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Tag: biodiversity
December 12, 2012
Sciencegeek Advent Calendar Extravaganza! – Day 12
FROST FLOWERS: CHRISTMAS-LIKE CAPSULES OF BIODIVERSITY
Photos by Jeff Bowman and Jody Deming
“In a study combining oceanography, microbiology, and planetary sciences, NSF-funded researchers at the University of Washington have discovered fascinating new aspects of so-called “frost flowers” that grow on Arctic ice fields. These delicate ice structures turn out to host microbes that survive to extremely cold temperatures, informing us about the limits of life when we search on other ice-covered planets and moons for possible extraterrestrial life. They also produce chemicals such as formaldehyde that may give clues about the origin of life on the early Earth.”
University of Washington, IGERT. Via Colossal.
(see more of Popperfont’s Sciencegeek Advent Calendar Extravanganza here)
December 3, 2012
Sciencegeek Advent Calendar Extravaganza – Day 3
DIY: HOW TO MAKE A TERRARIUM CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT!
Full details at Inhabitat.com
“Materials required: Moss, plants and/or twigs small enough to fit into your terrarium ornament – Some soil – Tweezers – Reusable glass ornament orb – A ribbon (we used one from an old gift box) – A chain or string (we used an old bracelet) – (optional) Figurines or other fun tsotchkes to place inside your ornament”
Full instructions at inhabitat.com.
(see more of Popperfont’s Sciencegeek Advent Calendar Extravanganza here)
December 1, 2012
Introducing Popperfont’s Sciencegeek Advent Calendar Extravaganza – Day 1
MERRY MICROBIAL CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS.
(Specifically that of the Amoeba and the Paramecium).
(see more of Popperfont’s Sciencegeek Advent Calendar Extravanganza here)
November 27, 2012
Extinction typography #beautiful
Check out this album cover for the Finnish band Burning Hearts. Note how the creatures (all extinct) spell out the name of the album, “Extinctions”.
By Emil Bertell and Kea Bertell, via NotCot.org.
October 17, 2012
This phylo tree infographic of fantastical creatures is awesome.
Called “Magna Arbor Vitae Deku” and totally worth clicking to see it close up!
By Jude Buffum. Also available for sale.
October 15, 2012
These Victorian microscope slides are both beautiful and amazing! #want
O.K., this site about Victoria microscope slides has to be one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while. Lots to peruse, but why not just start with how beautiful the mounting looks.
Botanical specimens
“By the later 1800s, with the advent of an expanding middleclass and the burgeoning popular interest in the Natural Sciences, it was not unusual for households to have a well used microscope and a little “cabinet of curiosities”. Some, as well as purchasing commercially mounted examples, found pleasure in collecting specimens and making their own slides. Many people of the times could give the common and Latin names, and an account of the habits, for most of the plants, insects, and other living creatures both small and large in the vicinity of their town and countryside. Holiday excursions to the seashore became a popular pastime, being seen as wonderful opportunity for collecting unusual specimens for study. Public lectures, classes and demonstrations were held, and numerous societies and clubs of interested “amateur naturalists” met regularly. During the heyday of the Victorian period, the microscope and it’s attendant collection of mounted objects were not viewed as just a means to an education, or scientific tools for the laboratory, but as an interesting, wondrous, and delightful entertainment.”
Specimens that are grouped in a specific spatial (i.e. pretty) arrangements.
Insect specimens
Marine specimens
This is an example of a large mount (with Earwigs) slide.
September 28, 2012
Animals with misleading names. #funny
By Rosemary Mosco at Bird and Moon.
September 18, 2012
Biodiversity caught on Google’s Street View #mesmerizing
There might not be a truer visual representation of our contemporary wired world than Jon Rafman’s web-based “9 Eyes” project, for which he culled the most bizarre, haunting, and stunning images frozen in Google’s “Street View” mapping project to create a truly amazing work of digital art that is both innately appealing and strangely, darkly poetic. (From Blouin Art Info)
From the 9 Eyes of Google Street View by Jon Rafman. Definitely click on the 9 Eyes links – some of the screen captures are quite haunting.
September 12, 2012
Check out some of the proofs for the Beaty Phylomon Deck!
Things over at the Phylomon site have been quiet of late, but that’s because folks have been working hard on the print version Beaty deck. They look gorgeous, and it won’t be too long before you can purchase your own set!
On a related note, if you’d like to get involved in the project, do come by this Facebook page – it’s about to ramp up a bit. The task? Design a game that looks at evolutionary biology concepts.
Game on!
Art Lindsay Chetek, Kyu Hwang, Brandy Masch, Kyle McQueen, Victoria Heryet , Derek Tan, and Alexandria Neonakis.
Online Beaty deck already available here.
popperfont.net 