That's not opinion, that's science. And science is one cold-harded bitch with a fourteen inch strap-on.
AbstractIn diesem Sinne - ich wünsche euch allen Frohe Weihnachten! Und versucht mal, euren Baum anzusingen, vielleicht habt ihr ja eins dieser transgenen Exemplare bei euch stehen!
Reoccurring seasonal harvesting of Picea abies (Norwegian spruce) and the subsequent attachment of light fixtures to the tree followed by composting after only 3 weeks of minimal use is not only a waste but also leads to diminishing spruce forests, release of carbon dioxide, global warming, increased energy consumption and a political burden to the ongoing diplomatic efforts of Santa Claus. We here present a synthetic biology solution to address this key concerns for winter celebrations – A song induced Christmas tree with endogenous light and odor emission. Advances in synthetic biology, tissue engineering and metabolic engineering have now provided new insights and techniques for controlling whole organism signaling and bio-compound production in situ, and recent efforts in synthetic biology have demonstrated that complex regulatory and metabolic networks can be designed and engineered in microorganisms and simple eukaryotes. Leading researchers at the NorthPole Bioscience Engineering Council here disclose how sonic-induced signals received through tissue engineered tympanal organs are incorporated into regulating the metabolic distribution of fluorescent and olfactory signals in Picea abies. Upon induction, the cellular nodality of the tree branches emit light at predefined wavelength due to engineered luciferases mTwinkie (yellow), mWonderbread (white) and mSnoBalls (pink). The synthetic induction system also triggers the production and emission of seasonal olfactory signals including trans-cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon), 6-gingerol (ginger), and methyl salicylate (mint). The synthetic pathway is hereby denoted xmas1.
The Max Planck Institute was quick to acknowledge its error explaining that it had consulted a German sinologist prior to publication of the text. "To our sincere regret ... it has now emerged that the text contains deeper levels of meaning, which are not immediately accessible to a non-native speaker," the institute said in an apology. "By publishing this text we did in no way intend to cause any offence or embarrassment to our Chinese readers."Außerdem wurde mittlerweile leider auch das Titelbild geändert [PDF].
Weils so schön ist gleich noch was Witziges zum Ansehen. Gefunden bei boingboing gadgets. Ich kann mir richtig den reverse psychology Effekt von diesen Schildern vorstellen ;-)
Im Gegensatz zu den erwachsenen Tieren haben junge Stummelaffen ein weißes Fell, das später nur um das Gesicht, an einem seitlichen Streifen und am Schwanz hell bleibt.
Als Vorbereitung zu Halloween gab es vor ein paar Tagen diese Orchidee zu bewundern, Dracula simia. Den Text dazu möchte ich euch nicht vorenthalten:"I want to suck your blood!" Although Ecuador and Transylvania are on separate continents, this gorgeously creepy orchid was named Dracula simia by the botanist Luer in 1978. Although this small orchid is not at all parasitic, one can see its resemblance to the "popped collar" cape of the popular representation of Dracula. Also, the spurs on the ends of the three petals somewhat resemble the fictional Dracula's fangs. The name Dracula literally translates to "little dragon", whereas the specific epithet simia translates to "monkey". The genus Dracula contains 120+ known species. Dracula simia is from the cloud forests of southeast Ecuador, where it grows at elevations between 1000-2000 meters (3250-6500 feet). In general, species of Dracula enjoy cooler temperatures -- do not let their environments exceed 27 degrees C (80 degrees F). They also enjoy a humid environment (80-90%) with a slight breeze.Bis zum Schluss dieses Posts habe ich mein liebstes Blog mit biologischen Bildern aufgehoben, Ugly Overload. Ursprünglich als Gegengewicht zu Cute Overload gestartet, hat diese Seite einen viel höheren Stellenwert in meinem Feedreader eingenommen. Viele Posts zeichnen sich durch den Humor des Betreibers aus, wie etwa hier über Schnecken und Insekten:
I've looked into the eyes of an elephant and sworn I saw an intelligent mind looking back at me. I've looked into the eyes of a puma that was being walked past me within a couple of feet and sworn I saw unmitigated malevolence. But I've had zero reaction when looking a slug in the eyes.Jede Menge andere Posts sind aber sehr informativ, ohne diesen Witz aufzugeben. Ein sehr gutes Beispiel ist der Beitrag über die Vampirmotte von heute, den ich komplett zitieren möchte weil er so gut ist:
I believe you are now looking a black slug (Arion ater) in the face. Also known as the black menace, this slug is an unwelcome addition to any lawn or garden. Their nasty-tasting slime is a deterrent to most would-be hunters, but some animals still hunt them (can you really hunt a slug? at least, with any pride in calling it hunting?). Just keep some hedgehogs or badgers in your garden, and voila, no slugs. But then you're stuck with pesky hedgehogs and badgers.
