May 2013
17 posts
“Why should men have all the fun?” The seafaring...
There are definitely a lot of research cruise videos out there. But this one caught my eye because, HEY, it focuses on physical oceanography! You learn about the Agulhas current, expensive s**t is thrown into the ocean and you get to meet a bunch of female physical oceanographers! It’s a little long but definitely worth … → Read More: “Why should men have all the fun?” The seafaring ladies...
You want mustard with that clam?
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report put out by the Centers for Disease Control makes for fascinating reading sometimes. One came out recently that contains three startling case reports linked to clam beds on the US east coast, but they do not involve, as you might expect, infectious diseases. In the first case a member … → Read More: You want mustard with that clam?...
It’s not uterUS, it’s uterME
Dear Abby, It’s just not fair. There I was, a freshly produced sand tiger shark embryo, developing nicely and making my way down the ovarian ducts to one horn of the uterus. I had blastulated like a boss, totally owned gastrulation and even did a half decent impersonation of ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny. Things were looking … → Read More: It’s not uterUS, it’s uterME...
Is this Polar Pod genius or just plain insanity?
People come up with all sorts of wacky ideas to explore the oceans. And here is another one of those ideas. Meet the Polar Pod, a manned research platform dreamed up by French Explorer/Physician Jean-Louis Etienne to drift around Antarctica in the Southern Ocean. My first thought when I saw this concept was WTF. … → Read More: Is this Polar Pod genius or just plain insanity?...
TGIF – Wonderful Whale Sharks
Sorry for the silence of late, just spinning a few too many plates. One of those plates was an invited lecture in the STEM lecture series at University of Texas PanAmerican. They just posted it on their website. It’s kind of long, over 50 minutes, but if you’re interested in whale sharks and procrastinating this … → Read More: TGIF – Wonderful Whale Sharks http://dlvr.it/3LvjSR
From coast to canvas: The art of biological...
Source: A. Bachar They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” As cliche as it is, that phrase could not resonate more clearly for this visual learner than when I am flipping through a 10 lb. biology textbook full of thousands of words. I can read through pages and pages describing some ecological process … → Read More: From coast to canvas: The art of biological illustration...
Break through 2 months of Antarctic sea ice in 5...
Love, love, love, love this video. Marine scientist Cassandra Brooks strapped a camera to the front of NSF’s icebreaker the Nathaniel B. Palmer as it sailed for two months through the ice-choked Ross Sea off Antartica. But unlike her, you don’t have to sit through two-months of ice smashing while fighting your shipmates for the … → Read More: Break through 2 months of Antarctic sea ice in 5...
Outreach, the academic formula, and the need for...
COMPASS recently published a commentary in PLOS Biology on the journey from science outreach to meaningful engagement. This post attempts to synthesize a series of reactions, reflections, and personal experiences that followed with the hope to expand the conversation. Read the summary post here, or track the conversation by searching for #reachingoutsci Image courtesy of … → Read More:...
10 Reasons Why Bone Eating Worms Are F’n Awesome
The deep-sea Osedax bone-devouring worms could easily have been the poster child for Deep-Sea News instead of the Giant Squid. Below is list of 10 reasons why Osedax are the shiznit. The chicas are freaky. All whalebone-eating, female worms have dwarf males, up to 114 in Osedax rubiplumus, fruiting around inside of their body. The … → Read More: 10 Reasons Why Bone Eating Worms Are F’n...
April 2013
52 posts
A New Stereomicroscope for $440?
Can you smell that? Despite being spring it smells just a little less green. Indeed, there is a little less green around me. Sure the plants around me in North Carolina are in full emerald plumage. However the green that really matters—dollars, money, cash, currency, dough, bread, Benjamins, dough, bank, cabbage, chedda, dead presidents, folding … → Read More: A New Stereomicroscope for...
The only lady of the academic seas
Mariners have a long-standing tradition of naming their vessels after the ladies. However, when it comes to research vessels this has not been the case…until now. For the first time, a research ship will be named after a woman. The Navy’s next ocean-class auxiliary general oceanographic research (AGOR) will be named after Sally Ride, the … → Read More: The only lady of the academic seas...
