My scientific specialty is chronobiology (circadian rhythms and photoperiodism), with additional interests in comparative physiology, animal behavior and evolution. I am not an MD so I cannot diagnose and treat your sleep problems. As well as writing this blog, I am also the Online Discussion Expert for PLoS. This is a personal blog and opinions within it in no way reflect the policies of PLoS. You can contact me at: Coturnix@gmail.com
First, we have 199 people registered for the Science Blogging Conference. The Sigma Xi space accommodates 200 and we have ordered food for 200 (coffee for more, to make up for the coffee flop last year) and swag bags for 200. Apart from the public list, we also have a list with a couple of…
That is one of the phrases that has been getting on my nerves for years now. So, I chuckled when I saw Keith Robison explain why that is not such a good corporate slogan.
I'll add another one to his funny list:
- Most of our organization sits there inert and dead while all of the work is performed…
No, that is not a really nasty guy who hypnotizes people. It is a technical term used to describe the feeling of falling one sometimes experiences at the moment one drifts into sleep. It often makes the person wake up again. I have not experienced it as kid, and even now it happens to me only…
New Research Alters Concept Of How Circadian Clock Functions:
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have identified a molecule that may govern how the circadian clock in plants responds to environmental changes. The researchers have discovered that a signalling molecule, known to be important…
To keep the conversation about the Science Debate 2008 going, I decided to post, one per day, my ideas for potential questions to be asked at such a debate. The questions are far too long, though, consisting more of my musings than real questions that can be asked on TV (or radio or online,…
There are 34 days until the Science Blogging Conference. The wiki is looking good, the Program is shaping up nicely, and there is more and more blog and media coverage already. The anthology should be published in time for the event. There are already 197 registered participants and if you do…
Michael Barton has graduated! He got his degree in History of Science and will try to pursue a graduate degree in the same field. Hey, check out NC State as an option...
Matt and Mrs.Whatsit tagged me with the 7-meme and 8-meme and I have been struggling with the ideas as to how to respond. I am usually a sucker for memes. I always do them. But there is nothing - weird or not - about myself that I have not already mentioned on this blog at one point or another (…
Janet, John and I did this last year. Now John is reminding us again and I hope more people pick it up as it is quite fun to do. The idea is to link back to your first post of each month of the year and to copy and paste the first sentence of each of those posts. Let's see if it is all…
Losses Of Long-established Genes Contribute To Human Evolution
While it is well understood that the evolution of new genes leads to adaptations that help species survive, gene loss may also afford a selective advantage. A group of scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz led by…
To keep the conversation about the Science Debate 2008 going, I decided to post, one per day, my ideas for potential questions to be asked at such a debate. The questions are far too long, though, consisting more of my musings than real questions that can be asked on TV (or radio or online,…
There are 35 days until the Science Blogging Conference. The wiki is looking good, the Program is shaping up nicely, and there is more and more blog and media coverage already. The anthology should be published in time for the event. There are already 196 registered participants and if you do…
Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.
- Henry Van Dyke
To keep the conversation about the Science Debate 2008 going, I decided to post, one per day, my ideas for potential questions to be asked at such a debate. The questions are far too long, though, consisting more of my musings than real questions that can be asked on TV (or radio or online,…
On Fridays I look at the new stuff published on PLoS community journals, i.e., PLoS Pathogens, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Genetics and Computational Biology. Here are my picks for this week:
The Per2 Negative Feedback Loop Sets the Period in the Mammalian Circadian Clock Mechanism:
Network models…
Blind Humans Lacking Rods And Cones Retain Normal Responses To Non-visual Effects Of Light:
In addition to allowing us to see, the mammalian eye also detects light for a number of "non-visual" phenomena. A prime example of this is the timing of the sleep/wake cycle, which is synchronized by the…
There are 36 days until the Science Blogging Conference. The wiki is looking good, the Program is shaping up nicely, and there is more and more blog and media coverage already. The anthology should be published in time for the event. There are already 189 registered participants and if you do…
There are 37 days until the Science Blogging Conference. The wiki is looking good, the Program is shaping up nicely, and there is more and more blog and media coverage already. The anthology should be published in time for the event. There are already 184 registered participants and if you do…
Sleep that knits up the ravel'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labor's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast.
- William Shakespeare
Massive Dinosaur Discovered In Antarctica Sheds Light On Life, Distribution Of Sauropodomorphs:
A new genus and species of dinosaur from the Early Jurassic has been discovered in Antarctica. The massive plant-eating primitive sauropodomorph is called Glacialisaurus hammeri and lived about 190…
