Clipmarks | Animal Clips

The Teen Brain

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:55:21 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: Human and animal studies, Jensen and Urion note, have shown that the brain grows and changes continually in young people—and that it is only about 80 percent developed in adolescents. The largest part, the cortex, is divided into lobes that mature from back to front. The last section to connect is the frontal lobe, responsible for cognitive processes such as reasoning, planning, and judgment. Normally this mental merger is not completed until somewhere between ages 25 and 30—much later than these two neurologists were taught in medical school.

There are also gender differences in brain development. As Urion and Jensen explain, the part of our brain that processes information expands during childhood and then begins to thin, peaking in girls at roughly 12 to 14 years old and in boys about two years later. This suggests that girls and boys may be ready to absorb challenging material at different stages, and that schools may be missing opportunities to reach them.

Clip Source: harvardmagazine.com

Your teenage daughter gets top marks in school, captains the debate team, and volunteers at a shelter for homeless people. But while driving the family car, she text-messages her best friend and rear-ends another vehicle.

How can teens be so clever, accomplished, and responsible—and reckless at the same time? Easily, according to two physicians at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School (HMS) who have been exploring the unique structure and chemistry of the adolescent brain.

“It’s a paradoxical time of development. These are people with very sharp brains, but they’re not quite sure what to do with them.”

Research during the past 10 years, powered by technology such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, has revealed that young brains have both fast-growing synapses and sections that remain unconnected.

This leaves teens easily influenced by their environment and more prone to impulsive behavior, even without the impact of souped-up hormones and any genetic or family

Tags: neuroscience, brain, development

Some Animal "awww" Pictures

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:16:13 GMT

clipped by: Kelika

Clip Source: www.darkroastedblend.com

Big-eyed beauty... A face that launched 10,000 hikers (up the tree) -

Sun Bears or Malayan Sun Bears are the smallest bears in the world (more pics... this one does not seem very happy) -

Baby orangutan at 4 hours after birth:

Tags: animals, nature, photos

DNA artwork created by German university student

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:34:12 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee
clipper's remarks: intelligent scientific artwork...

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

With its bright colours and unusual patterns these canvasses are the latest examples of scientific art.

The artwork is made of up DNA symbols from animal and plant genes Photo: GB / Barcroft Media

Known as "Visual DNA" these spectacular images are the data visualisation of sequenced animal and plant genes.

German creator Daniel Becker, explains how the process of translating DNA text into colourful symbols is not as complicated as it sounds.

"DNA art interprets the complex information of DNA with the help of symbols and colours," says the 29-year-old from Frankfurt.

"The result is a individual graphic pattern for any creature or plant.

"For the naked eye a DNA sequence is a string of thousands of those four letters.

"So I came up with the idea to interpret these genes into symbols and colours."

A Student of Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Mainz, Daniel also works as a graphic designer.

"They can use the graphics to print it on T-shirts, cups, use it as a poster.

Does one abused woman = 100 abused puppies

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:04:34 GMT

clipped by: michellezm
clipper's remarks: "Of course it is better to give to animal charities than not at all. Human suffering is more complicated, in every way, and helping people takes more commitment and patience. But if you choose animals over people because of a naive belief that a particular brand of human pain has not infiltrated your own community, you may want to reconsider."

Thanks to einbar for the link.

Clip Source: www.moreintelligentlife.com

America has 3,800 animal shelters, but only 1,500 for battered women. Puppies are blameless and easy to care for; people are more complicated. Allison Schrager, an economist, examines our inclination to help animals over our own species ...

Perhaps we prefer helping animals because we believe they have a greater need. People often think a battered woman is free to leave her situation, while animals are physically prevented from leaving. Humans are easier to blame for their circumstances. Because we do not grant animals the same freedoms, we also do not assign them the same level of responsibility for their situation.

Also, helping battered animals is easier than helping battered people. Men and women need more resources to get back on their feet,

it takes the same amount of resources to save a battered woman as it does 100 puppies: if the ultimate goal of charitable giving is to ease world suffering, some will argue that it makes sense to help the puppies over the woman.

Animal Rescue Story

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:34:17 GMT

clipped by: lizsku
clipper's remarks: Check out the site, she has posted a progression of photos about this recued little chipmunk.

Clip Source: web.me.com

Here was Chip as I found him: curled up, cold, appearing to be dead, in the middle of a trail in the Olympics.

Tags: chip, chipmunk, rescue, animal

10 Most Amazing Extinct Animals

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:29:41 GMT

clipped by: hitchhiker08
clipper's remarks: Hope we learn our lessons soon and save the rest...

Clip Source: www.oddee.com

10 Most Amazing Extinct Animals

From the Quagga --half zebra, half horse-- to the Irish Deer --the largest deer that ever lived--, an impressive list with pictures of amazing animals we will never see.

