After my first teaching experience as a Biology TA and playing with the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches in lab, I feel re-inspired by them especially after reading this: “In September 2006, amusement park Six Flags Great America announced it would be granting unlimited line-jumping privileges for all rides to anyone who could eat a live Madagascar hissing cockroach as part of a Halloween-themed FrightFest. Furthermore, if a contestant managed to beat the previous world record (eating 36 cockroaches in 1 minute), he would receive season […]
“Skull Roll” by Noah Scalin, is one of many works of art from his award winning “Skull-A-Day” art project weblog. Enjoy all 365.25 of Scalin’s original skulls in 1 minute as the year comes to an end. Happy Holidays! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XofUu6hv8U&fs=1&hl=en_US]
Subject: Indirect Plant Defense When a corn plant is munched by a caterpillar, the physical damage and certain chemicals in the caterpillar’s saliva combine to elicit release of volatile compounds from the corn leaf. This attracts parasitoid wasps that lay their eggs in the hapless caterpillars’ bodies. Audience: Children in basic science courses of grade school Media: Animated GIF GIF animation is an excellent way of illustrating a simple concept while adding a real sense of motion to capture the […]
The famous BODY WORLDS creator, Dr. Gunther von Hagens, has expanded from human plastination to the animal kingdom as he presents his new exhibition, BODY WORLDS of Animals, at the Vienna Museum of Natural Sciences now through 7 March 2011. “If humans were built like giraffes, we would be in permanent cardiac arrest”, explains von Hagens. “But the giraffe’s unique cardiovascular system allows it to overcome the challenges of its physique. Its heart and circulatory system work tirelessly to direct blood through […]
The final anatomy exam on Head & Neck has come and gone. The hardest part was having to part with my Skull Box. You will be missed, Skull Box. Now my study aid skeleton, 小骨, can finally relax and enjoy the beautiful snow of Chicago.
Warm and fuzzy science for all to enjoy! “Knitting in Biology 101” on Etsy was created by CraftyHedgehog, a part time history student and full time crafter. With all their little innards needle-felted by hand out of 100 percent wool, these are by far the cutest dissections I’ve seen! Also on Etsy, voraciousbrain, a plant reproduction scientist, features “epic science stitchery with a side dish of snark” in her shop “Scientists unite!” After more sidetracking from studying the Head & […]