Essentially, for a while, the SCQ has been interested in presenting a phylogeny related section, which would use some type of creative form as its driving force. And why not haikus (or is it Haiki?). So this is essentially a call for some Haiku’s on various organisms, preferably ones that work in the phylogenetic context. Can you imagine it? A phylogenetic database derived solely from 5,7,5 syllabus prose. Should be quite interesting, and hopefully, we’ll be able to set something up so that Haiku submissions can be dynamic (i.e. real time). Anyway, to get your creative juices rolling, here is…
The Science Creative Quarterly
By The Science Creative Quarterly
Castigat ridendo mores.
THINKING ABOUT A BOOK NOW
In case you missed it, yesterday was our one year birthday and as such our thoughts are now more seriously directed towards our print edition. Here is what we are thinking: We don’t want to actually make money out of this, because when you do, things get significantly more complicated. They become high maintenance so to speak – with taxation, copyright and distribution logistics to worry about. Although some view us as a literary endeavour, we are in truth a covert educational project designed primarily to get non-scientists to immerse themselves a little more into this science thing. This, we…
READING WEEK – THURSDAY
Finger-length ratios and sexual orientation (pdf). (2000) Nature 404:p455 In which we learn that the size of your fingers correlates to sexual hormone production and possibly sexual orientation. This is great for party conversations – we hear that even the Pope himself tried this one out. – – – FIRST PARAGRAPH: Animal models have indicated that androgenic steroids acting before birth might influence the sexual orientation of adult humans. Here we examine the androgen-sensitive pattern of finger lengths, and find evidence that homosexual women are exposed to more prenatal andro- gen than heterosexual women are; also, men with more than…
READING WEEK – WEDNESDAY
How Baseball Outfielders Determine Where to Run to Catch Fly Balls (pdf). (1995) Science 268:p569 In which we learn that apparently, there can be a scientific basis for 7 figured salaries. Next up, how to objectively judge figure skating. – – – ABSTRACT: Current theory proposes that baseball outfielders catch fly balls by selecting a running path to achieve optical acceleration cancellation of the ball. Yet people appear to lack the ability to discriminate accelerations accurately. This study supports the idea that outfielders convert the temporal problem to a spatial one by selecting a running path that maintains a linear…
READING WEEK – TUESDAY (VALENTINE’S DAY)
Ancestral and recombinant 16-locus HLA haplotypes in the Hutterites. (1999) Immunogenetics 49:p491 In which human mate selection appears to be determined by genetics afterall. This study was done using a small community (Hutterites) since carefully controlled human mate matching and observation would be unethical – at least without reality TV. – – – ABSTRACT: Prior studies in the Schmiedeleut Hutterites of South Dakota have demonstrated associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotype matching and fetal loss (Ober et al. 1992) and mate preferences (Ober et al. 1997), as well as deficiencies of homozygotes for HLA haplotypes (Kostyu et al. 1993).…
READING WEEK – MONDAY
February 13th to 17th is the University of British Columbia’s Reading Week and we here at the SCQ are following suit with a title page each day this week that will both impress and amaze you. First up, the braniac mouse… – – – Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice (pdf). (1999) Nature 401:p63 In which mankind inches closer to the production of mice that can appreciate but not necessarily enjoy Jane Austen literature. – – – ABSTRACT: Hebb’s rule (1949) states that learning and memory are based on modifications of synaptic strength among neurons that are simultaneously…
A WEEK OF “MICHAEL SMITH LABORATORIES” PIECES
GMO. Wait. Slow. Are there enough tests on you I just don’t know. Yo (Haiku by Azar) – – – – – Am I Everywhere? (by David Ng) Help, I need a Vaccine! (or H.I.V. for Short) (by Anupam Singhal) Research Fraud: Trust and Money (by Ben Montpetit) The Biotech Game of Life (by Kaan Biron, Stephanie Cheung, Arthur Kwan, Mei Mei Tian, Jane Wang, and Sara Wilcox) A Manifesto (by Patrick Francis)
A WEEK OF “KEYWORD: EVOLUTION” PIECES
There once was a scientist named Wallace Who knew just what fate would befall us We’d hit selection’s locked door And like all others before Into a museum our descendants would install us. (With apologies to Darwin, “Wallace” is much easier to rhyme — Kelvin Walker) – – – – – Evolution (by David H. Thomas) Cow: A Story (by Carolyn Beckman) Which Came First? (by Richard Harter) A Misplaced Chapter from the Book of Genesis (by Vince LiCata) Limulus and Charlie (by Jim Ruland)
HAPPY NEW YEAR: OUR SECOND EVALUATION REPORT
The SCQ is back from the holidays, and first wants to wish you prosperous New Year. Tomorrow, we will release details of a new contest. But for today, we present our second evaluation report*, as assessed by using Google ranking techniques. As of 12AM P.S.T. January 3rd, 2006, all aforementioned phrases resulted in a number one rank. – – – – – (Good) “bestest most kick ass” “My t-shirt sales will be phenomenal” “an awesome force to be reckon with” (Not so good) “horribly, wretchedly, and obviously stinky” “Pffffsssstttt” “the unicorn will gore you, the leprechaun will steal your soul…