Attention aspiring science writers! Many of you have asked me how to get into writing or tips on starting your own blog.
190 science bloggers answered the following question: In a sentence, your best science blogging advice for fellow science bloggers.
The word cloud up there gives the answer: Write fun just make blog post interesting writing.
(via Labs)
(via jtotheizzoe)
THE EPIGENOME AT A GLANCE.
Video describing the basic principles of epigentics.
diatoms
cwnl:
Metamorphosis: Evolution’s freak factory
The startling mismatch between the larvae and adults of some species may be the key to an evolutionary explosion half a billion years ago.
(via ikenbot)
from national geographic:
Smaller fish keep their distance when a blacktip reef shark swims amongst them in shallow water in the Maldives.
Trace amounts of crude oil found to harm Gulf fish
Gene expression changes due to BP Horizon oil contamination have been recorded in Gulf killifish. The results of the genetic changes could interfere with larval development and later adult populations.
Oil spill effects are more about the forces that don’t kill wildlife than they are about the changes that do kill. These are the changes that affect the populations for generations to come.
(via Nature News, image via ARLIS Reference)
(via jtotheizzoe)
“Our study shows that it’s not all in the genes,” said Joseph Ecker, a professor in Salk’s Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, who led the research team. “We found that these plants have an epigenetic code that’s more flexible and influential than we imagined. There is clearly a component of heritability that we don’t fully understand. It’s possible that we humans have a similarly active epigenetic mechanism that controls our biological characteristics and gets passed down to our children. ” (via Are genes our destiny? Scientists discover ‘hidden’ code in DNA evolves more rapidly than genetic code)
cwnl:
Ghostly ‘Winged’ Octopus Caught on Camera
By Olivia Solon, Wired UK
A rarely seen white deep-sea octopus has been captured on camera in high definition by researchers from the University of Washington. The octopus features two “wings” which make it look just like the ghosts from Mario videogames, aka Boos.
The Grimpoteuthis bathynectes octopus, also nicknamed the Dumbo octopus, was filmed with an HD video camera at a depth of more than 2,000 metres [6,500 feet] about 200 miles off the coast of Oregon.
Little is known about the deep-sea octopuses, which live near the hydrothermal vent fields — fissures in the Earth’s surface generally found near volcanically active places that release geothermally heated water.
The ghostly octopus is seen in the video above propelling itself gracefully through the water, using its wings (which are actually fins) for navigation.
Video: RSNOOI/Youtube
Source: Wired.co.uk
Visualizing genetic interactions within one chromosome. An organism’s information content is highly interconnected.
Featured in the new collection of network visualizations Visual Complexity: Mapping Patterns of Information
(image by Martin Krzywinski)
Pacu are a group of fish in several genera native to South America. Related to the piranha, this fish is an omnivore. As an adaptation to it’s diet, which often includes fallen fruit, they’ve developed teeth that are remarkably human-like in what can be considered an almost chilling case of convergent evolution. Nicknamed the “vegetarian piranha” by aquarists, they are kept as exotic pets in the US. As a result, pacu have been discovered in the wilds of many American states, causing quite a stir every time due to their human chompers. In their homes, they are coming under increasing threat of overfishing, as their large size and reportedly good taste (allegedly comparable to striped bass and tilapia, but better than catfish) fetch good prices in fish markets. There is yet hope, however, as the farming of these fish is gaining increased support due to the consistent supply of food it promises, and the happy coincidence that they thrive well in farms.
Photographer snaps heavenly photo of Mt. Rainier
The weather phenomenon behind the beauty: “The skies were mostly overcast that morning, but it looks like air flowing over Mt. Rainier created some localized turbulence that opened up a small hole in the sky.
When air gets turbulent, it can rise and sink. Sinking air dries as it does so, and create holes in the clouds.”
(via KOMO News | Weather Blog)
(via jtotheizzoe)
Probing Prokaryotic Social Behaviors with Bacterial “Lobster Traps”
Free ‘open access’ text to the paper in mBio.
Marvin Whiteley of UT Austin gave one of the most memorable and enjoyable talks at the Phage meeting, showing these bacterial homes that are made in conjunction with the lab of chemist Jason Shear. The ‘traps’ are made of protein and swell shut upon temperature shift to trap bacteria inside for individual or small group study. Adding other doors that open at yet higher temperatures allows you to let two bacteria within conjoining rooms interact. A very cool technique that should allow a prodigious amount of newfangled experiments.
Only reblogging because these wicked folks work like 200 yards from me. Go Aimee! You’re on my dashboard, and for some amazing work! Quorum sensing for the win.
If you want to stop by my lab sometime, they accidentally left their poster outside.
(via jtotheizzoe)
