Anchiornis huxleyi, a troodontid (big brained little theropod, cousins of the dromaeosaurs like Velociraptor), is our first full-color dinosaur! For those who haven't been keeping up, recent studies of dinosaur feathers on a microscopic level have revealed that melanosomes, the part of a cell that produces melanin, which gives things color, have ( Read more... )

Lauren Helton ( Read more... )

So, the Kepler Space Telescope will be launched on March 5th. It will allow us, for the first time, to easily spot Earth-sized extra-solar planets based on the shadows they create when passing in front of their suns. Kepler will be followed up by two more telescopes - the Terrestrial Planet Finder, and Darwin - sometime within the next 10-12 years ( Read more... )

Have I ever mentioned how much I adore David Attenborough? Because I do. Just, you know. Thought I'd get that out there.

If ever there was a list of Superheroes of Biology, he'd totally be on it. Near the top.

Edit: Totally unrelated, but lawl.

ArbitraryCoho: THIS MESSAGE VIOLATES THE CYBER-BULLYING ACT OF 2007!!!!! PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE FBI

Going to respond to posts and maybe do a followup thing re: my weird shipping analysis at some point today. But first, I must re-post this XKCD for you. Because biology rules.


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