Blamo! SCIENCE!

astronomy-to-zoology: A Flame Scallop (Lima scabra) showcasing...

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:01:22 -0400

A Flame Scallop (Lima scabra) showcasing its ‘electric’ bioluminescence.

Video Source

3-D Scans Reveal Caterpillars Turning Into Butterflies For a...

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:01:01 -0400

3-D Scans Reveal Caterpillars Turning Into Butterflies

For a long time, scientists wishing to observe the stages of a caterpillars metamorphosis into a butterfly had to dissect the insects pupae. While this provided valuable insights, the dissections only acted a snapshots of the process. Now, scientists have taken 3-D scans of the same caterpillars as they undergo holometaboly inside their cocoons. This provides a more complete, linear tale.

READING A PAPER OUTSIDE OF MY RESEARCH FOCUS

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:01:05 -0400

whatshouldwecallgradschool:

credit: Danielle

rhamphotheca: Why Are So Many Deep Sea Creatures Red? Red light...

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:01:09 -0400

rhamphotheca:

Why Are So Many Deep Sea Creatures Red?

Red light does not reach ocean depths, so deep-sea animals that are red actually appear black and thus are less visible to predators and prey.

As you travel from surface waters to deeper waters, the quantity of light changes; it decreases with depth. The quality of light also varies with depth. Sunlight contains all of the colors of our visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet). These colors combined together appear white.

Red light has the longest wavelength and, therefore, the least amount of energy in the visible spectrum. Wavelength decreases and energy increases as you move from red to violet light across the spectrum in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet…

(read more: NOAA Ocean Explorer)

Image: The deep-sea scyphozoan jellyfish, Atolla wyvillei, as seen under white light. Image courtesy of Edith A. Widder, Operation Deep Scope 2005 Exploration, NOAA-OE.

A polydactyl cat is a cat with a congenital physical...

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:35:39 -0400

A polydactyl cat is a cat with a congenital physical anomaly called polydactyly (or polydactylism, also known as hyperdactyly), a type of cat body type genetic mutation that causes the cat to be born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more of its paws.

Polydactyl cats have been extremely popular as ship’s cats. Although there is some controversy over whether the most common variant of the trait originated as a mutation in New England or was brought there from Britain, there seems to be agreement that it spread widely as a result of cats carried on ships originating in Boston, Massachusetts, and the prevalence of polydactyly among the cat population of various ports correlates with the dates when they first established trade with Boston. Contributing to the spread of polydactyl cats by this means, sailors were long known to value polydactyl cats especially for their extraordinary climbing and hunting abilities as an aid in controlling shipboard rodents. Some sailors also considered them to be extremely good luck when at sea.

*The fat footed cutie above belongs to my guy, which means we’re best friends.

My aunt and uncle recently redid their bathroom. This is the...

Sun, 12 May 2013 16:29:25 -0400

My aunt and uncle recently redid their bathroom. This is the wallpaper they found hidden underneath. I might have stared at it for far too long. It’s ridiculously cool, right?!?

lifeofafuturemarinebiologist: nature-gifs: Ted talks Sea...

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:01:13 -0400

lifeofafuturemarinebiologist:

nature-gifs:

Ted talks

Sea urchin! * A *

thebrainscoop: 2013 World Taxidermy Championships If you are in...

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:01:36 -0400

thebrainscoop:

2013 World Taxidermy Championships

If you are in Springfield, Illinois right now, count me incredibly jealous: the 2013 World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships started yesterday and run through the weekend. The WTC is the olympic equivalent of competitive animal preparation, and the event offers the sculptors and artists the opportunity to showcase their work, view advancements in taxidermy technology, and appreciate one another’s efforts over the last year. There are competitions for every division from Youth and Novice, to achievements in Freeze-Drying, and - of course - the Master Division, where the winner is awarded a $4,000 prize, some amazing live-mount eyes by Karl Lange and Tohickon (like the Rolls-Royce of glass-blown, hand-crafted eyes), and the honor of knowing you created the most beautiful taxidermy mount in the world.

There’s also the honorable Carl Akeley award granted to the sculptor who can best exhibit that, indeed, wildlife taxidermy is a valid form of art, and the practice is still alive and well today.

About the images:

Lowell Shapley keel-billed toucan won the Carl E. Akeley Award in 2011.

Ken Walker’s panda was awarded Best in Show in the Recreations category - the ‘panda’ is actually comprised of the dyed skins of multiple American black bear specimens, seeing as how giant pandas are protected.

Dennis Harris - “Air Zebra” Lion and zebra won Best in World at the 2009 WTC. The lioness is only supported in one area, where her tail touches the arm of the zebra. If that isn’t an incredible feat in animal engineering, I don’t know what is.

Karl Lange glass eyes

Mountain wave clouds form downwind of an obstacle in the path of...

