grrlscientist | October 15, 2007tags: All Women Blogging, blog carnival
The most recent issue of the All Women Blogging carnival is now available. This particular blog carnival is huge so be ready to spend a fair amount of time reading their many many links.
grrlscientist | October 15, 2007tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Male SincoraÌ Antwren,
Formicivora grantsaui.
Potentially a new bird species that was recently discovered in Brazil.
Image: Sidnei Sampaio. [larger view].
Birds in Science
When male birds know they're about to get it on, that action is more likely to spawn a bigger brood of eggs compared to spontaneous copulation, a new study finds. Previous studies have shown that when two male birds mate with a female in a competition to pass on their genetic material, they end in a draw and both become fathers to an equal number…
grrlscientist | October 14, 2007tags: Spoonbill Sandpiper, Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, birds, ornithology, endangered species, Image of the Day
Spoonbill Sandpiper chick, Eurynorhynchus pygmeus.
(Read a story about this species in tomorrow's edition of Birds in the News -- issue 101).
Image: J. O'Sullivan [Wallpaper size]
Thanks, Grace!
grrlscientist | October 13, 2007tags: turtle yoga, duck, reptiles, interspecies communication, Image of the Day
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
The photographer writes: This second image (the first appeared yesterday) provides photographic proof of an instance in which a Red-eared Slider and a Mallard participated in the same Yoga session in our very own Central Park. Experienced Yoga practitioners will no doubt immediately recognize the classic Mountain Pose when they see it. Of course the turtle's interpretation is a bit freeform but you have to give credit to a quadruped for trying.
So…
grrlscientist | October 13, 2007tags: researchblogging.org, conservation, captive breeding, endangered species, reproductive success
I bred parrots and other birds for zoos and for the pet trade for years before I moved to NYC. I often thought about applying my avicultural and ornithological skills and talents to propagate birds for release into the wild, to supplement wild populations that are decreasing. But in addition to the practical challenges of captive breeding birds, I often wondered about the evolutionary implications of doing this: because every individual is precious in a captive breeding program, they are…
grrlscientist | October 12, 2007tags: friday ark, animal photographs, blog carnival
Friday Ark, Friday Ark, it's time for this week's Friday Ark, you guys! This morning, the 160th edition of the Friday Ark was published, all so you can ease your way into the weekend by looking at cute pictures of fuzzy kittens, slobbery puppies and stunning birds.
grrlscientist | October 12, 2007tags: turtle yoga, mountain yoga pose, reptiles, interspecies communication, Image of the Day
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
The photogrpaher writes: This is another in my apparently unending reports on Turtle Yoga. Hey, I'm as surprised as you are that I have more. However, this is a real scoop though it may be a stretch for some readers. (The pun is intended).
This first image (there's another tomorrow) captures two turtles in what one might categorize as a rather intimate yoga moment. Personally I think that interpreting the yoga Mountain Pose this way should…
grrlscientist | October 12, 2007For those of you who have been in grad school, or who know someone in grad school, you are acutely aware of the extreme financial burden this represents. In fact, unlike professional students, grad students often live in relative poverty for the next ten years after they are awarded their degrees because they are struggling to pay off their debts on a postdoc's salary. Additionally, because postdocs and young professors lack job security until they are awarded tenure, these adult scientists have to resort to a variety of financial coping mechanisms often through their mid-30s and even their…
grrlscientist | October 12, 2007tags: book review, science essays, technology, Present at the Future, Ira Flatow
Many months ago, I was signed up for the HarperCollins email list that briefly describes their books that are hot off the presses, prior to their public release. The publisher then holds a contest where they ask you to email them a little essay describing why you would be the best person to review a particular title in their list, then they choose the winners and mail the books. Even though HarperCollins published several scientific books this past year, including one that dealt with evolution, my essay was…
grrlscientist | October 12, 2007tags: hands, online quiz
What Your Hands Say About You
You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills.
Idealistic and dreamy, you tend toward the impractical. You have a knack for getting yourself in sticky situations.
Brainy and intelligent, you are intellectual to the point of being incomprehensible.
Your emotions tend to be nervous and potent. Your energy - both positive and negative - deeply impacts your life.
What Do Your Hands Say About You?
I had no idea that hands could say so many conflicting things about a person .. did you?
grrlscientist | October 11, 2007Some days, I wish I was a lesbian. Yesterday evening was one of those days, in fact.
