Blogs

First of all, a warm welcome to three new bloggers this week. Tom Webb, from his landlocked work station at the University of Sheffield, UK, will explore issues of marine biodiversity. His blog Mola mola is named in honour of the sunfish, a ‘curious beast…like a child’s drawing of a fish’. We also wave a big hello to Vishal Kalel from Ruhr University in Germany, whose GeeK of Science blog promises monthly geek quizzes and updates about recent science news. Finally, Tinker Ready will be blogging for the Boston hub, bringing the latest science news and happenings from that city.

Turning to our more established bloggers, Jenny Rohn this week celebrates anti-authors, a term she goes on to explain:

I hereby propose introducing a new section to the standard scientific manuscript: the Disacknowledgements Section. This would honor all the people who obstructed the research; the cast of characters – shall we refer to them asanti-authors – without whom the work would have proceeded much more briskly and less painfully.

Somebody who would never obstruct the flow of science is Stephen Curry. Quite the reverse, in fact. This week, he volunteers for a science communication initiative called I’m a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here!

For two weeks students read about the scientists’ work, ask them questions, and engage in live text chats with them. The students vote for the scientist they want to get the money. The scientists with the fewest votes are evicted until only one is left to be crowned the winner.

You can read more about Stephen’s excitement and apprehension here.

Elsewhere, Eric Wubbo-Lameijer continues his excellent series of posts looking at learning and inspiration in the sciences. Having posted almost every day this week on everything from feats of memory to the influence of mood on creativity, it’s hard to point to any one post. So just dip in and peruse his blog at leisure.

Q&A

Have you tried our new questions and answers section yet? Ask a question, and other Nature Network users will respond. Recent questions include what is the best popular science book?, how to get into freelance science writing and what are the volunteering options for scientists?.

And finally…

Viktor Poór raised a few chuckles with his special keyboard for genetics :