“Creepy ‘brain in a bucket’ study spurs medical, ethical debates” … “Yale experiment to reanimate dead brains promises ‘living hell’ for humans” … “Scientists have managed to reanimate disembodied pigs’ brains – but for a human mind, it could be a living hell” … These are just a few of the sensational headlines that came […]
Category Archives: Animals
August
02
Snake Eyes: The Fear That Built Your Brain
posted by James R. Howe VI
Indiana Jones is a quintessential American hero, his fedora, satchel, and whip instantly recognizable around the world. He lives a double life, a scholarly professor of anthropology in public and a globetrotting treasure hunter in private. He defeats the Nazis and always gets the girl, displaying daring and fearlessness, with one notable exception. He has […]
May
31
The Rise and Fall and Rise of Genetic Memory
posted by James R. Howe VI
We are all products of our past, for better or for worse. At first glance, such a statement seems so obvious it hardly bears mentioning; our earlier experiences, both our successes and our failures, shape our current behavior. But dig just a bit deeper, and it becomes far murkier. What can you call your past? […]
March
29
The animals snakes have nightmares about
posted by Seraphina Solders
The Box Jellyfish has venom so powerful that its human victims go straight into shock. The bite of a king cobra can result in the death of a healthy human adult within fifteen minutes. One drop of venom from a cone snail is capable of killing more than twenty humans. We live in fear of […]
January
18
I Feel Your Pain – The Social Transmission of Pain in Mice
posted by Drew Schreiner
We all know that emotions are contagious. Your trip to the DMV might see you infected with that peculiar emotion – something halfway between apathy and misanthropy – that is endemic to the DMV. On the other hand, your ray-of-sunshine coworker just may brighten up your day (unless you happen to work at the DMV). […]
December
07
Ancient Aliens Among Us
posted by Jarrett Lovelett
First contact. The prospect of intelligent extraterrestrial life has tantalized us Earthbound humans throughout our history. In relatively recent times, artists such as H.G. Wells, Ursula Le Guin, and Gene Roddenberry have created wide-eyed fantasies full of violent invasions, fraught coexistence, and delicate peace between humanity and the Other. As early as the second […]
August
24
Paint me like one of your mantis shrimps
posted by megkirch
Sunsets, wildflower superblooms, unicorn frappuccinos. None of these phenomena would have nearly the same allure if we lost our ability to see different colors. But what if we could have an even greater ability to discriminate between colors – would these phenomena be that much more spectacular? In the case of the frappuccino, probably not, […]
July
20
Genomes, Circuits, and the Roundworm: C. Elegans as a Model Organism
posted by Christian Cazares
A nematode can do much to help our understanding of human biology.
June
01
Highs and Lows
posted by Drew Schreiner
Have you ever heard about the distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 fun? Don’t worry, this isn’t some scientific attempt to quantify fun and render it anything but. Type 1 fun is basically anything you do that is actually fun. Playing with puppies, hanging out with friends, annoying your significant other – that sort […]
April
27
Half Asleep
posted by megkirch
Sleep, though one of my greatest joys in life, is frustratingly unproductive. As much as I love to curl up in bed, close my eyes and flip the off-switch on my consciousness, the realization that I spend 24-33% of my day just staring at the backs of my eyelids is exasperating. Imagine the possibilities if […]
