Rare woodland plant uses 'cryptic coloration' to hide from predators

When I was at the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai, I learned that certain plants had evolved over the years in response to animals. These plants began growing stems and flowers at heights that goats and pigs could not reach. It now turns out that plants will also try to hide in plain sight.

Rare woodland plant uses 'cryptic coloration' to hide from predators

Tough yet stiff, deer antler is materials scientist's dream

It's that time of year when kids think about reindeer. If you ever have an opportunity to touch a deer's antlers, you are in for a big surprise. Over the holidays, find a petting zoo or a display with live deer and see for yourself just how the antlers feel.

Tough yet stiff, deer antler is materials scientist's dream

YouTube - Aliens Vs. Coffee machine - Amazing Sci-Fi Animation

When the movie Alien first came out I remember nearly hiding under my seat, along with one of my closest friends, as we were both so freaked out. I should mention my friend, big Bob, is 6'5 and weighs 300 pounds. For a tough guy he can scream like a little girl. Since then I must have seen the movie at least a dozen times and each time it still scares me. Ths video treatment of the film is brilliant. Watch until the bitter end and you won't have to close your eyes.

YouTube - Aliens Vs. Coffee machine - Amazing Sci-Fi Animation

YouTube - Swine Flu Song

Warning- you won't be able to stop singing this song. Fine, it's been around for a while, but it's a slow day at the office.

YouTube - Swine Flu Song

YouTube - Classic Sesame Street - Born to Add

AND- they did have the born to add video. Play the Springstein classic, then listen to this one.

YouTube - Classic Sesame Street - Born to Add

YouTube - Victor Borge, Meet The Muppets

You have to love youtube. It seems to have everything you've ever wanted to find and some things you don't. This one just never fails to crack me up. If you are having a bad day it's impossible not so smile when you see this.

YouTube - Victor Borge, Meet The Muppets

YouTube - The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody

a great many years ago, the muppets did a kazoo symphony with Victor Borge, and it was until this video came out my favorite muppet song. OK- Born To Ad with Bert and Cookie Monster was a classic, too. Enjoy!

YouTube - The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody

Ants use bacteria to make their gardens grow

There are so many interesting things about ants, and here is another great fact. There are also a number of ant cams where you can look inside an ant colony and see what goes on first hand.

Ants use bacteria to make their gardens grow

Amazing card trick. [VIDEO]

For those of you who like card tricks, this is pretty impressive. Many years ago we were at a family gathering where the kids had to perform some trick or play a musical piece. One young child decided to do a card trick and used my niece as the person in the audience who would pick the card. With a great deal of flourish is pulled a card from the deck and asked, "is this your card?". She looked and said, "no, stupid.". So I walked her into the kitchen and told her that no matter what card he showed her she was to say that it was the correct card. He tried the trick again, pulling out a card and asking if it was the one she had chosen. She looked right out at all the adults, winked, smiled and said, "why YES, it is.". We fell to the floor laughing. That said, take a look at the video.

Amazing card trick. [VIDEO]

New wound dressing, full of antibiotics, dissolves when wound has healed

This is a great story for any child who hates to take off a band-aide. Personally I have to have someone rip off my bandage when I have a cut as I simply am too chicken to do this my myself. Or I get it really wet in the bathtub and slowly pry it off in the water. Don't even ask me about waxing my legs. There might be a simple solution coming to a store near you in the future.

New wound dressing, full of antibiotics, dissolves when wound has healed

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 4

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 4

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 3

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 3

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 2

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 2

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 1

YouTube - The Brain That Changes Itself Pt 1

Rolltop - Future Designer laptop

This is amazing. Wouldn't it be fun to have one of these computers?

Rolltop - Future Designer laptop

- Air Canada, the Board Game

If you have ever flown Air Canada, a company whose motto is, "We're not happy unless you're unhappy", you will really appreciate this video.

YouTube - This Hour Has 22 Minutes - Air Canada, the Board Game

YouTube - This Hour Has 22 Minutes - Public Health

It turns out that everyone on this planet will be able to get a flu shot before they will give a shot to me. So the correct way to sneeze is very important. Watch this!

YouTube - This Hour Has 22 Minutes - Public Health

YouTube - Giant jellyfish

YouTube - Giant jellyfish

Telling An Old Book By Its Smell: Aroma Hints At Ways Of Preserving Treasured Documents

When I was in grad school, I spent a lot of time in the old UBC main library. It was dark, creepy and had a musty smell. For some reason, the smell always sent me running to the bathroom. It was much better than fibre for keeping me regular. I kid you not. The libary has been re-done and is light and beautiful with lovely art, big windows and comfortable seats. I miss the old scary place.

Telling An Old Book By Its Smell: Aroma Hints At Ways Of Preserving Treasured Documents

Bubbling Ball Of Gas: SUNRISE Telescope Delivers Spectacular Pictures Of Sun's Surface

It's Sat. and despite the fact we have several edits and some other real work to do, I'm spending the morning reading about interesting science stories. I really need to stop and feed the dogs.

Bubbling Ball Of Gas: SUNRISE Telescope Delivers Spectacular Pictures Of Sun's Surface

Soft body robotics. [VIDEO]

Soft body robotics. [VIDEO]

Conserving Historic Apple Trees

Conserving Historic Apple Trees

Leslie and I have just finished writing a book on Plants. It's a short book filled with great information, but because it is a short book, we could not put in all the interesting information that we found. Something we were really would have loved to have gone into more detail about was the disappearance of certain kinds of fruits and vegetables. With all the genetically modified foods on the market, it's so nice to see a food that has not been changed. I bet these apples taste amazing!
And for those people who live in Vancouver, support the UBC farm!

Organ Regeneration In Zebrafish: Unraveling The Mechanisms

Organ Regeneration In Zebrafish: Unraveling The Mechanisms

Now isn't that interesting! It's like a sci-fi movie. So.... what body part would you like to be able to re-grow? Personally, I'd like to trade in my 50 something body for the shape I had when I was 23.

shark vs octopus

since we were working on a sidebar on octopuses, it seemed like a good time to post ths video.

A Solution To Darwin's 'Mystery Of The Mysteries' Emerges From The Dark Matter Of The Genome

There are certain truths in life. As soon as you finish writing a book and you've sent it in for an edit, something you could have used in the book will suddenly appear in your mail box.Oh well, at least I can post it to the blog.


A Solution To Darwin's 'Mystery Of The Mysteries' Emerges From The Dark Matter Of The Genome

Losing Your Tongue: World's Top Endangered Language Experts Gather

Losing Your Tongue: World's Top Endangered Language Experts Gather