police dept. – a Pipe Sergeant
Science
Bed bugs, the nasty nocturnal nursery rhyme nightmares than are making a comeback throughout the northeastern United States. Infestations, previously relegated to the status of urban legend in much of the developed world, are on the rise due to a combination of more frequent travel, pesticide resistance, and the end of the ‘better living through chemistry” era when DDT was a perfectly acceptable thing to spray into your baby’s crib. They’re mean, nasty blood suckers that have risen over the summer to become the scourge of hotel managers everywhere. Except, they’re really pretty harmless. Most people don’t even have a reaction to the bite, they are shockingly poor vectors for disease, and, when you get past the blood sucking, they’re rather cute as far as bugs go. There is one rather disagreeable feature about these critters, and it’s the reason we should all be thankful that we’re only bitten by them.
Traumatic Insemination.
Uncategorized
Today marks the official beginning of the Donor’s Choose Science Blogger Challenge! This year the Ocean and Geo Bloggers have united to compete against other science blogging networks, so let’s show the landlubbers that we take out science education seriously! On top of that, we’re also having a little friendly competition among ocean and geo bloggers, and right now the Gam is proudly in the lead.
Read More “Support Science in the Classroom and send students to the field” »
Uncategorized
Charlie clings to the highland battle targe, for FREEDOM!