Why, my friends, do we head to the beach? Is it for the sun, the surf, the sand, the salt? Seashells, seagulls, sandpipers, swimming, snorkeling? (oh god somebody stop me). No! Obviously, we pile ourselves in a hot, sandy car for hours and burn ourselves to a crisp for the smells. Yes, you heard me … Continue reading
In a new study made available last week via PNAS, MIT scientists (and list of multi-national, multi-disciplinary) collaborators have uncovered that corals can actually manipulate flow near their bodies and are not left to depend solely on the whims of ambient flow. Corals are sessile and depend on flow to exchange nutrients and dissolved gases … Continue reading
No matter the size, color, or species, what unites almost all of life on Earth is it’s ultimate dependence on sunlight. Plants use energy from the sun to grow, which we and other organisms then utilize through stuffing those plants (and animals that have eaten plants) into our greedy mouths. However, there are exceptions to … Continue reading
Since lionfish invaded the Caribbean and Atlantic, there have been programs promoting the consumption of lionfish in an effort to control them. There have been lionfish cookouts following lionfish derbies, restaurants serving lionfish, and even fishermen selling and exporting lionfish filets. But in 2012, Florida Sea Grant and the FDA found detectable levels of ciguatera … Continue reading
Check out A Scientist at Sea: California Current Research Cruise (Part I) as well! This research cruise is about halfway over and we find ourselves within sight of Big Sur, off the coast of southern California. Everyone is searching, frantically, for water. The dark irony of it hasn’t escaped the scientists aboard the R/V Melville—we’re … Continue reading
Everyone seems to enjoy imagining what it must be like to have starfish’s limb regeneration capabilities: see earlier post here. But a mystery disease that causes a sea star’s arms to crawl away from each other until the star is literally ripped apart has been increasing in prevalence over the last several years: this video … Continue reading
If you’re reading these words right now, chances are you’re a human (if you’re not, shoot me an email–I have a LOT of questions for you). As humans, our tendency is to organize–to tease meaning out of data. Humans are wired to look for patterns; this is one of the traits that’s propelled our species … Continue reading
Today I have for you the second part of our inaugural podcast, all about the wonderful world of diatoms! In this half of our podcast, I talk with Natalie Cohen and Carly Moreno, two of the other graduate students in my lab at UNC-Chapel Hill. Topics range from what it’s like to go on a … Continue reading
Today I have something a little different to share–my first ever podcast! It’s diatom-themed (of course) and in it I discuss what diatoms are, what it’s like to research them, and why you should care about them in the first place. I’m far more used to writing blog posts than creating something audio-based, so this … Continue reading
With finals week upon us, all those affiliated with a university may be feeling a little exhausted at the moment. If the internet has taught us anything though, it’s that there’s nothing like a fun animal video to lift your spirits/help you procrastinate. This clip combines the improbably buoyant sunfish with a little inspiration as … Continue reading
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