Summer Assignment 8.11

• Follow-up on the four-legged snake from last week. It may have been removed from Brazil illegally. Also raises the question of the role/responsibility of scientists to check on the history of the samples they are studying.
• Look up! (Or don't. There may be zombies up there.)
• The basic science behind colors. This one is a bit more chemistry/physics related, but is still pretty interesting.

Summer Assignment 8.4

• No new dinosaur this week, but a pretty cool new snake species. With legs.
• Ants work together with mathematical precision.
• Leave that bird on the ground alone. Unless its ugly. Then you can put it back.
• Promising results for the latest Ebola vaccine. Definitely something to keep an eye on for the next few months. 

Summer Assignment 7.28

Only one link this week, since it is a longer article, and I think it is important for everyone to read it. CRISPR-Cas9 technology allows researchers to edit DNA sequences in any living organism. This technology is being looked at for applications ranging from curing diseases, to making organisms resistant to parasites, to basic research about gene function. But there are major ethical issues, which the article points out.

What do you all think? Is this something that is worthwhile? Or do the potential risks outweigh the benefits?

Summer Assignment 7.21

Quick reminder before the links that comments go through moderation before they are posted. This makes it easier for me to keep track of who has commented and when. If you don't see your comment show up immediately, it is most likely in the moderation list. I generally try to check a few times a day, usually early in the morning and in the evening.

• What breaking up does to your brain
• You've heard the Wilhelm Scream, even if you've never heard of it

• Another week, another new dinosaur
• Turns out black panthers actually have spots, we just couldn't see them before, Hope there is time to update this.

Summer Assignment 7.14

First official post of the 2015 Summer Assignment. Rules are simple:

1. Look at the list of links I provide.
2. Pick a few (or all) to read.
3. Make an intelligent comment here that shows you read and thought about at least one.
4. Gain points.

• When the official advice after being by stung is to "just lie down and start screaming" I think it is pretty safe to say the tarantula hawk is going right to the top of everyone's least favorite animal list.
• New dinosaur
• New subatomic particle
• And of course... Pluto