So my little story started a few nights ago when I was out alone (as always), drinking a beer and checking email at a local pub when some guy starts talking to me.
Um, okay, whatever.
I answered him as briefly as possible and then tried to ignore him. Nonetheless (and unfortunately for me), it took him a little while, like maybe half an hour, but all of a sudden, he decides he is in love with me. Nevermind that he doesn't know anything about me, except that I am trying to ignore him, and nevermind that I…
grrlscientist | October 11, 2007tags: researchblogging.org, linguistics, evolution, irregular verbs, languages
When I was an undergrad, I almost took a degree in linguistics because I was so fascinated by languages, especially by the rate and patterns of change that languages undergo. So of course, I was excited to read two fascinating papers that were published in this week's issue of Nature. These papers find that individual words evolve in a predictable manner and this rate of evolution depends upon their frequency of use. Further, this predictability can be defined mathematically.
To test this hypothesis, one group…
grrlscientist | October 11, 2007tags: Whirlabout, grass skipper, butterfly, Polites vibex, Image of the Day
Female Whirlabout, Polites vibex.
Image: Biosparite. [larger view]
The photographer writes: I encountered this species of grass skipper earlier this afternoon in the West 11th St. Park. It is nectaring at volunteers of Cut & Come Again Zinnias reseeding from 2006. One good way to have a butterfly garden on the cheap is to sow a lot of zinnia seeds.
grrlscientist | October 10, 2007tags: researchblogging.org, birds, SincoraÌ Antwren, Formicivora grantsaui, ornithology, Brazil
Male SincoraÌ Antwren,
Formicivora grantsaui.
Potentially a new bird species that was recently discovered in Brazil.
Image: Sidnei Sampaio. [larger view].
In a world where many humans believe they know the identities of every living thing on the planet, it is truly refreshing to learn that we have found yet another species of bird that is new to science. This new species was recently found in eastern Brazil. The bird was captured, studied and its vocalizations were recorded by ornithologists.…
grrlscientist | October 10, 2007tags: Painted Turtle, Red-eared Slider, reptile, Image of the Day
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
The Photographer writes: But Hold On! As the camera pulls away from these two subjects it reveals three turtles are actually in attendance at this yoga session. The third practitioner is also a Red-eared Slider. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come? I surely will be keeping my eye and camera out for an even larger yoga class should I find it. Until my next report please remember: don't strain and remember to breath.
grrlscientist | October 10, 2007tags: tangled bank, blog carnival
Hey you guys, the blog carnival that you've all been waiting for is now available for you to read and enjoy! The 90th edition of Tangled Bank is now available so go over there and see what science-y goodness the author has been able to collect.
grrlscientist | October 9, 2007
Image: Brent Ward; Sedgwick County Zoo.
Thanks to a friend, who shall remain unnamed, it looks like I will be adding a bird to my flock, a species that I bred for many years before I left Seattle for NYC (a species that I gave up when I moved to pursue a career that seems to have gone nowhere, unless you think of the Coriolis Effect, as it applies to a swirling toilet, as "going somewhere").
To say the least, I have missed my birds so terribly, so deeply, so desperately at times, that this one little guy (girl?) will add a little something to the stillness that my vanished flock of…
grrlscientist | October 9, 2007tags: researchblogging.org, elephant, Africanized honeybees, maize, Africa
As humans compete with wildlife for ever smaller areas, the likelihood for conflict between them grows. Unfortunately, this is a problem for the endangered African elephants, whose love for human crops has caused grief for both elephants and people. However, some creative research by a team from Oxford University has suggested a possible solution to the "elephant problem."
Elephants are not afraid of mice, but new research shows that they definitely fear the sound of bees because the angry insects can inflict painful…
grrlscientist | October 9, 2007tags: Painted Turtle, Red-eared Slider, reptile, Image of the Day
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [Wallpaper size]
The photogrpaher writes: If you saw the Grrl Scientist's posting of "Turtle Yoga" on September 30 you might have the suspicion that this image is a setup. I assure you it is not. I found these two turtles engaged in a yoga class in the same spot as the first two. I had to laugh out loud when I saw them holding the same yoga pose but now facing away from each other instead of face to face. The large turtle may be the same one in the early image but after studying both…
grrlscientist | October 9, 2007The 33rd edition of Encephalon was just published and they included one of my essays. As you might remember, I hosted the previous edition of Encephalon so be sure to visit this issue as well!