Wranglin’ the Mighty Mesograzer
Underwater Rolly Pollie also known as Elasmopus levis.Source: Matt Whalen Amphipods and I, well, we have a love/hate relationship. I love them because, for all intents and purposes, they are the rolly pollies of the ocean. And come on…who doesn’t love rolly pollies!? However, when it comes to using these crusty critters in experiments, all … → Read More: Wranglin’ the Mighty Mesograzer...
An Introduction to Social Media for Scientists,...
Science is defined by expertise. We researchers are constantly trying to expand our own knowledge, or collaborate with those who can contribute the necessary skills. Unfortunately, developing “internet skills” usually isn’t top priority for scientists – despite the fact that we now live and work in a over-connected, technology-driven society. Given this scenario, fellow marine … → Read...
Honor Your Heroes
We asked Dr. Douglas J. Long, Senior Curator of Natural Sciences at the Oakland Museum of California to guest post with DSN. Please welcome him in the comments below. He holds a PhD in Integrative Biology from the University of California Berkeley, where his research focused on sharks. His current fieldwork utilizes data collected through … → Read More: Honor Your Heroes...
Seasnake vs. Moray Eel…not what I was expecting
In the below video a seasnake catches a moray eel at Giant Clam, Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines. I believe the eel is a fimbriated moray, Gymnothorax fimbriatus which can reach lengths of of about 2.5 feet and apparently can make a fetching design for a dress. The sea snake appears to be the banded sea … → Read More: Seasnake vs. Moray Eel…not what I was expecting http://dlvr.it/3FRKB7
New field blog: Imaging the Arctic
Art and science. Their paths don’t always cross, but when they do the results can be absolutely stunning. And this is exactly why I am highlighting the wonderful new collaboration by scientist Kristin Laidre and artist Maria Coryell-Martin, “Imaging the Arctic. ” It is an elegant field blog based around Dr. Laidre’s fieldwork with Narwhals … → Read More: New field blog: Imaging the Arctic...
Who do I pick to ride in my sub? Ice-Cube or...
When I’m chillin’ in my underwater low low, I want to attract attention. I can’t be doing that in some rusted out old tin can. Sequester and budget cuts be damned! Nope I going for the cheery red C-Explorer 5. Me and 4 of my posse (Alex, Holly, Kim and of course T-Pain, sorry Al … → Read More: Who do I pick to ride in my sub? Ice-Cube or T-Pain http://dlvr.it/3F9JgK
Not Quite the Shark that ate Esteban
We asked Dr. Douglas J. Long, Senior Curator of Natural Sciences at the Oakland Museum of California to guest post with DSN. Please welcome him in the comments below. He holds a PhD in Integrative Biology from the University of California Berkeley, where his research focused on sharks. His current fieldwork utilizes data collected through … → Read More: Not Quite the Shark that ate Esteban...
Giant Octopus Building Art!
In honor of their new “Giant Pacific Octopus” exhibit, Bristol Aquarium has commissioned some pretty badass building art. Thanks to Justin Dowling (the artist) for bringing this to our attention. Your work is totally awesome! Take a look at the images below – it took me a good 10 minutes to figure out this is … → Read More: Giant Octopus Building Art! http://dlvr.it/3DRdhk
Extraordinary dolphin footage
In my inbox today was this video of a remarkable bit of animal behaviour captured on video. It shows the famous manta night dive in Hawai’i interrupted by a dolphin, which seems to solicit help from a diver for a case of fishing line entanglement. The dolphin holds patiently still while the diver carefully removes … → Read More: Extraordinary dolphin footage http://dlvr.it/3DP145
We found love in a hopeless place.
I guess it has just been an Anglerfish kind of week. Found this little diddy at work today and it made me giggle. May it inspire all of your friday night escapades. Source: Alex Warneke http://dlvr.it/3DG1jY
Quick! Someone call the Fashion Police.
We have a fashion emergency. White after labor day? No. Horizontal stripes? Not exactly. Wardrobe malfunction? Definitely No. Too much skin showing at the Grammys despite CBS’s best efforts to keep those scandalous celebs … http://dlvr.it/3CxZGq
