Science, Featuring Shrimp and the Sun

(I keep a running tally of phrases that I can see being used as band names. "Shrimp and the Sun" might make it on there.)

I actually learned a lot when researching both of these articles, namely that our sun is probably not as old as some other stars and that shrimp have brains.

Do Shrimp Have a Nervous System?

What Is Meant When Our Sun Is Referred to as a Second Generation Star?

That does more than sting...

One of the articles I wrote recently was about the ecosystems that stingrays inhabit. Yesterday, I Fucking Love Science posted about a study that warns that 25% of the world's sharks and rays could be extinct within a decade and explains why we should be worried.

Science for your weekend, kiddos:

The Ecosystem of the Stingray

And a couple of other recent pieces:

What Is a Pinna in Botany?
How Are the Surfaces of the Moon & Mercury Similar?

Don't know much about chemistry...

But I do know now about some of the chemicals in pen ink. Did you know that people used to mix egg albumin into their ink?

What Is the Chemical Composition of Pen Ink?

What Does Acid Pollution Do to Seashells?

Today I learned that Prozac will screw up shrimp. No joke.

While researching an article, I found out that shrimp have the hormone serotonin circulating in their systems, the same hormone that improves mood in humans. When exposed to one of the chemicals in Prozac, shrimp will see their serotonin levels skyrocket, and they'll start behaving in abnormal ways, like swimming out of their safe, dark hidey holes toward bright areas where predators can find them.

Take what you will from that. The lesson I took is that happy creatures do stupid shit.

Read more about conked-out crustaceans here.

Additions to the Science Writing Portfolio

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but science is so delightful...

What Two Factors Influence a Region's Photosynthetic Productivity?

What Causes Volcanoes to Grow Bigger?

The Location of Ribosomes in a Cell

Three Songs

Three songs in particular resonated with me this year.

One gave voice to many of the thoughts I had during the bad times: "Just Make It Stop" by Low

One started out sounding like a song for the bad times but had me dancing toward the better times by the end of it: "A New Life" by Jim James

One just felt good to belt out in the car: "Change" by Churchill

I hope your 2014 is filled with good music, good moments, and, as Jim James might wish, much more stardust.

And now, it's time for...

Science!

Is It Normal for Lightning to Go Sideways?
Oil and Gas Are Found In What Kind of Rocks? (I don't write the titles.)
How Is Deforestation Impacting People?