Diseases and blogs and fieldwork, oh my!
While my day-to-day life has shifted to science communication, storytelling, and podcasting (check out our newest episode!), I'm still and always will be an ecologist at heart. That's why I'm so happy...
View ArticleA new bacterium that causes Lyme isease
This is part of a series of posts from our own Shane Hanlon's disease ecology class that he's currently teaching at the University of Pittsburgh Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. Students were asked to...
View ArticleZombie shrimp?
Parasites are known to manipulate their hosts’ behavior in a variety of ways to aid parasite survival and reproduction. The post Zombie shrimp? appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.
View ArticleHoly worms: Historical depictions of Guinea Worm disease in Medieval art
This 15th-century altarpiece depicts St. Roch, a Catholic saint from the 14th century known for his work with plague victims. The prominent feature in this, and almost all depictions of St. Roch is the...
View ArticleGene modification: How it could save the pig industry billions
Scientists have recently produced pigs with the ability to resists a highly problematic and costly disease. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a pathogenic disease that infects...
View ArticleBrains for breakfast: Can cannibalism lead to disease resistance?
The Fore tribe in Papua New Guinea has a long history of ritualistic cannibalism, resulting in a crippling outbreak of a degenerative brain disease called Kuru in the 1950’s. The epidemic devestated...
View ArticleOrigin found of amphibian’s worst nightmare, Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis
In recent years, amphibians all over the world have been dying to the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, affectionately referred to as BD. The fungus has been spreading at an alarming rate, and the...
View ArticleOur favorite yellow fruit in danger?!
In the 1950s, the Gros Michel banana was the most-exported banana in the world until a fungus known as banana wilt ravaged the banana population. The banana that we eat today is the Cavendish and is...
View ArticleThe forgotten dogs of the Americas
Over the course of history humans have created hundreds of specialized breeds, each bread for a specific purpose, and originating from all corners of the globe. However, due to having such low ancestry...
View ArticleGood morning! Bed bugs left you Chagas Disease.
Bugs can be scary. Bugs can be especially scary when they are in your bed. The post Good morning! Bed bugs left you Chagas Disease. appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.
View ArticleGuinea Worm Eradication: The Dog Days are NOT Over
The end of the guinea worm’s life cycle looks like a scene from a horror movie: a thin, slimy creature emerging from lesions on the legs of the infected. The post Guinea Worm Eradication: The Dog Days...
View ArticleThe “Lazy” Southerner: Sloth or Anemia?
This is part of a series of posts from our own Shane Hanlon’s disease ecology class that he’s currently teaching at the University of Pittsburgh Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. Students were asked to...
View ArticleBlack Lung Disease is Making a Come-Back
This is part of a series of posts from our own Shane Hanlon’s disease ecology class that he’s currently teaching at the University of Pittsburgh Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. Students were asked to...
View ArticleAmerican (voter) attitudes on climate change are complex
Americans have strong feelings about climate change. In addition to political affiliation, it turns out that how old you are can influence the degree to which you accept human-influenced clinate change...
View ArticleTalking health might shift attitudes on global warming
By Shane M Hanlon Global warming is a political issue. It shouldn’t be, but it is. I recently wrote a post about it that outlined political views on the subject, probably best summarized by this1:...
View ArticleTell a story, sing a song, & learn some stuff at AGU18!
AGU18 is...next week! Wow, that happened fast. We have a full slate of amazing science communication, policy, and outreach events planned for the entire week of the meeting! The post Tell a story, sing...
View ArticleAGU18 debrief: Y’all love scicomm…and that makes us happy
Yes, I know. Fall Meeting was last month (and year), so what took us so long? Honestly...we were exhausted, but for the best reasons. Turns out that y'all love scicomm so much and helped to make AGU18...
View ArticleStarting a science blog? Items to consider.
It is an individual decision to start your own blog or to join an existing blogging community, but the decision should be framed around an overarching goal for "why blog" to a listing of secondary...
View ArticleSo, you wanna start a science blog?
By Shane M Hanlon I’m not the type of person who’s always thought that I’ve had something to say (at least anything that people would listen to). Back in my grad school days, while I saw the value in...
View ArticleIt’s the most, wonderful time, in the field!
Every summer I take a break from the concrete jungle of DC and head to rural Pennsylvania to teach a field course for the University of Pittsburgh Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology (my undergrad alma...
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