cwilcox | June 23, 2009**giggle** That is one bold monkey - but the music really makes these videos.
cwilcox | June 22, 2009Yeah, yeah, I've done these little guys before. But come on - just watch the video. I dare you to claim that you are not overwhelmed by the Cute.
HT Zooborns, again. Those guys kick some serious ass when it comes to finding the world's cutest animals
cwilcox | June 20, 2009So, I kind of have an obsession with small and miniature versions of things. I saw this car in a parking lot yesterday, and I just couldn't help snapping a pic. I WANT THIS CAR.
It's a baby car! Isn't it ADORABLE? Someone should buy me a car like this. Seriously.
cwilcox | June 19, 2009Beaches come with warning signs about hazardous marine life or rough seas. Now, finally, someone is warning the marine life about its biggest threats. They're putting labels on aquarium tanks so that the sharks inside can read the danger that lurks on the other side of the glass:
HT Oceanic DreamsAbsolute genius, Save Our Seas - absolute genius.
cwilcox | June 18, 2009There is an entire family of wasps who use other species to raise their young, and they're a seemingly endless source of sci-fi worthy parasites. I've covered a few of them before, but none is quite so elegant as Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga, a Costa Rican wasp with a fascinating and unique way of keeping its young safe until they can cocoon and turn into adults: it preys on spiders.
Spiders wouldn't seem like the best choice for nanny, what with their taste for bugs and all. But the daring Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga uses them anyhow. Unlike many parasitic wasps which lay hundreds or thousands…
Submit your questions for an interview with the Discovery Channel's Senior Science Editor Paul Gasek
cwilcox | June 17, 2009There is a lot of debate in the shark biology community about the ever popular Discovery Channel yearly event "Shark Week."
On the one hand, it's an intense, interesting week of programming which draws a lot of viewers and attention to the animals that shark biologists hold near and dear to their hearts, the impressive Elasmobranchs themselves.
But many biologists argue that the portrayal of sharks by the Discovery Channel is wrong - that they jazz up the death, blood and gore to produce what is nicknamed "Shark Porn" : Creative activity (writing or pictures or films) of no literary or…
cwilcox | June 15, 2009I wasn't exactly a normal kid. I loved animals, and after much convincing, I somehow got my mother to agree to let me have hedgehogs. Two of them, actually. One was a regular colored one named Spickle (because, she was "spickly" - spiky and prickly) and an albino one named Popcorn (because he was not only popcorn-colored but he liked to make popping noises and jump 4" in the air in a ball when he was upset). Anyhow, these photo reminded me of my favorite childhood pets:C'mon, ain't they CUTE?! And just look at the pig-like nose - you can see why they're called "hogs".
cwilcox | June 10, 2009Hey there my dedicated blog readers,
Sorry there hasn't been much from me all week. I'm moving to Hawaii in less than a month, and between preparing for that 6,000 mile trek, a pick up in work (I suspect my boss trying to get the most out of my last couple weeks here), and general life, I've been really, really busy. I know, it's no excuse to ignore you, but it's the truth. So I apologize - I'll try to post more, but if I'm MIA for a little longer, at least you have a reason.
In the meantime, I suggest you hit the sidebar and check out the other great blogs I have on my blogroll - they're…
cwilcox | June 8, 2009It's June 8th, and the votes are in for the first round of the 3 Quark's Daily Science Blogging Contest. The top 20 posts have been announced, and... drumroll please...
We're in! TWICE!
That's right, falling in at #17 is The End Of The Age Of Man? and barely squeaking in unnoticed at #20 is A Marine Biologist's Story. So a huge THANK YOU to all of you who voted!
Now, posts are being subjected to a harsh judging panel from 3QD, and a final 7 will be announced on June 11th. Those top tier will face Steven Pinker, who will ultimately decide the Top Quark!
Thanks again to all of you, and good…
cwilcox | June 8, 2009Well, sort of.
A fellow blogger (Sheril, of The Intersection) is doing a survey experiment about kissing for a book she's writing called The Science of Kissing. It sounds like it's going to be a great book, but to finish it, she needs people to help her with an experiment. It's really simple - all you have to do is number a series of photos based on the type of kiss you think it is. She explains everything in her post. So go answer the quick survey and help her write a book!
cwilcox | June 7, 2009Yeah, those caterpillar mimicking trematodes were impressive. But we humans have our own trematodes which are pretty nasty, too. One group of trematodes which uses humans as a final host is the genus Schistosoma, like Schistosoma masonii on the right.
