Clipmarks | JohnWaterman's 'biology' clips

Davros

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:28:49 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Davros is a megalomaniac who believes that through his creations, the Daleks, he can become the supreme being and ruler of the universe. He is a brilliant scientist who has demonstrated mastery of robotics, metallurgy, chemistry, artificial intelligence, cloning, genetic engineering, biology, military tactics, and apparently, cybernetics.

Clip Source: www.davrosrises.com

Clip Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

The Genius of Charles Darwin

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:23:04 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

It's on the internets. The opening is something that I can't imagine flying by on American television: he simply says that evolution is a vastly superior explanation to anything religion has ever provided.

[Video]

Tags: science, biology, evolution, darwin, dawkins

Is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome caused by a serotonin imbalance?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:27:56 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

There can be few events more devastating for a parent than cot death - the sudden and unexpected death of a baby. Cot death is more formally known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and it is an apt title, for affected babies often seem outwardly healthy and show no signs of suffering. Studies have suggested that things like passive smoke and breastfeeding can affect the risk of SIDS but the underlying biology behind the syndrome is a mystery, as is the cause of death in most cases.

But it's a mystery that's slowly being solved. The latest and most intriguing clue comes from Enrica Audero from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Audero has shown that altering the balance of the signalling molecule serotonin in the brainstems of mice can lead to sudden demise, in a way that resembles the unexpected death of SIDS babies. The mice spontaneously go through "crises" where their basic body functions like temperature control and their heartbeat go haywire.

Tags: science, babies, cot death, medicine, serotonin, brain

Happy birthday natural selection

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:13:41 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.nhm.ac.uk

Pigeon bones prepared by Charles Darwin are on display for the 150th anniversary of the idea of evolution by natural selection, co-discovered by Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

Evolution by natural selection was an idea revealed to the world 150 years ago tomorrow, by 2 men, the famous Charles Darwin, and the not so famous Alfred Russel Wallace.

Wallace and Darwin both came up with biology's most important concept and their theory was presented to the Linnean Society in London on 1 July 1858.

Biology's most important concept

Wallace and Darwin explained this diversity through the idea that species evolve by a process called natural selection.

Alfred Russel Wallace

Charles Darwin

In March 1858, Wallace sent his paper on natural selection to Darwin. Darwin's colleagues decided to present the two men's theory to a meeting of the Linnean Society on July 1st.

The society published Darwin and Wallace's ideas

the theory of natural selection went on to change the way the world thought about biology

One More Time for the Learning Impaired

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:14:20 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: It always helps to reiterate for the scientific challanged among us (and in the US that's a majority of the population) the difference between law, theory, guess and wishful thinking. Pay attention people, my patience is running out. And yes, you'll have to read the whole article to reap it's rewards. Learning does have it's costs so ante up! Don't let ignorance keep you sounding like a complete idiot.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Mailbag: Creation vs. Evolution

The Theory of Evolution is not a scientific law or a law of biology. A scientific law must be 100% correct. Failure to meet only one challenge proves the law is wrong. This web page will prove that the Theory of Evolution fails many challenges, not simply one. The Theory of Evolution will never become a law of science because it is wrought with errors. This is why it is called a theory, instead of a law.

Sometimes I think that it would be almost an understatement to say that people who are in denial about evolution are also in denial about science generally. It's almost inevitable that someone trying to defend some form of creationism will demonstrate some misunderstandings about science and above we see what are not only some of the most common but also some of the most fundamental misunderstandings. I don't think it would be going too far to say that Cris has no idea how science proceeds or even what science really is.

Tags: evolution, creationism, fundamentalism, religion, education

100 Greatest Discoveries

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:58:38 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Clip Source: science.discovery.com

Scientists have transformed the way we think and live throughout the centuries. What are the most important scientific discoveries of all time? In no particular order, we present the top 100 in eight different categories.

Astronomy
Explore the universe.

