Nothing on the ‘net really inspired any long-winded rants by me today, but I wanted to share a few really interesting things with you. That’s the kind of guy I am. Enjoy!

Aphids are neat
This is an article about how, in certain species, the menopausal aphids defend their colony by generating a waxy ooze in times of war. When an enemy comes a-calling, they actively go after the enemy, secreting this liquid that cools to a wax. The end result is they gum up their attackers, giving their own lives to save the colony. Reading this made me think about Dawkin’s book The Selfish Gene.

Half A Brain
Dr. Steven Novella answers a reader email about someone they know who has only one hemisphere to his brain. It’s an uncommon but not unheard-of malady, and Novella provides the neurological information on how this can happen. I found it really a fascinating tale.

Giraffe Knock-Out
This is a National Geographic video two giraffes necking, which is how bull giraffes settle disputes. This particular instance turns quite dangerous.

Surf’s Up
It’s a gorgeous picture of a not-so-gorgeous thing, a wave clotted with oil off the shore of Alabama. All I can say is “Ew“.

Academy Award Winning Movie Trailer
Nothing science-y or reason-y, but funny as hell.

Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
Again, unrelated, but I love the way this video was done all in ink blots.

Jim