Last we have a gray bug from Pennsylvania. I think it's some variant of a squash bug. But there are roughly 1,800 species in the Coreidae family, so I can't get more specific. Suffice it to say that this bug probably just dined on *gasp* a squash or other food plant of some sort. Again, no emotional reaction from looking it in the eye. Maybe that's just my 'higher order animal' bias. I'm such a bigot.
What better way to bring in November (and mark the day after Halloween) than with the vampire moth? I know, at first mention the vampire moth may not instill any dread in you. But, please, read on.Oh, und für die ganz hartgesottenen gibt es natürlich noch Catalogue of Organisms. Der Untertitel "An inordinate fondness for systematics" fasst es eigentlich sehr gut zusammen. Das soll nicht heißen, dass CoO schlecht wäre, dort geht es nur im Vergleich mit den anderen hier vorgestellten Blogs sehr detailreich zu. Ich ziehe den Hut vor dem Autor Christopher Taylor, der als Doktorand mit einer Spezialisierung auf die Systematik von Weberknechten solch umfassende Posts über praktisch jede Tier- und Pflanzengruppe schreiben kann, egal ob heute lebend oder ausgestorben. Bestes Beispiel: seine aktuelle Reihe über prähistorische Kopffüßer.
The vampire moth was recently discovered in Russia, in two separate populations. This moth has forsaken the traditional fruit in favor of the forbidden fruit: human blood. What's amazing about this moth is it is virtually indistinguishable from its fruit-eating cousins of the same species (Calyptra thalictri).
See that moth perched on that finger? See its tongue, how it has a nice red tint to it? That's because this researcher offered up his finger, and the moth obliged him by drilling into his finger with its hook-and-barb-lined tongue and tapping it for blood.
The vampire is virtually indistinguishable from the fruit-eating variety. Only minor variations in the wing pattern would give you any warning that the moth fluttering about the lamp post is sniffing you out for blood.
Some researchers see this adaptation as a means of getting greater insight into how insects move from eating nectar to eating blood. Here's one possible progression: lapping at nectar to behaviors that result in drilling into fruit to eating tears and dung and pus-filled wounds to using that same drilling technique to dine on blood.
Not the most wholesome progression, but progress none the less. I can imagine grandpa moth saying, "Ah, back in my day we didn't eat puss and blood like the rascals these days. We ate fruit! That's the way it was, and that's the way we liked it!"
On the positive side, though you may not be able to distinguish the vampire from its benign form, you can protect yourself. They can't enter your home without your permission, they're allergic to sunlight and garlic, and they can't cross running water. It's unknown if they have any other forms (gaseous, wolf, bat, etc.), though the moth below does have a bat-like quality to it.
Mit besten Empfehlungen - der PhD Comics Feed ist immer ein Abo wert!
Dieser Artikel beschreibt ein Sekret des Bibers. Für den gleichnamigen Mediziner, siehe Horst Bibergeil.
He's been referred to as the "Elvis of E. coli", the "Sinatra of Salmonella," and in this episode of MicrobeWorld Video the "singing toxicologist." Whatever you call him, Carl Winter, Extension Food Toxicologist and Director of the FoodSafe Program at UC Davis, performs parodies of contemporary popular music by modifying lyrics to address food safety issues such as bacterial contamination, irradiation, biotechnology, government regulation, and pesticides. The goal of his songs is to provide science-based food safety information in a fun, accessible way. Thanks to a grant from the USDA, Dr. Winter is now studying how to integrate his music into traditional food safety education programs.