Tyrannosaurus Rex (extinct 65 million years ago) [Wiki]

Quagga: half zebra, half horse (extinct since 1883) [Wiki]

Thylacine: the Tasmanian Tiger (extinct since 1936) [Wiki]

Steller's Sea Cow: the defenseless beast (extinct since 1768) [Wiki]

Irish Deer: the largest deer that ever lived (extinct about 7,700 years ago) [Wiki]

Caspian Tiger: the third largest (extinct since 1970) [Wiki]

Aurochs: a very large type of cattle (extinct since 1627) [Wiki]

Great Auk: largest of all auks (extinct since 1844) [Wiki]

Cave Lion: one of the largest lions ever (extinct 2,000 years ago) [Wiki]

Dodo: the archetype of extinct species (extinct since late 17th century) [Wiki]

Tags: animal kingdom, dinosaurs, birds, extinct

Bookmark pictures

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:03:33 GMT

clipped by: stefh

Clip Source: vi.sualize.us

visualize us

Popular tags to watch

photography
» color, bw, square format, portrait, perspective, places...
illustration
» vintage, humor, poster, wallpaper...
design
» inspiration, graphic, typography, identity, cover...
nature
» water, landscape, animal, trees...
art
» painter, 1800...

Tags: bookmark, picture, image

Rebuilding Ancient American Mounds

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:51:43 GMT

clipped by: cakebelly
clipper's remarks: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-08/uoc-upp082508.php

Clip Source: www.eurekalert.org

UC project puts Midwest mounds back on the map

More than 10 years ago, University of Cincinnati researcher John Hancock, professor of architecture in UC's top-ranked College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), began an ambitious, complex project using modern technology to electronically rebuild lost or damaged Native American monuments that once rivaled Stonehenge in their astronomical accuracy.

That electronic rebuilding project, known as EarthWorks, is now traveling museums across the Midwest – an area where, once, thousands of mounds and earthworks were built by Native American cultures in the form of geometric shapes, ringed hilltops or animal effigies (think Ohio's Serpent Mound or Fort Ancient).

Farmers accused of impaling cow on tractor

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:06:01 GMT

clipped by: Smoke TNT

Clip Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

Two 42-year-old central North Island men will appear in Ohakune District Court next Friday to face animal cruelty charges after what police call a "barbaric" incident.

Mr Craig said he could not believe his eyes when he was driving past the tractor, on State Highway 49 between Ohakune and Waiouru, and saw the cow's head moving.

On investigation, Mr Craig discovered that the farm manager had been asked to cull the cow, which was sick.

He had shot it in the side of the head near the top of the jaw, then left. However, the shot had not killed the animal and a short time later the farmer arrived with the tractor.

He impaled the cow by stabbing it below its spine, just in front of its hips, with one of the front-end loader forks, Mr Craig said.

Mr Craig asked the farm manager to come back and humanely kill the animal but this shot hit the cow in the muzzle and still did not end its life.

It finally died after its throat was cut.

Tags: animals, horror

"Its a horrible thing to say..."

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:04:41 GMT

clipped by: yamdablam
clipper's remarks: Eye opening speech from our better.
I an astonished to hear our fearless leader boasting that our population is below replacement levels.

This shit makes me sick to my stomach!

Clip Source: www.wiseupjournal.com

“This is a terrible thing to say. In order to stabilize world population, we must eliminate 350,000 people per day. It is a horrible thing to say, but it’s just as bad not to say it.”
- Jacques Cousteau, UNESCO Courier

“Mankind is the most dangerous, destructive, selfish and unethical animal on the earth.”
- Michael Fox, vice-president of The Humane Society

“A reasonable estimate for an industrialized world society at the present North American material standard of living would be 1 billion. At the more frugal European standard of living, 2 to 3 billion would be possible.”
- United Nations, Global Biodiversity Assessment

Tags: un, population, ireland, brian cowen jacques cousteau, unesco

Dining Options at Squaw Valley

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:58:54 GMT

clipped by: odiedog
clipper's remarks: Options for places to dine at Squaw Valley and the surrounding area.

Clip Source: www.gotahoenorth.com

Squaw Valley - Dining

Personality Traits

Reading: Powder Magazine

Eating: Late-night tapas at Zenbu Lounge

Sponsor: International Olympic Committee

Ride: Ford Escape Hybrid

Animal: Silver Coyote

Soundtrack: The Surfari's - Wipeout

Sport: Practically every sport but the NFL, MLB and NBA games and disc golf

Historical Marker: The Olympic towers at the entrance, Poulsen Peak

Must-Do/See: Take a run down KT-22, Cushing Pond Crossing

Tags: dining, options, squaw valley

Dining at Alpine Lodge

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:55:42 GMT

clipped by: odiedog
clipper's remarks: A list of great places to dine in Alpine Meadows Lodge.

