Four Papers Worth Browsing

Four Papers Worth Browsing

A routine check of the hep-ex preprints in the Cornell Arxiv revealed today some interesting papers worth giving a look. At least, they are interesting to me: don't expect me to publicize stuff I do…
Gravity is a Mystery (in words, no equations)

Gravity is a Mystery (in words, no equations)

Gravity continues to work fine, even though we don't know why. Newton wrote down the first calculus based description. Gravity worked at a distance for reasons beyond our reach. Einstein developed a…
Dirt: A Review

Dirt: A Review

When Susan Senator asked her facebook friends if any would be interested in reading her new novel, I jumped at the chance. She had me with the title. I love gardening, and it has been my solace, my…
Friday Fossil

Friday Fossil

I'll bet you've never seen a fossilized parrot before. This is an ex-parrot. It has ceased to be. (Just couldn't resist it, apologies!) This is the newly named Cyrilavis colburnorum from the…
The progressive war on women

The progressive war on women

“This place would be in court for a hostile workplace. Because it actually fit all of the classic legal requirements for a genuinely hostile workplace to women.” A 1960s advertising agency?  No…
Science 2.0 Readers are More Awesome Than Cake

Science 2.0 Readers are More Awesome Than Cake

One good comment is worth a thousand readers.  In the past three weeks, as I've been busy with midterms, my Calliope posts have been simply brief blog-entries rather than full articles. …
Levity and Awe: Shatner Will Always Rule

Levity and Awe: Shatner Will Always Rule

Every now and then, I need to cleanse my palate, shift directions, and give myself a break. And nothing makes a better break than a light and easy read like Shatner Rules. If you liked Star…
Just Like Magic

Just Like Magic

It's been a while, Science 2.0. My excuse (if anybody needed one): I've been rather busy over the summer with fieldwork. Not a good excuse, admittedly. But, anyway, I'm back now! Anyway. There's a…
Squid Fight Recession

Squid Fight Recession

Times are tough all over. But did you know that the Atlantic longfin squid is doing its part to help the economy? In an article by Kirk Moore of Asbury Park Press about the decline of river herring…
Chimps in advertising

Chimps in advertising

Recently a news item from Duke University appeared: "Cute" Chimps in Ads May Harm Species' Survival "We were testing the argument that the entertainment industry has made that exposure to chimpanzees…
Brain fatigue

Brain fatigue

Recently, I read an article in the New York Times entitled Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue? which presents neurological work showing contrary effects in people trying to exercise will power:…
A Brief Arthropod Diversion

A Brief Arthropod Diversion

Here at Squid A Day, we are all about the cephalopods. Specifically, the decapod cephalopods, the ones with ten appendages (eight arms and two tentacles). That's my tenuous excuse for veering off in…
Less May Not Be the More You Think

Less May Not Be the More You Think

Watch Graham Hill; I'll wait. According to Hill, our shopping obsession has led to more credit card debt, CO2 emissions and stress. I'm pretty sure that most of us will agree that CO2 emissions is…
Ethnobotanical studies can help human welfare

Ethnobotanical studies can help human welfare

Ethnobotany is a distinct branch of natural science dealingwith various aspects such as anthropology, archaeology, botany, ecology,economics, medicine, religious, cultural and several other…