So my research involves examining diatoms, which are free-floating aquatic phytoplankton with silicified cell walls (a substance similar to glass!). A lot of my time in the lab is spent culturing different species of diatoms, which is interesting but sometimes dissatisfying–since diatoms are microscopic, most of my cultures look like vials of clear or brownish … Continue reading
“The ocean is broken.” So argues Ivan Macfadyen, an Australian yachtsman whose voyage across the Pacific Ocean is detailed in a recent and popular newspaper article from the Newcastle Herald. The article, a few bits of which I’ve excerpted below, presents a tragic portrait of our oceans—barren wastelands of trash and debris, with not a … Continue reading
In honor of Halloween, we would like to highlight some marine “monsters.” These monsters are the most frightening type of all. They are taking over new regions, rapidly increasing in numbers, and eating everything in their paths. These species are… marine invaders. Lionfish Lionfish are predatory fish, meaning they eat other fish, that are native to … Continue reading
This recent article by Michael D. Jones discusses the merits of telling a good story. Right… So we know that already. What else do we already know? How about this: recent Gallup poll data reveal that only 57% of the American public believes that the main cause of global warming is human activity. Now, what if … Continue reading
What role do Somali Pirates play in climate research: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/10/how-somali-pirates-almost-but-not-quite-halted-vital-climate-change-research/280621/ Belize to monitor MPAs with aerial drones: http://amandala.com.bz/news/unmanned-aerial-drones-police-belizean-waters/ An old but cool segment on pristine reefs in cuba (featuring Anderson Cooper scuba diving): The new IPCC report (as seen in our business as usual” post: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/09/27/science/IPCC-report-summary.html?ref=earth&_r=0 What the government shutdown did to science: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/med-tech/what-the-shutdown-did-to-science-16051793 Continue reading
I’ve grown tired of watching the same “true crime” plotlines over and over again on TV. I want the bad guys to be caught, but what I really want is more variation, more novelty, more…science. I would therefore like to pitch an idea for a new episode of a detective drama, an idea that is … Continue reading
Connect Outreach and Science As scientists, we need to start thinking of research and outreach as interconnected goals. The old paradigm within the scientific community has been “Do good work and it will speak for itself.” How about a new paradigm? Let’s try to change it to “Do good work and tell people about it.” … Continue reading
A new article has just been published in the journal Science, titled: “Who’s afraid of peer review?” The article can be found here. The author of the study, John Bohannon, created a fake PI at a fake university in a developing country and submitted a fictitious article to over 300 peer-reviewed journals (changing the author and … Continue reading
UNder the C 