Author Archives: Jonathan Smith

PITTSBURGH, July 25, 2008 Randy Pausch, renowned computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, died July 25 of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 47 (b:10/23/60). Celebrated in his field for co-founding the pioneering Entertainment Technology Center and for creating … Continue reading →

 The adage that your enemies know your weaknesses best is especially true in the case of plants and predators that have CO- EVOLVED: As the predators evolve new strategies for attack, plants counter with their own unique defenses. Milkweed is … Continue reading →

In a statement submitted to the platform committees of both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee, the Anti-Defamation League reiterated its position on creationism and intelligent design: The platform statement describes ADL’s positions on the issues and … Continue reading →

Studies of the nervous systems of larval toadfish have revealed brain circuitry similar to that controlling the vocal muscles in frogs, birds and mammals, says Andrew H. Bass of Cornell University.Vertebrates croak, sing, ribbit and roar using very different muscles. … Continue reading →

40,000 years ago, the Cro-Magnoid people – the first people who had a skeleton that looked anatomically modern – entered Europe, coming from Africa.  A group of geneticists, coordinated by Guido Barbujani and David Caramelli of the Universities of Ferrara and … Continue reading →

A new study of extinct flying reptiles called kuehneosaurs, has shown that of the of the two genera found in Britain, Kuehneosuchus was a glider while Kuehneosaurus, with much shorter “wings,” was a parachutist. Archaeopteryx is famous as the world’s … Continue reading →

Some odd-looking 50 million-year-old fossils fish  discovered in the bowels of several European museums  help explain how flatfish such as flounder, sole and halibut developed the strange but useful trait of having both eyes on one side. The trait, in … Continue reading →

Thanks to all those who attended the Florida Citizens for Science informal “get together” in Lakeland this afternoon (July 10th) and in particular to Pete Dunkelberg and Kathy Savage who both travelled from Orlando. Joe Wolf (President of FCS) led the meeting … Continue reading →