Chemistry
Explore the world under a microscopic.

Earth Science
Explore the Earth under your feet.

Physics
Explore how stuff works.

Medicine
Explore developments in health.

Evolution
Explore the past.

Genetics
Explore what makes you, you.

Biology
Explore the world around you.

Clip Source: science.discovery.com

Physics

1. The Law of Falling Bodies (1604)
Galileo Galilei overturns nearly 2,000 years of Aristotelian belief that heavier bodies fall faster than lighter ones by proving that all bodies fall at the same rate.

2. Universal Gravitation (1666)

3. Laws of Motion (1687)

4. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (1824 – 1850)

5. Electromagnetism (1807 – 1873)

6. Special Relativity (1905)

7. E = mc^2 (1905)

8. The Quantum Leap (1900 – 1935)

Tags: 100 greatest discoveries, science

Aphids get superpowers through sex

Sat, 17 May 2008 23:33:47 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

As far as humans are concerned, sexually-transmitted infections are things to avoid. But imagine if these infections didn't cause death and disease, but gave you superpowers instead. It may sound like a bizarre fantasy, but it's just part of life for aphids.

Aphids mostly reproduce without sex

They only have sex once in autumn,

Why then would a female aphid choose to have sex at all?

They may be trying to receive sexually-transmitted infections from other aphids

Aphids carry various strains of bacteria inside their bodies. These 'symbionts', far from causing disease, actually provide the aphids with useful abilities

allow them to feed off a greater variety of plants

ability to withstand higher temperatures

Aphids are commonly targeted by parasitic wasps

aphids that carry the symbiont Hamiltona defensa avoid this cruel fate

If other insects trade in sexually-transmitted bacteria, we could potentially use these exchanges to our advantage

reduce the spread of sleeping sickness

Tags: science, biology, aphids, disease, bacteria, insects, reproduction, sex

Antidote to Stein - Jacob Bronowski

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:26:00 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

A reader reminded me of a good corrective to the awful little man who claims that science leads to killing people: a dose of Jacob Bronowski.

[Video]

"When people believe that they have absolute knowledge, with no test in reality, this is how they behave. This is what men do when they aspire to the knowledge of gods."

My students in introductory biology will be watching this whole episode next week — I wish there were a way we could spare the time to have them watch the whole series … which, come to think of it, would make for an excellent framework to discuss the history of science.

The Technology of Mind and a New Social Contract

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 14:04:56 GMT

clipped by: Djiezes

Clip Source: jetpress.org

The Technology of Mind and a New Social Contract

Bill Hibbard

Abstract

The progress of biology, neuroscience and computer science makes it clear that some time during the twenty- first century we will master the technologies of mind and life. We will build machines more intelligent than ourselves, and modify our own brains and bodies to increase our intelligence, live indefinitely and make other changes. We live together according to a social contract, consisting of laws, morals and conventions governing our interactions. This social contract is based on assumptions we rarely question: that all humans have roughly the same intelligence, that we have limited life spans and that we share a set of motives as part of our human nature. The technologies of mind and life will invalidate these assumptions and inevitably change our social contract in fundamental ways. We need to prepare for these new technologies so that they change the world in ways we want

Tags: journal, technology, mind, biology, future, scifi, article, literature, morality, ethics

Underwater astonishments

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:42:55 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman
clipper's remarks: Can't clip the video. Go to the site to see this amazing presentation

Clip Source: www.ted.com

Talks David Gallo: Underwater astonishments

David Gallo shows jaw-dropping footage of amazing sea creatures, including a shape-shifting cuttlefish, a pair of fighting squid, and a mesmerizing gallery of bioluminescent fish that light up the blackest depths of the ocean. He focuses on the work of two scientists: Edith Widder at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, and Roger Hanlon at the Marine Biological Lab.

Tags: science, marine biology, ted talks

How does evolution impact my life?

