| US grapples with bedbugs, misuse of pesticides By MATT LEINGANG 2010-08-31T03:40:34ZCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A resurgence of bedbugs across the U.S. has homeowners and apartment dwellers taking desperate measures to eradicate the tenacious bloodsuckers, with some relying on dangerous outdoor pesticides and fly-by-night exterminators.... hosted.ap.org |
Mystery bird: American herring gull, Larus smithsonianus | GrrlScientist This demystified mystery bird has an interesting (and still unresolved) story to tell about its taxonomic history. As if that isn't enough, this post is also accompanied by a 2-minute podcast that discusses this species' defining role in scienceAmerican herring gull, Larus smithsonianus (in Europe), or Larus argentatus smithsonianus (in North America), photographed at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama, USA. Image: Terry Sohl, 13 February 2008 [larger view]. I encourage you to explore this generous photographer's work. Canon 20D, 400 5.6LThis North American species is often treated as a subspecies of its European "sister" but is now regarded as a separate species by some authorities. You might be surprised to learn that its presumed European sister species is red-listed in the UK because its population declined by more than half in the last 25 years. Can you identify this species and its (presumed) European sister species, and tell me which plumage cycle it is in?Let me answer the easy question first: the bird pictured above is in its first plumage cycle, indicating it is less than one year old. To answer the other questions, I need to give you a quick overview of this species' taxonomic history. This is an American herring gull. The American herring gull was first recognised as a new species – Larus smithsonianus – in 1862 after Elliott Coues' meticulous studies of the specimens held by the Smithsonian Institution. This species was later reclassified as a subspecies of the European herring gull, Larus argentatus. As is typical for many gulls, the herring gull species complex has a very complicated and poorly understood taxonomy. However, the Association of European Rarities Committees and British Ornithologists' Union (BOU) split it into a separate species after publication of the 2007 report [DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2007.00758.x] that suggested the American herring gull is not at all closely related to the European herring gull. Thus, they are not sister species. Based on that report, the BOU went further by moving the American herring gull into a different clade or lineage. That clade includes the East Siberian gull, Larus vegae, which occurs in northeast Asia. For reasons that are not clear, the American Ornithologists' Union continues to classify the American herring gull as Larus argentatus smithsonianus; a subspecies of herring gull. Regardless of how you think about the herring gulls, there is one man who, while he was alive, thought deeply about them. Below is a 2 minute podcast that takes a brief look at how the herring gull helped one scientist earn a Nobel Prize, thanks to my friends at BirdNote Radio:If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciative audience, feel free to email them to me.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Health and Safety in Particle Physics II | Jon Butterworth After Lily's post on poor risk assessment in particle physics, I thought I should bring to your attention the risk of putting your hand in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) - as discussed by Ed Copeland and his colleagues at Nottingham UniversityI love this video from the University of Nottingham where physicists try to answer tricky but valid physics questions in real time. Seeing them think, and say they "don't know" sometimes, gives a better feel for research (and teaching) than a bevy of meticulously prepared seminars.The first question is "What would happen if I put my hand in the beam at the Large Hadron Collider". There were a variety of answers, but as far as I can tell my colleague Ed Copeland has most of the facts right.My guess is it would blow a hole and give you radiation sickness. (Answered, like Ed and his colleagues, without preparation). Some other comments: One of the physicists mentions the vacuum, which might be unpleasant. But it is also colder than space in there, which might be more of a problem.Also, although I don't want anyone to do the actual "hand in beam" experiment (it would delay data taking), it would be fairly simple to build a software model of a hand and body and do it virtually. This is how the detectors and beams are designed in the first place - see my article here. Could be a good masters project for someone.Ed has invited me to give a seminar in Nottingham in November. Looks like I'd better be prepared for some tricky questions.And many thanks to my co-blogger for drawing my attention to this video.Jon Butterworthguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Space double: Astronaut twins to join up in orbit By MARCIA DUNN 2010-10-10T03:35:47ZCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- The stars may have finally aligned for the world's only space sibling team.... hosted.ap.org |
Green: A Cultural Barrier on Climate Change A University of Michigan researcher compares inaction on heat-trapping emissions to the cultural attitudes that delayed the abolition of slavery or bans on indoor smoking. feeds.nytimes.com |