If you’re local to Southern California, you’ve probably heard that there is a brief night or two every now and then when the ocean waves crashing on the sand seem to have a bright blue glow. If you haven’t seen this amazing phenomenon, maybe you’ve happened upon a glowing jellyfish at your local aquarium or […]
Category Archives: Animals
March
13
Into the Mind of the Manatee
posted by Madelyn Peck
The Lazy Life of the Sea Cow Manatees are the gentle giants of the ocean. Reaching 13 feet long and weighing more than a ton, these mammals should give off a dominating presence, but in reality, the opposite is true [1]. Manatees tend to get along well with most aquatic species. They have no natural […]
June
27
Calico Cuties: Why These Colorful Cats Are (Almost) Always Female
posted by Anna McTigue
Calico cats are not just ordinary felines. They are legendary and revered in many cultures as symbols of luck and good fortune. In Japan, the Maneki-Neko (or “beckoning-cat”) figures, adorned with the white orange and black calico colors, are believed to bring prosperity to their owners. In the US, they are affectionately known as “money […]
October
19
Like a Moth to a Flame: How Artificial Lights Affect Moths’ Behavior
posted by Jacqueline Mosko
Why do moths flock to lamps and other light sources that may even hurt them? Research suggests that bright artificial lights may be confusing the navigational skills of our small, winged friends.
February
14
You Can’t Spell ‘Love’ Without ‘Vole’
posted by Jacqueline Mosko
Happy Valentine’s Week! This article will delve into the neuroscience underlying pair bond formation in prairie voles, including the new study which has challenged the previously accepted theory.
December
08
The bright side of the Moon: and its effects on life on Earth
posted by Haylie Romero
Lunar influence Picture a night like last night. You gaze up to see the brilliant full moon overhead and look around at your surroundings, illuminated, almost as if it’s daytime. The Moon, Earth’s celestial sister, has profound effects on our planet, such as driving the oceanic tides. Without the Moon, life as we know it […]
September
29
How model organisms are chosen
posted by Ricardo Lozoya
Intro Mice, fruit flies, worms, and monkeys. These are just some of the many animal species that are commonly used by scientists to learn about the nervous system, often with the goal of uncovering something about the human nervous system. If that’s the case, then the species being used is said to be a model […]
July
28
Sharks-Sensing the Body Electric
posted by Haylie Romero
One of the greatest fears people have about going into the ocean is the fear of being attacked by a shark. Although this fear is not truly warranted, as cows kill more people annually than sharks do [4]. But what is it about sharks that makes us so afraid of them? One major factor is […]
June
03
Axolotls: First Ones to the Fountain of Youth
posted by Ricardo Lozoya
Introduction If you look at today’s $50 Mexican peso (left), you won’t see the image of a past president or monument. Instead, you’ll see a lone salamander with outstretched arms and gills in the middle of a lake. For centuries, this small creature, known as the axolotl (ax-oh-lot-al), was well known to the people that […]
January
27
Genetics of Sasquatch: making cryptozoology scientific?
posted by JC Gorman
Growing up in Oregon meant I spent lots of time hearing about Sasquatch. Now working in a lab studying monkeys, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how different primates are related. While it is undeniable that little evidence has been found to prove Bigfoot roams the wild forests of the Pacific Northwest, perhaps […]
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