Eyes on the forest and the trees
Medical Xpress examines new ways we can train our minds to use “holistic processing” – that is, we can teach our eyes not to miss the details we normally don’t see… Read the rest “Eyes on the forest and the trees”
Articles by grant b
A language-killing grudge.
The Ayapaneco language is about to die out, the Guardian reports, in part because the last two speakers aren’t talking to each other:
… Read the rest “A language-killing grudge.”Manuel Segovia, 75, and Isidro Velazquez, 69,
Science Art: Xylophylla, by Olof Swartz, 1791 (detail)
From a page of botanical babies drawn by Swedish botanist Olof Swartz just before the dawn of the 19th century. Swartz was a pupil of Linnaeus, the fellow who pretty much … Read the rest “Science Art: Xylophylla, by Olof Swartz, 1791 (detail)”
Found: God of silence. Slightly used. Won’t talk.
The (not exactly) god of silence and secrecy, Discovery reports, is at the heart of a new Egyptian antiquities mystery. Of four statues recovered by authorities following the January revolution… Read the rest “Found: God of silence. Slightly used. Won’t talk.”
Robot buddies.
Science Mag produces proof – actual, empirical proof – that nice guys really can finish first and that even killer robots can learn to care for each other:
… Read the rest “Robot buddies.”Laurent Keller of
Words on sling stones can SO hurt me.
That’s the gist of an AFP report on the messages ancient soldiers carved into their ammunition:
… Read the rest “Words on sling stones can SO hurt me.”Slingers, also known as sphendonetai, have been used in warfare through antiquity,
Truck stop life.
Scientific American has a great guest post about a driven entomologist who discovered a new order of life… one that had eluded discovery by hanging around at South African truck stops… Read the rest “Truck stop life.”
Viral solar.
PhysOrg brings us a teeny tiny bit closer to going green with an MIT project that offers solar power that reproduces virally:
… Read the rest “Viral solar.”This dramatic improvement takes place even though the viruses
Helicoma spp + rhinoceros beetle, from Insecten-Belustigung, by AJ Rösel von Rosenhof, 1700s.
From Insecten-Belustigung (Insect Amusements), a three-volume encyclopedia by 18th century German illustrator AJ Rösel von Rosenhof.
[via Bibliodyssey, via Keep… Read the rest “Helicoma spp + rhinoceros beetle, from Insecten-Belustigung, by AJ Rösel von Rosenhof, 1700s.”
I, for one, welcome our new astronauts.
They’re squid. No, really. Science 2.0 has blown the whistle on the final Space Shuttle mission – the one that finally brings squid back to the stars where they belong:
… Read the rest “I, for one, welcome our new astronauts.”So, okay,
Precious beetles.
It shouldn’t be surprising that The Optical Society likes getting a little flashy… but their beetle test subjects take things a little too far:
… Read the rest “Precious beetles.”Costa Rica was once regarded
Neanderthal Heaven.
Discovery News unveils the religious life of Neanderthals:
… Read the rest “Neanderthal Heaven.”The Neanderthals were found covered together with rocks burying their remains. The researchers believe it’s likely
Science Art: Total Eclipse of the Sun, by E.L. Trouvelot, 1881-1882
From the description at the New York Public Library Digital Gallery page:
… Read the rest “Science Art: Total Eclipse of the Sun, by E.L. Trouvelot, 1881-1882”Total eclipse of the sun. Observed July 29, 1878, at Creston, Wyoming Territory. (1881-1882)
SONG: Grains of Aragonite
SONG: “Grains of Aragonite.” (To download: double right-click & “Save As”)
ARTIST: grant.
SOURCE: Based on Primitive sea creature sports eyes made of… Read the rest “SONG: Grains of Aragonite”
NIMBioS: Science Songwriter Residency
I doubt I could skip out of my non-scientific day job for a month, but man, I sure want to now:
… Read the rest “NIMBioS: Science Songwriter Residency”NIMBioS is sponsoring the program to encourage the creation and production of songs involving