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:06:32 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: evolution.berkeley.edu

Relevance of evolution: Agriculture
Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us secure and improve the world's crops. Genetic diversity, disease resistance and pest control are highlighted

Relevance of evolution: Conservation
Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us form conservation strategies

Relevance of evolution: Medicine
Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us understand and treat disease. Bacterial infections, HIV, and Huntington's disease are highlighted

From the origin of life to the future of biotech: The work of Andy Ellington

Evolutionary biology: Technology for the 21st century

Evo in the news: Evolution at the scene of the crime

Evo in the news: Evolutionary evidence takes the stand

Evo in the news: Genealogy enthusiasts mine DNA for clues to evolutionary history

Interview: Massimo Pigliucci on evolution's importance to society

LOLSchrödinger

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:38:14 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

Those cats are just everywhere — now lolcats can has science. Even worse, it's dominated by geology LOLcats. Geologists are too abrasive and intrusive to have a sense of humor, and it takes ages for them to tell a joke.

I do have something to say to physics cat, though.

Here, kitty kitty. I have a box, a geiger counter, and some cyanide for you.

Tags: science, physics, biology, lolcats

Skeletons: evolution laid bare

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:16:07 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Strip any creature of its flesh, and the process of evolution is laid bare. These photographs by Patrick Gries from his book with Jean-Baptiste de Panafieu, Evolution in Action, celebrate the stories told and the beauty revealed by skeletons.

The snowy albatross is one of a happy breed that, given its vast span, can soar for hours without a wing beat

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

he white-cheeked gibbon, native to China and Vietnam, has an ancestor in common with the South American spider monkey, but has evolved differently

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The lampris guttatus, or moonfish, swims by flapping its pectoral fins and has no teeth - it eats other fish using its mouth as a suction cap

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

rattlesnake demonstrates the proliferation of ribs and a flexible spine

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Examination of skeletons can lead to the identification of previously unnoticed similarities. The Japanese giant salamander in life bears little resemblance to the antelope, but their skeletal structures tell a different story.

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

rhinoceros hornbill

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

African elephant

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

hippopotamus

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tags: science, zoology, biology, evolution, skeletons, images

Alternative to antibiotics found in river water

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:49:12 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The River Cam in Cambridge is best known as the place to find students in their punts on lazy summer days

But researchers have also found it may hold the secret to battling antibiotic resistant diseases, such as MRSA.

A "cocktail" of special viruses which kill bacteria were sourced from the river and shown to treat bacterial stomach infections in mice.

The study, presented at the Society for General Microbiology conference, may lead to alternatives to antibiotics.

Dr Derek Pickard and colleagues at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute isolated the viruses, known as bacteriophages, from the river water.

A bacteriophage attaches itself to the outside of the bacterial cell, penetrates it and uses the cell to produce lots more bacteriophage particles which then burst out of the cell killing the bacteria.

The researchers isolated a type of bacteriophage which kills a bacterium that infects the stomach of mice - similar to the E coli bacteria that causes food poisoning in humans.

Tags: science, bbc, disease, bacteria, microbiology, biology, antibiotics

Paedophiles' brains 'different'

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:45:13 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Scientists say distinct differences in the brain activity of paedophiles have been found using scanning technology

A Yale University team found activity in parts of paedophiles' brains were lower than in other volunteers when shown adult, erotic material.

A forensic psychologist from the UK said drug treatments for paedophilia might be possible.

There is increasing evidence that problems in certain areas of the brain may contribute to feelings of sexual attraction to children.

In a few cases, patients with a brain tumour in a particular part of the brain have developed such feelings, only for them to go away when the tumour was removed.

didn't know whether this particular pattern of brain activity could be used to predict someone's risk of paedophilia

In the UK, many experts are looking to the biology of the brain to explain not just paedophilia, but other types of compulsive criminality.

anti-schizophrenia drugs in paedophilia,

act on a similar part of the brain and may be useful.

Tags: science, bbc, psychiatry, paedophilia, brain