Happy Penguin :) Sad Penguin :(
I try to avoid anthropomorphizing, but there is definitely one happy and one sad (initially) penguin.
Got to love those tuxedo wearing waddlers
Yay SNOW!
I am stuck :( if only i could swim!
Answers In Genius
Confessions of a Science Geek
Posts Tagged ‘ animal ’
And you think you got a sweater you didn’t want for xmas?
Sadly there is a lot of animal cruelty at xmas, ignoring the turkeys and other fare on the plate this is very much the season where ultimately unwanted or uncared for pets are distributed out with the ipads, bob the builders and tonka toys.
However this abuse takes the biscuit click on the link to see horror.
Not for the faint of heart
Bloggers block
“blogs and networks everywhere and and all I do is link…”
As is de rigor nowadays I have a blog, equally common I rarely post on it. I’m no technophobe and my life isn’t so filled with action and daring do that I cant spare the time to write. I just feel that to post anything up, it should have be of a certain quality and so if I can’t do it well I shouldn’t do it at all.
The reality is I should care less and type more, I am the only person who reads it anyway. Its odd to feel the need to want to contribute all the interesting and exciting communities out there, but also feel the weight of the boggersphere on my back as I do so.
Almost hand in hand with the need to share our views with the world is the crippling fear of how people will critique them and moreover critique our critique. The “interweb” is a horrible place of anonymous bullies; anonymous for a reason, they are scared to let people know who they are and what they really think. Do I want my inner thoughts to be cast out to these lions? who am I casting it out to anyway?
Equally nagging in my wimpish mind is the quality of what is out there; deeply original and thoughtful commentary, delightful works of art, amazing photos and videos of events and places that have to be shared and kittens, lots and lots of kittens. I get passed some superb things and pass them on accordingly, its natural to want to share things you enjoy with your friends and family. Its living up to the “tweetable” blog posts that pops into my head every time I sit down with some twigglets and pg tips to set the world to right, once again I don’t know why.
Blog gold!
I want to contribute, but to what? we want our opinion heard, be it the classroom, pub or workplace and perhaps this is the real reason for blogging, it’s an outlet for those opinions, who cares if anyone actually reads it, its cathartic, i can type furiously what i think about Bieber instead of shout he is a twat from the rooftops. It’s an outlet too for thoughts and inspirations that would otherwise last no longer than a comment to a mate, who cares if the majority is rubbish.
The freedom to blog any old shit is its strength, it should froth up creativity, free of publishing and distribution restrictions. Evolution will dictate what succeeds and becomes tweet worthy and what is destined for zero comment ignominy.
I think I will continue to consume far more than create, it’s easier to read and drink tea than to type anyway.
F*ck you Killer Whale!
Nature is “red in tooth and claw” and a constant arms race between predator and prey; based on this evidence Killer Whales will have to develop torpedoes to catch this smart arsed penguin, else his offspring will be manning Japanese whaling fleets in the near future
Observing nature and modern nature documentaries requires the viewer and filmmaker to remain passive and not interfere with what unfolds before them, so what do you when the viewers presence is used by a canny animal?
I don’t like anthropomorphizing animals, but i swear the penguin gives the pod the finger (or flipper) at the end
What a shit diet!
one mouse one cup?
Some great new research has found a rather interesting symbiotic relationship, where before there was believed to be only a very one-sided one.
The latest research and observations have concluded that one of the largest carnivorous plants, a pitcher plant Nepenthes rajah from Borneo, encourages it’s prey to leave a present, rather than just eat it.
It’s a lovely bit of behaviour to discover and makes complete sense from an evolutionary point of view. Pitcher plants evolved to catch insects to digest may have mutated in a way that attracted small mammals to eat from it, these then left nutrient rich dropping and would have returned often providing the advantage to the plant with this mutation to gain a selective advantage, over time you can predict the outcome would be the perfect match you see today – Wonderful.
It’s also an elegant way to show how much of an advantage it is for an organism to find a niche no one else has exploited, how many other “poo eaters” would it have to compete with? None! ensuring a constant and reliable supply of rich nutrients. other great example would be the pearl fish Carpus sp. which lives inside the anus of Sea Cucumbers, I doubt there is much competition for that real estate.
Also congratulation to the team at Monash and Royal Roads University for not just settling for accepting the simple explanation and modifying our understanding of these plants. The strength of science is exactly this approach and why we learn more about the world about us and get closer to the truth with every modification, Bravo.
Love evolution, love biology, love science
You damned dirty ape
Whilst the debate rages on about BBC 6 Radio and the wages of Jonathan Ross et al, the Beeb continues to spend money on great programming. Programs such as Horizon and Natural world are at the forefront as to to why I am happy to entrust public money to the BBC. There is definitely equally good programming out there on advertised stations especially Channel 4, but I feel the lack of breaks and need to “grab immediate attention” gives license to BBC shows to take their time with a story.
“The Chimpcam Project” the eleventh episode of the wonderful Natural World series is a prime example of this and something I thoroughly suggest people take the time to watch.
The pitch of the story is that of seeing if you can get a group of Chimpanzees to carry a camera and give an insight into their world, the reality is far more interesting. The highlights for me are:
1) The Scientific process – I think it gives you get a great sense of the flexibility and time you need to conduct a research project and adapt to unforeseen variables. Something i think isn’t pointed out enough, things don’t go to plan and when they don’t you need to either change your methodology or even, as in this project, the whole direction of the research. Research takes a long time, it is rarely “wham bam thank you mam”, it takes years of correct, diligent, observations, sampling and data analysis before you can get anywhere with most research.
2) Chimps and mirrors – there is a wonderful moment when they show research with apes looking at their reflection, they slowly work out what they are seeing and are transfixed by it, in turn I couldn’t help but be transfixed by their reaction. In the area of animal husbandry in the field I work, you often have to remind yourself not to anthropomorphize the animals you care for too much, watching this section you wonder with the “great apes” if we don’t do it enough.
3) A reflection of society – it is mostly accepted now that we originated our big brains to help us deal with complex social structures, that we have since used the brain for other things has just been a bi-product. You get a real feel for the truth of that watching the fight for dominance and hierarchy displayed in the small group shown.
I wont harp on too much, far better for you to watch for yourselves and google about it after like i just have
Wonderful stuff
They don’t call them Killer for nothing
Not so happy feet...
I think with the media coverage is now dying down it would be worthwhile posting a link to an article by New Scientist which summarises the reports and statements and points out the obvious fact that this story should be no surprise to anyone.
The crux is you have an incredibly intelligent, huge, apex predator in an inclosed space, there will always be the potential for disaster when you mix in humans.
The trainer was hugely experienced and knew the dangers, just like we all do when crossing the road, the deeply unfortunate event is no fault of the animal of trainer, just a sad accident.
Nature is red in tooth and claw, despite our efforts to sanitize it. I often enjoy pointing out what bastards dolphins can be (I know we shouldnt anthropomorphize animals, but you get the point) compared to their positive PR.
Obviously, Humans win on any poll of biggest bastards on sea, air and land.
Although I do think Pandas are planning something…..
Why Genius?
To quote Wiki "A genius is a person, a body of work, or a singular achievement of surpassing excellence. More than just originality, creativity, or intelligence, genius is associated with achievement of insight which has transformational power. A work of genius fundamentally alters the expectations of its audience."
One of the strengths of our species is our ability to retain and pass knowledge to one another and on to other generations. To find the fundamental answers to why we are here and what drives the universe around us, we don't need to look to the supernatural, we should look to each other, to our collective GENIUS.
Answers In Genius 