Clip Source: www.gotahoenorth.com

Alpine Meadows - Dining

Pfeifer House European Dining
Established in 1939 this restaurant is not only one of the finest in Tahoe City but one of the oldest. Along...

River Ranch Lodge Restaurant
The River Ranch is a landmark restaurant and lodge located on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe between Squaw Valley...

Personality Traits

Reading: World Without End by Ken Follett

Eating: Before: Crest Cafe for killer breakfast. After: River Ranch for apres everything

Sponsor: Red Bull

Ride: Bombardier BR Trooper

Animal: Golden Retriever Avalanche Dogs

Soundtrack: Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf

Sport: Skiing / boarding / free-heeling, biking, hiking, beer drinking

Historical Marker: 1888 - Deer Park Springs Hotel built by John P. Scotts; where River Ranch stands today

Must-Do/See: Live music on the Alpine sundeck in Spring, cruisin' the Ice Bar, finding "The Promised Land," SnowFest closing party.

Etc.: Disabled Sports USA FarWest establishes the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School at Alpine Meadows in 1967

Tags: dining, alpine meadows, alpine lodge, ski resort

Big Brother Addiction gone but not forgotten - Methadone success story

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:07:52 GMT

clipped by: tdsmum
clipper's remarks: Well it is claimed somewhere that an elephant never forgets. This one may have built up a social memory or more likely a very UNsociable one towards a certain group.

A word of warming to any traders that cross his path in the future..

Clip Source: www.news.com.au

A ONCE drug-addled elephant fed heroin-laced bananas by illegal traders will return home after emerging clean from a three-year detox programme on China's tropical island province of Hainan.

The four-year-old bull elephant, referred to alternately as "Big Brother" or "Xiguang", was captured in 2005 in southwest China by traders who used spiked bananas to control him.

After police arrested the traders and freed Xiguang a few months later, the elephant was confirmed to be suffering from withdrawal symptoms and sent to a wild animal protection centre in Hainan for rehab.

A year of methadone injections at five times the human dosage had helped wean Xiguang off his addiction.

Now clean, Xiguang was expected to arrive on Saturday at a wildlife park in Kunming, capital of the elephant's home province of Yunnan on the mainland.

Xiguang's return would cap a 1500km journey home, and mark another step in the elephant's triumph over addiction.

Tags: elephant, heroin, xiguang, big brother

Mammoths moved 'out of America'

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:53:32 GMT

clipped by: tabsey

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Scientists have discovered that the last Siberian woolly mammoths may have originated in North America.

Their research in the journal Current Biology represents the largest study of ancient woolly mammoth DNA.

The iconic Ice Age woolly mammoth - Mammuthus primigenius - roamed through mainland Eurasia and North America until about 10,000 years ago.

Previous studies had hinted that the last mammoths left in Siberia were not natives - but immigrants from North America.

However, more evidence was required to strengthen the case for this "out of America" theory.

A team of researchers led by Professor Hendrik Poinar from McMaster University in Canada collected 160 mammoth samples from across Holarctica - a region encompassing present day North America, Europe and Asia.

Well-preserved DNA material - between 4,000 and 40,000 years old - was obtained from "almost every part of the animal - even from preserved hide, skin and hair", Professor Poinar told BBC News.

Tags: illegal, immigrants, booted, out, 10000, yrs, ago

Animal Kingdom's Odd Couples

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:41:19 GMT

clipped by: swampfoxz
clipper's remarks: Can't we all just get along?Are we more savage than these?I think not..

Clip Source: sajha.com

Animal Kingdom's Odd Couples

Three-month-old tiger cub Zoya, rejected by her mother, plays with Alsatian puppy Frida, who's the same age, in a special enclosure at the Warsaw Zoo Aug. 13, 2008. The dog, owned by a zoo employee, was introduced to the tiger so that she could have a companion for the next few months.

Isabella, a yellow lab at the Safari Zoological Park east of Caney, Kan., has adopted three white tiger cubs that were abandoned by their mother in this July 30, 2008, photo.

dog feeds two Siberian tiger cubs and her puppy at a zoo in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. The mother of the cubs was not able to feed them after giving birth, according to local news reports.

Norma, left, a Chihuahua from Cundy's Harbor, Maine, with two of three orphaned squirrels that she is raising along with her own two puppies.

Norma, a Chihuahua from Cundy's Harbor, Maine, snuggles with one of three orphaned squirrels that she's mothering.

Chihuahua pup named Zachary cozies up to his new adopted "sibling"

Tags: animal kingdom