Monthly Archives: June 2008
Genome Size and Flight in Bats
Continuing with our discussion of the Evolution 2008 conference, I was hoping to meet T. Ryan Gregory yesterday. He is listed on the Evolution 2008 program as an author of a talk on genome size. Goodnews/badnews: Gregory did not show, but the talk, given by his coauthor working in his lab, was excellent, so we didn’t need him.The research was done, and the paper delivered, by Jillian Smith. The title of the paper was “Genome size evolution in mammals” but it was more focused on specific results Jillian had come up with regarding bats.
Michael Estes and Eric Harmon on Air America Minnesota Ahteists Talk Radio Today
Minnesota Atheists’ “Atheists Talk” radio showSunday, June 22, 2008, 9-10 a.m. Central TimeIn honor of Juneteenth, Michael Estes will discuss “African American Freethinkers in the Civil Rights Movement.” He will then be joined by Eric Harmon to discuss “The Affects of Religion in the African American Community.”
“Atheists Talk” airs live on AM 950 KTNF in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.To stream live, go here.Podcasts of past shows are available at Minnesota Atheists orthrough iTunes. For all other podcast systems, such as one you might be running on Linux, use this feed.
Biology Never Was The Same: Mark Borrello
Continuing with our discussion of the Evolution 2008 conference, I’d like to relate at least the essence, as I saw it, of an excellent talk by Mark Borrello.I’ve seen Mark speak at least three times including yesterday, and soon after his talk we continued on the topic in a conversation over lunch and beers, so my comments here are less a summary of Mark’s talk at the Evolution 2008 conference than a more general reaction to what I believe to be his main points.
Everyone knows that history repeats itself. Or, at least, as per Samuel Clemens, if history does not repeat itself, at least it rhymes. But more importantly, if we engage in research, theoretical or empirical, we often find that similar work was done in the past. And this should lead us to wonder why we are still doing it. And, why we will do it again. And the answer is very simple: There are only a few questions. Very rarely does a new question emerge. And we ask the same questions again and again, with methods that vary (sometimes only a little) and answers that are sometimes novel and sometimes not.But why would we do that? Continue reading Biology Never Was The Same: Mark Borrello
I got my tee shirt!
I’m at the Evolution 2008 Conference. It’s great. And I got a tee-shirt.Here’s what the front looks like:
Continue reading I got my tee shirt!
Phoenix IS twittering….
Remember a while ago, I joked that NASA is twittering Phoenix? Well, either they were listening to me, I’m psychic, or …. or maybe it is just a totally obvious thing to do. Point is … THEY ARE! Here.
How birds fly (Book review)
Birds: Nature’s Magnificent Flying Machines
This is a well done and highly recommended book. Continue reading How birds fly (Book review)
New Development in Zimbabwe: Syphalitic leader Robert Mugabe claims only God can remove him from office.
Well, now it’s official. The leader of Zimbabwe is an out of control nut-job who will probably linger in office until very slow moving pressures from outside push him out, or until there is a bloody coup of some kind.This comes after his opposition has publicly considered pulling out of a contested electoral process under threat of increased violence that seems to be perpetrated by Mugabe’s corrupt organization. Continue reading New Development in Zimbabwe: Syphalitic leader Robert Mugabe claims only God can remove him from office.
Ice! Ice I say! IIICCCEEEEE!!!
Biology Will Never Be the Same Again: Scott Lanyon
The Evolution 2008 conference started out today with a special program for K-12 teachers (mainly life science teachers) organized by the Minnesota Citizens for Science Education (MNCSE). The opening speaker was Scott Lanyon, director of the Bell Museum of Natural History. (The Bell hosted this event.)
Scott’s objective was to outline several areas of evolutionary biology where fundamental changes had occurred over recent years. This was to provide perspective and food for thought for the Life Sciences teachers attending the event, and Scott was very successful in this effort.In each case, Scott described a similar trope … “Not so many years ago, understanding [this or that thing] was thought nearly impossible…. but today, look what we have….”Specifically, Scott, a bird phylogeny expert, outlined four areas of research corresponding to four major areas of evolutionary biology: Continue reading Biology Will Never Be the Same Again: Scott Lanyon
How brains work, how brain imaging works: Astrocytes
Blood flow in the brain is linked to neuronal activity. Therefore, various ‘brain scanning’ techniques can be used to observe neuronal activity in the brain. This has led to an astonishing revolution in knowledge of how the brain works. Of course, you knew that already.Also astonishing is that the reason for changes in blood flow in relation to what neurons are doing is unknown! We know this system works, but we don’t know why!Until now… Continue reading How brains work, how brain imaging works: Astrocytes
The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States
The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States by B. F. Morris was published in 1865. Recently, the Right Wing of the United States discovered this book, and wishes to present it as evidence that the United States is officially Christian.Whatever.I’m sure they are wrong, but the United States definitely is, and the Right Wing is in particular, driven by mercenary tendencies. So Human Events (which I monitor) is now hawking a commercial reprint of this early book. Here are some of the things the Right Wing is saying about this book: Continue reading The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States
How to get a death certificate BEFORE getting a birth certificate
In India, a baby was stillborn, apparently dead of the effects of complications at a seven month delivery. The mother had been suffering convulsions of some kind and was heavily medicated.The next day, as the parents were on the way to the burial ground with the corpses of their baby, it started to gurgle and breath and stuff.The baby …”showed attempts to breathe … Under such circumstances, it would appear that doctors had no reason to assume that the baby was dead,” said Dr Suleiman Merchant, acting dean of Sion Hospital in Mumbai.Apparently the drugs the mother had been given repressed the heartbeat to the level at which it was not detected. The infant is still in critical condition.
Some News of Africa
Do you have any idea of what is going on in Zimbabwe? And has been for quite some time? I’ve not chosen to make any effort to note the African news that I semi-regularly follow, but I think it is time for that to change. Expect a bit more. I don’t know how much insightful commentary I can add, but I can at least point to goings on of interest.In ZImbabwe, we have a situation of a long term leader who won’t seem to go away even though many people seem to want him to. There was an election recently, and that may have been co-opted by the ruling party. And this, today:
The bodies of four opposition activists have been found near the Zimbabwe capital, after being abducted, the Movement for Democratic Change says.An MDC spokesman accused supporters of President Robert Mugabe of being behind the deaths, ahead of next week’s poll.The body of Harare’s recently elected opposition mayor’s wife has also reportedly been found, badly burnt.source
New Dinosaurs and Old Rhinos
Utah announces ‘major dinosaur fossil discovery’ from PhysOrg.com
(AP) — A newly discovered batch of well-preserved dinosaur bones, petrified trees and even freshwater clams in southeastern Utah could provide new clues about life in the region some 150 million years ago.
[…]
Finally, the Congo totally screws up, as expected, and the very last of the only remaining northern White Rhinos are probably dead. There is little reason for optimism…
Group: Northern white rhinos near extinction from PhysOrg.com
(AP) — The northern white rhino of central Africa is on the verge of being wiped out, a conservation group said Tuesday.
[…]