Dr. Winter's music goes beyond simply educating those who work with food and in this video he shares some of his tips to empower the everyday consumer looking to prevent the spread of foodborne illness.
Scientists from the Evolutionary Acceleration Research Institute (EARI) announced that the first test of the Giant Animal Smasher (GAS) will begin on December 19, 2008, the 41st anniversary of the premiere of Dr. Dolittle.
Dr. Thomas Malwin, head of the research project, said, "The first test runs will only accelerate microscopic life-forms like bacteria and viruses to high speeds, but theoretically the GAS can handle animals as large as squirrels, hence the squirrel smasher moniker."
Biologists from around the globe hope the GAS will unlock the secrets of the so-called "Darwin particle" that could unlock the secrets to life.
My name is LUCA,
I lived on the ocean floor
near some hydrothermal vent
or maybe in a tidepool by the shore.
And everything that's now alive
is my descendant that survived.
All the others went away (x3)
I'm not the first life. No,
that was way before my time.
Things were so much simpler then,
the start of evolution's climb.
Born in a world of RNA,
or some say protein, some say clay.
No one knows just what it was (x3)
Now if you feel inclined
to explore your family tree,
you're gonna have a real hard time
tracing your way back down to me
'cause horizontal gene transfer
has left the path a tangled blur.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to try (x3)
(repeat first verse)
Lord of the Rings: an allegory of the PhD?
The story starts with Frodo: a young hobbit, quite bright, a bit dissatisfied with what he's learnt so far and with his mates back home who just seem to want to get jobs and settle down and drink beer. He's also very much in awe of his tutor and mentor, the very senior professor Gandalf, so when Gandalf suggests he take on a short project for him (carrying the Ring to Rivendell), he agrees.
Frodo very quickly encounters the shadowy forces of fear and despair which will haunt the rest of his journey and leave permanent scars on his psyche, but he also makes some useful friends. In particular, he spends an evening down the pub with Aragorn, who has been wandering the world for many years as Gandalf's postdoc and becomes his adviser when Gandalf isn't around.
After Frodo has completed his first project, Gandalf (along with head of department Elrond) proposes that the work should be extended. He assembles a large research group, including visiting students Gimli and Legolas, the foreign postdoc Boromir, and several of Frodo's own friends from his undergraduate days. Frodo agrees to tackle this larger project, though he has mixed feelings about it. ("'I will take the Ring', he said, 'although I do not know the way.'")
Den Rest der Story gibts hier.
One of the most basic laws in the universe is the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This states that as time goes by, entropy in an environment will increase. Evolution argues differently against a law that is accepted EVERYWHERE BY EVERYONE. Evolution says that we started out simple, and over time became more complex. That just isn’t possible: UNLESS there is a giant outside source of energy supplying the Earth with huge amounts of energy. If there were such a source, scientists would certainly know about it.
Philosophy
The underlying philosophy of AA is simple. People need to be free to choose their mode of flight based on alternative concepts of gravity and alternative airplane design.
Current Western reductionist concepts of gravity revolve around European white men and their understanding of the universe through the scientific ‘method’ of experimentation. The current concept of gravity from Einstein and his Theory of Relativity, whereby ‘mass’ causes ‘space-time’ to ‘warp’ and this is what Science calls gravity. This theory (and remember it is just a theory) is only one narrow way of defining gravity, one way of knowing gravity. There are other ways of knowing and an equal number of ways to understand gravity and flight. Alternative aviation operates using holistic, environmentally friendly, passenger centric methodologies the allow the passenger to be involved with all aspects of their airline flight. By actively applying the concepts of complementary and alternative medicine to the airline industry the successful revolution that has occurred in health care can now be seen in air transportation.
Aviation based on principals of homeopathy is especially promising. Airplanes, once they have flown their route, remember the route due to the principals of quantum complementarity. Then by making the planes smaller and slower by repeated factors of 10, planes can carry more passengers, go faster and farther with each aeronautic dilution.
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