Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Emergence in Ant Colonies

Hello everyone. To all of you in the six o'clock class, you may remember the presentation i tried to give today on the concept of Emergence and how it applies to ant colonies. Generally, how do ant colonies self organize without a central leader. Anyway, I meant to show segments of two videos and a piece of an episode of radiolab during my presentation. Unfortunately the sound was not working on the projector, and that couldn't happen.

Here are the links to the media I wanted to show, in case any of you were interested in watching them anyway.

Radio lab episode on Emergence; http://www.radiolab.org/2007/aug/14/
E.O. Wilson talking about Pheremones in ants and demonstrates trail pheromone; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HKl8Luuotw&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLB42F5F70CBDFD142
Deborah Gordon on Ted Talks; http://www.ted.com/talks/deborah_gordon_digs_ants.html

Thanks everyone! Enjoy and have a good break.
Isabella

No laggards, those bees and plants

As Climate Change Sets In, Plants and Bees Keep Pace


Rosie

Sahara Desert Beetle


Heres a photo I took last March in the Sahara Desert in Merzouga, Morocco. These little guys were scurrying around every where and in the morning when we woke and the sand was fresh and untouched there were beetle tracks everywhere.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Mating Dance

Paul Taylor has put together an amusing show for his dance company, showcasing the mating habits and rituals of insects.

sorry couldn't find a video!

Here is the article...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/arts/dance/paul-taylor-dance-company-at-purchase-college-review.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=insect&st=cse


-Rosemary

Thursday, December 8, 2011

insect this-and-that


strange things i find on the internets...







-jay

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Insect Like/Inspired Creations


I found these mechanical creatures and they seemed to me very insect inspired. I got Katita as a present. It sort of shakes/jumps. Some really look more like insects than others and some don't look like them at all. But I thought was worth checking them out. They each have a short description with how they came into being. The artist is Chico Bicalho.

Wind Up Katita

Designed by Chico Bicalho

"KATITA (THE HERO) (1999

Katita happened around four AM in a hotel room in Hong Kong, a child of severe jetlag. The key is an allusion to the leather hats "Cangaceiros," the herdsmen of Northeastern Brazil wore in the past. Katita was named after a small female mutt in Rio who had just given birth to a litter of six puppies. She became a national hero in Brazil for having saved the life of a three-year-old boy that was being mauled by two vicious pit bulls. She was very badly hurt after fending off the beasts, but survived. This product is homage to Katita's courage.

Booty and key colors are assorted, we pick color based on availability."

http://www.kikkerland.com/designers/chico-bicalho/

-EI

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Wasps Never Forget a Face

Here is an interesting article about facial recognition in wasps and humans: Wasps Never Forget a Face.

- Rachel

Thursday, December 1, 2011

WETA CUTIE





So the heaviest insect was discovered in New Zealand. The giant weta is three times the size of a mouse and heavier than a sparrow. I dunno about you guys but I think it's pretty darn cute.

Here's the article with video:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2068547/Meet-worlds-heaviest-insect-weighs-times-mouse.html?ito=feeds-newsxml


-krystal

I'm alive! and still reading about stuff,

Here is a cool ditty about wasps, Hope y'all are well.
Clara