… according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study compares skull measurements of Flores material with a wide range of other hominid data and concludes that Flores cannot be clustered with Homo sapiens. This is the first published study that takes into account how size affects shape. By correcting for size, this study makes, the authors claim, a more valid comparison between measurements taken on the Flores material and other comparative data. Continue reading The Flores Hobbits Were Members of a Separate Species
Monthly Archives: March 2008
Sandhill Crane Cam
Well, it is migration season for many birds. The other day as we drove north to the cabin, we came across a flock of what I’m pretty sure were tundra swans resting on their long journey north. We are lucky to spend a lot of time in a major flyway for migratory birds, and we get to see lots of them.Audubon and National Geographic have installed a web cam on Nebradka’s Platte River in the Audubon Rowe Sanctuary, through which you can observe sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). Look in the early morning and evening, at this URL. Continue reading Sandhill Crane Cam
Board Room Gender Gap
A new study out of Cornell measures gender balance, or lack thereof, across the 100 largest publicly held companies in New York State. The findings indicate that while about half the workers in these companies are women, less than 15 percent of the board and executive officer positions are held by women.
Figure Caption: Women still comprise less than 15 percent of the total board director and executive officer positions in the 100 largest public companies headquartered in New York state, according to a new study on women leaders in New York published by the Women’s Executive Circle of New York in partnership with the Institute for Women and Work in Cornell’s ILR School.
The original report is here. Portions of a press release follow: Continue reading Board Room Gender Gap
Carnivals gone wild!!!!
The Carnival of Education # 163: Spring Break Edition is up at So, You Want to Teach?
The Shape of Life 3
The Shape of Life 2
LOL Math
Black Guy Asks for Change
According to witnesses, a loud black man approached a crowd of some 4,000 strangers in downtown Chicago Tuesday and made repeated demands for change.”The time for change is now,” said the black guy, yelling at everyone within earshot for 20 straight minutes, practically begging America for change. “The need for change is stronger and more urgent than ever before. And only you–the people standing here today, and indeed all the people of this great nation–only you can deliver this change.”
Political satire avec music
But wait, there’s more…. Continue reading Political satire avec music
Oh what a tangled bank we weave
Tangled bank number 101 is now up at Tangled Up in Bank Guy (that’s not really the name of the blog, but I thought I’d try a little play on words there…
Has Anyone Seen Governor Pawlenty Lately?
A man got into the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management office in downtown St. Paul last week and defecated in several rooms, police said Monday.The incident happened about 1:30 p.m. Friday in a basement office area of 444 Cedar St., according to a police report. The man went in through an emergency exit door that hadn’t been secured properly, said Tom Walsh, St. Paul police spokesman.A contractor working for building management walked out and didn’t properly secure the door behind him, said Susan Lasley, Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokeswoman.
Carnaval des Blogs medicaux
Which came first, the mammalian breast or the placenta?
Indeed, the evolutionary history of the mammalian way of providing nutrients for young is difficult to ascertain on the basis of the usual techniques: Fossils and comparative anatomy. The soft parts involved don’t fossilize well, and there are not enough “intermediates” living today to develop a plausible story of the evolutionary transitions linking egg-laying to live birth and lactation.A new study recently published in PLoS Biology brings us a long way towards understanding this set of evolutionary events. Continue reading Which came first, the mammalian breast or the placenta?
Nevada Residents and Concerned Citizens: Save the Wesley E. Niles Herbarium!
Herbaria are important things. They are museums that curate plant samples, and often they do more than that.The Wesley E. Niles Herbarium, connected with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is an important collection of plants focusing on the American Southwest. It also serves University teaching and research functions.A recent example of the importance of herbaria was demonstrated with the use of herbarium samples to study the origin of the potato. Teaching and research institutions, including and perhaps especially state institutions need to understand their role as curators and stewards of timeless resources such as museums. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that the UNLV administration is taking steps to gut the Niles Herbarium. They are not specifically closing it, but they seem to be de-staffing it. Please read the following letter and send of a note via snail- or e-mail to Dr. Riddle expressing your concern. Continue reading Nevada Residents and Concerned Citizens: Save the Wesley E. Niles Herbarium!