Like other trematodes, Schistosoma spp. have very complex live cycles involving multiple hosts. Here's a quick overview image:So: the schistosome's life cycle. They start out as little eggs which leave the adult's host (humans) through the waste systems in urine or feces. These eggs then hatch into the first larval stage, which is called a…
cwilcox | June 7, 2009It is with great pleasure that I announce to you all that Carnival of the Blue #25 is up! What better way to celebrate World Ocean Day than to read the best of the best in ocean blogging!
And, if you haven't already, don't forget to check out the Carnival of Evolution #12 over at Deep Sea News.
Any other important carnival announcements I missed?
cwilcox | June 7, 2009Ok. Seriously. If you haven't voted in the 3 Quark's Daily Science Blogging Contest, do it. Now. There's only 6 hours left, and the clock is winding down until Midnight EST!
And, for that matter, Observation's Of A Nerd's 'A Marine Biologist's Story' and 'The End Of The Age Of Man?' are flirting with spots #19 and #20. So if you vote for one of them, you might just be guaranteeing its spot in the next rounds of competition!
cwilcox | June 7, 2009 Our emotions are strongly tied to our morals. We're more likely to think something is wrong if it repulses us, even if we can't describe exactly why or how it is wrong. For example, most people would disapprove of consensual adult incest between siblings, but few would be able to articulate exactly why it is 'wrong.' This is very different from moral beliefs deduced from reasoning. These moral intuitions, which are highly motivated by emotional response or learned associations, are quick and require little supporting evidence in the person's mind.
Since emotions affect our morals, it easily…
cwilcox | June 3, 2009You often hear that happy people see the world differently. They look through 'rose colored glasses' or 'on the bright side.' There are a lot of phrases that connect mood and sight. Those less optimistic, as well, claim to 'see things as they are.' It's no surprise, then, that new research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, has found that mood really does change how we see the world.
Though the pessimists "realists" might claim to be the ones who are most in touch with actuality, its the optimists that actually see more of the world around them. That's because, as researchers from…
cwilcox | June 3, 2009I know, I know - there are still 3 days left of voting on the 3 Quark's Daily Science Blogging Prize. I shouldn't be sweating it yet. But c'mon - we're right on the cusp of the top 20 with A Marine Biologist's Story AND The End Of The Age Of Man!
I'm biting my nails watching the numbers slowly creep. About 30 more for each and they'll probably coast right into the next round - you can do it: you have the power! I've got the medical students where I work voting. I know my fans can match them vote for vote! You guys, after all, are the best blog readers on the internet!
I know not all of you…
cwilcox | June 3, 2009This image just made me grin like the Cheshire cat.
Thanks, Allie (who, in turn, got it from Animal Planet's Twitter Feed)
cwilcox | June 1, 2009No, not Publisher's Clearing House.
And not that 3 Quark's thing - not yet, anyway. You know, you could go vote for observation's of a nerd, though, and better my odds...
But, no, I'm referring to something way more awesome to win. I'm this month's everyONE PLoS ONE Blog Post of the Month! Miraculously, out of 48 entries, the kind folks over at everyONE have chosen my post on a PLoS paper about size and status as this month's winner.
Thanks for the love, everyONE! I know those other posters are incredible bloggers, so I feel really honored to have won amongst this elite group!
cwilcox | May 31, 2009All right all 300 or so listeners of mine (wow, that sounds like a lot). The voting link is up for the 3 Quark's Daily Best Science Blog Post. So go and vote for your favorite science blog post(s) - though, if you need suggestions, there are four down in the Os that I think are phenominal. The top 21 posts in terms of voting by June 8th get judged by the elite panel to determine the winner, so for me to have a chance at that year's supply of Ramen I'll have to hope to make it into the top 21!
There are some others that I could be OK (I guess) with you voting for. There are 3 by Southern Fried…
cwilcox | May 31, 2009This adorable image is thanks to Let's Be Friends, a blog of images of odd animal friendships. I love the simple motto: "If they can do it, then so can we."