First contact with alien races: is it worth considering?

The latest meme going around is first contact, spurred by this speech by Stephen Hawking. It’s made some interesting buzz in the blogosphere, although I’m not sure how many of these biologist bloggers are actually applying biological principles to their thoughts. There are certianly many different directions societies could go. Just look at the various [...]

It’s that time again…

Finals week! You know, that week where I get no sleep and this blog goes down for a bit? Yeah…it’s that time unfortunately. The blog’s going to be shackled up for awhile. I’m also going through some RL stuff, as well. I’m fine…nothing’s wrong with me physically or emotionally but I’m preparing to move halfway [...]

Bed Bugs in Their Natural Habitat

So…last night, I had an opportunity to look for bed bugs in their natural habitat. I was called to a friend’s house to collect some specimens for the ISU entomology department. I rooted around on a couch for an hour, and helped them clean the place up before leaving. It’s kind of an interesting thing, [...]

Dear Undergraduate

Dear Undergraduate, I know how things are for you right now. You’ve been a part of the education process for the past half-decade and it’s become all you’ve known. Now, you’re at the end of your undergraduate journey and you’re staring the real world in the face. Maybe you’ve worked the same shitty part time [...]

Aphids have mutualistic viruses!

Aphids can be a pain in the ass to gardeners and farmers. Although they look pretty harmless, they’re to plants what mosquitoes are to people and more. They transmit some pretty serious diseases which cause millions of dollars in damage per year. They’re also famous for their fecundity-they’re parthenogenic and their daughters are actually born [...]

What the recession means for prospective graduate students.

As I’ve said a few times here on the ‘blog, I’m currently looking for graduate school. I’d really like to get into research because it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time and I think I’d be quite good at it. I’ve been having some problems, though. Times are tough due to [...]

Insects use tools, but do they self-medicate?

This is my first researchblogging post in awhile…so I figured I’d make it worthwhile by writing a really, really long post and actually deconstructing a scientific paper. I’ve seen the video of the tool using octopus…and it is neat. Here’s a science daily article, and here’s the video below: Using tools is something which is [...]

RIP Francisco Ayala and a word on regrets

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gPDJPki2ZyAyIdd8lztIKWkD3IsQD9BO5ETO0 Francisco Ayala has died, a brilliant mind’s time has gone by. About a year ago, Ayala came to Iowa State to give a talk. Unfortunately, my work schedule conflicted with his visit and I was unable to make his lecture even though several professors (including one entomology professor who knew about my passion for [...]

Fuck…I don’t think I’ve ever been excited about finals before

It’s Thanksgiving break! That means that I get to spend time with the family, the kid, and some family members who come in from out of town. Yay!!!! And all I have to work on is two presentations, a paper and about three dozen insects to sort through. Seriously…I love insects, I really do. They [...]

Single parenthood and navigating the treachery of academia.

I tend to try to stay away from personal topics, because I like to blog pseudoanonymously for a multitude of reasons which are explained very well here (the exact same reasons, actually). So I’m not going to go into great detail about my situation. To be honest, if you go to ISU I’ve got to [...]