How to Get Bitten by an Anaconda.
First step, you have to be in an area where there are anacondas. Yes, those giant bitey snakes that can get up to 30 feet and would make you a meal, especially the smaller *you* out there. So to start, best bet is to head to the rainforests and swamps of Peru, Ecuador, or Brazil. [...]
Snakebites, Scientists, and Spies
Picture this: a ‘bad guy’ gets into his car, drives to work (wherever it is bad guys work). Within the next two days, he tastes garlic and then slowly dies of internal bleeding from an untraceable source. The cause? Putting his hands on the steering wheel, where a spy-assassin-007 had placed a unique mixture of [...]
The Horsehair Worm. Pretty Gross Parasite, Super Cool Story.
While collecting aquatic insects last week in this pleasant stream in Malibu, CA (left) I came across this little wriggler, commonly called the Horsehair worm but more fancily called Nematomorpha (right). I placed the worm next to a pen so you can get a better perspective, [...]
Cocktail Fodder, Part III
It’s about that time again. With the Grammy Awards this weekend, the Hollywood scene is going all out like a brussels sprout, so you better have your co-mingling abilities up to speed. I’ll be attending the Nivea For Men Grammy Awards after-party this Sunday night. Nivea has some innovative scientists working for them solving all [...]
Trust Your Gut (Bacteria)
The trillions of bacteria in your gut have been known to affect your digestion, immune system, and weight, but now they have been found to potentially affect something even bigger: your behavior. Yes, these little guys hanging around in your intestines may be doing some mind-control trickery. Scientists have found that mice bred in bacteria-free [...]
Cocktail Fodder, Part II
It’s about that time again. With Golden Globes this weekend, the Hollywood scene is going all out like a rainbow trout and you better have your co-mingling abilities up to speed. I’ll be attending the Nivea For Men event this Saturday night. Nivea has some innovative scientists working for them solving all of us men’s [...]
Inconsistent Medical Reporting in the Media
CNN today briefly discussed a new study that showed that one out of every three fatal car accident victims tested positive for drug use. It was mentioned, however that “drug involvement does not mean the driver was impaired or that drug use was the cause of the crash.” Also, the drugs tested for seemed rather [...]