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:01:20 -0400

Mountain wave clouds form downwind of an obstacle in the path of a strong air current. Since air cools as it rises and warms as it falls, it is at the peak of a standing wave where moisture condenses and clouds form.

scienceyoucanlove: theolduvaigorge: Ice Age Giants “Amazing...

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:01:21 -0400

scienceyoucanlove:

theolduvaigorge:

Ice Age Giants

“Amazing animation and new science reveals the lives of Ice Age beasts”

artist unknown

See more illustrations at the BBC

That’s so weird that BBC didn’t list the artist, I looked too :< Pity, these are gorgeous works!

fuckyeahmineralogy: Tourmaline; Minas Gerais, Brazil

Thu, 09 May 2013 17:34:47 -0400

fuckyeahmineralogy:

Tourmaline; Minas Gerais, Brazil

astronomy-to-zoology: Pom-pom Anemone (Liponema...

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:44:44 -0400

astronomy-to-zoology:

Pom-pom Anemone (Liponema brevicornis)

Also known as the tentacle shedding anemone, the pom-pom anemone is a species of sea anemone found in deep water in the north east Pacific. Like other anemones the pom-pom anemone is a carnivore and will attempt to eat any small animals unfortunate enough to swim into its tentacles. Pom-pom anemones are also fed on by sea spiders who steal tentacles from it. Although it usually lives a sessile lifestyle, the pom-pom anemone does not attach its self to a substrate and it can roll itself up like a rug and drift with the current like a tumbleweed, stopping when it reaches a solid object.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Cnidaria-Anthozoa-Hexacorallia-Actiniaria-Nyantheae-Thenaria-Liponematidae-Liponema-brevicornis

Image Source(s)

carbonstuff: Mitotic division in a animal lung cell under a...

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:01:16 -0400

carbonstuff:

Mitotic division in a animal lung cell under a contrast microscope.

It consists of two main stages.

Karyokinesis : This is the main part of cell division, which is the division of the nucleus. It is further divided into four stages.

Prophase : The nucleus of the cell breaks apart. The individual chromsomes are visible as the chromatids condense.

Metaphase : The centromeres of the chromosomes align along what is called as the metaphase plate.

Anaphase : The chromatids separate and get pulled apart by the mitotic spindles forming two arrangements.

Telophase : The chromatids condense and form the two daughter nuclei of the cell.

Cytokinesis : This stage happens simultaneously with Telophase. It is the final stage where a cleavage is created in the cytoplasm and the cell separates into two daughter cells. The two daughter nuclei pass into the daughter cells.

In the depths of the dark clouds of dust and molecular gas known...

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:00:55 -0400

In the depths of the dark clouds of dust and molecular gas known as the Omega Nebula, stars continue to form. The image at left is from the Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys. It shows the star-forming region in exquisite detail. The dark dust filaments that lace the center of Omega Nebula were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars and in the debris from supernova explosions. The red and blue hues arise from glowing gas heated by the radiation of massive nearby stars. The points of light are the young stars themselves, some brighter than 100 Suns. Dark globules mark even younger systems, clouds of gas and dust just now condensing to form stars and planets. The Omega Nebula lies about 5000 light years away toward the constellation of Sagittarius. The region shown spans about 3000 times the diameter of our solar system.

atlasobscura: Dallol - Ethiopia The Hottest place on...

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:08:52 -0400

atlasobscura:

Dallol - Ethiopia

The Hottest place on Earth!

Read more on Atlas Obscura

nontradpremed: Thank goodness for scientific advancement!

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:26:01 -0400

nontradpremed:

Thank goodness for scientific advancement!

WHAT

Sun, 05 May 2013 23:01:35 -0400

You guys are amazing! Thank you to everyone who is a new follower, and thanks to those who have been following since the beginning! I’m so grateful to be able to be able to share my passions with such an amazing community of people!

Hope you all enjoyed Ornithology Day!

Sun, 05 May 2013 19:17:30 -0400

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a bunch of bird cams for the...

Sun, 05 May 2013 17:34:58 -0400

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a bunch of bird cams for the ornithology enthusiast to check out. Also, there are babies. So, it’s really for everyone.

Watch them here!

There are more than three dozen species in the...

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:51:56 -0400

There are more than three dozen species in the family Paradisaeidae, more commonly known as the birds of paradise. Most are distinguished by striking colors and bright plumage of yellow, blue, scarlet, and green. These colors distinguish them as some of the world’s most dramatic and attractive birds. Males often sport vibrant feathered ruffs or amazingly elongated feathers, which are known as wires or streamers. Some species have enormous head plumes or other distinctive ornaments, such as breast shields or head fans.

Males put their bright colors and unusual ornaments to good use when they display for females. Their elaborate dances, poses, and other rituals accentuate their appearance and put on a phenomenal show for both female birds and any humans lucky enough to be in the vicinity. Such displays can last for hours, and in many species they consume a significant part of the male’s time.