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Afternoon Inquisition
Sunday AI: New words out of context
I am sitting in the Tampa Airport today, on my way home after a wonderful scientific conference with the Organization of Biological Field Stations. (Also, why has no one told Tampa their logo really looks like a vulva? I mean, you would think someone would have noticed that well before the signs were printed.) Anyway. It was pretty much 4…
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Afternoon Inquisition
AI: Skepticism and Bed Bugs
I am excited to report that the FTC has begun to take action against some of the bogus products for sale claiming to protect you against bed bugs: “The Federal Trade Commission filed deceptive advertising charges against two marketers of remedies for bed bug infestations, who allegedly failed to back up overhyped claims that they could prevent and eliminate infestations…
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Afternoon Inquisition
AI: International Rock Flipping Day!
Just wanted to remind everyone that September 9, 2012 is International Rock Flipping Day! This is the 6th annual IRFD. Go outside, and spend some time with your inner kid (or an actual kid). There are beautiful and amazing things in the world, despite the best efforts of humans. Rediscover them. Rejoice in the joy of secret complexity hidden under a rock.…
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Science
Spineless: Threats to the World’s Invertebrates
Hot off the press, a new report published by the Zoological Society of London, in cooperation with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and Wildscreen. You might recognize IUCN as the authors of the Red List, the definitive international list of species that are at risk of extinction. Why should you care about a bunch of squishy boneless animals? …
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Afternoon Inquisition
Sunday AI: Forts!
My friends the Bug Chicks released a new video this week about a group of little insects you’ve probably never heard of: Embiids, or webspinners. It was, as usual, adorable and informative. And it also made me remember how much I loved making forts as a kid! Couch cushions! Trees! Blankets! Snow! Just about anything was fair game. All you…
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Quickies
Skepchick Quickies, 8.29
Mary is under the weather, so Rebecca has foolishly allowed me to take over the quickies for today! I present: SC quickies, Invertebrate Style. Muahahahahahaha! *strokes pet mantis evilly* Corn Rootworms, the leading pest of corn, are now resistant to genetically modified corn. I especially liked this explanation: “’It’s an unfortunate consequence of the overuse of good technology,’ …. Gray…
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Afternoon Inquisition
Sunday AI: Unexpected Discoveries
I now live near (well, within an hour’s drive) of Long Island Sound, and I wanted to learn more about the new environment I seem to be stuck in. I signed up for a short oceanography cruise with Project Oceanology in order to spend some time on the water. I was excited to see some things I didn’t expect! I’d never…
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Science
Lice, Lice Baby: Convergent Evolution in bird lice
This video is a great example of some fascinating evolutionary biology. Illinois Natural History Survey ornithologist Kevin Johnson describes his research on the history of feather lice. Anyone who works with birds knows they are lousy–as in, usually covered in lice. But how did all those lice evolve? Did they share a common louse ancestor, and then diverge as their bird…
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