Hairy Museum of Natural History

Stop by A Blog Around the Clock where Coturnix will show you the sort of dolphin balls you probably didn’t get to see during your last trip to SeaWorld.
Side trip: In related news, stop by the skwib for a new definition of “global warming.”

It is a well-kept secret that the above-mentioned science-blogger “Coturnix” is none other than chronobiology enthusiast Bora Zivkovic. Find out more in this timely interview at Genetics and Health.
Side trip: Speaking of genetics, Diane over at Science Made Cool reviews a new children’s book on Gregor Mendel: the Friar Who Grew Peas.

John Trapp of Birds Et Cetera claims that, statistically, most people who believe they have seen an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker probably haven’t.
Side trip: If that wasn’t sad enough, the Ivory-bill Skeptic sees a pattern of deception surrounding some Ivory-bill sightings.

Martin at Salto Sobrius remarks on a study showing how Karl Popper’s principle of falsificationism doesn’t always hold true.

Ouroboros describes new research on a class of proteins known as sirtuins and their relation to cellular aging.
Side trip: Fight Aging! has a report on the slow acceptance of nanotechnology and what life extension advocates can learn from it.

RDoctor summarizes the history and ethics behind clinical trials of medical products.
Side trip: From Human Guinea Pigs to Real Guinea Pigs: Orac at Respectful Insolence condemns those who justify violence as a means to end animal testing.

Lab Cat presents an impressively detailed examination of water activity, which is critical to the scientific understanding of how crackers get soggy.

Sunil at balancing life notes the discovery of a taste receptor for sour in mice and men.

Jennifer Forman Orth of the Invasive Species Weblog tells why low-level radiation is the way to go for moth control.

Microecos would like to introduce you to a few sexual cannibals you may have in your backyard.
Side trip: Moment of Science would like to introduce you to some cicada killers you may have in your backyard.

Interesting Thing of the Day explains the Fata Morgana, the false perception of magical airborne castles that would lure sailors to their deaths.
Side trip: Get your feet back on the ground with JBruno at the Voltage Gate as he explains The Dangers of Siding with Intelligent Design.

Learn why exotic Earth-like planets might be far more common than previously thought, both throughout our galaxy and over at Dynamics of Cats.
Side Trips: Prepare yourself for a journey into the Driftless Area, guided by Research at a Snail’s Pace. And Walking the Berkshires invites you to consider the spectacular though precarious wildlife within unintended conservation areas

The Wandering Visitor shares his concerns about an FDA approved “viral spray” used to counter bacterial contamination meat products.
Side trip: Visit Tara Smith’s Aetiology blog and discover the connection between the discovery of human papilloma virus and freaky, real-life jackalopes.

Yersina pestis is the star of the show over at Microbiology Bytes, with a post and podcast dedicated to the centuries-old persistence of plague.
Side trip: Switching from virii to bactera, Syaffolee discusses how and why Streptococcus pneumoniae can gain competence.

memenest has Colugos! Does anything else need to be said?

The Mallard Complex is far from simple, but luckily Mike at 10,000 Birds is on hand with photos and an explanation.
Side trip: Photographs of much smaller organisms (the fungus D. discoideum ) are on display at Cyberspace Rendezvous

Pharyngula’s PZ Myers shares a new toy—3D Virtual Embryo—and explains what happens as you watch it make a tadpole.

Rosie Redfield at RRResearch suggests that the origin of homochirality in biological molecules might be a far less complicated problem than our symmetrical sensibilities would have us believe.

Have you ever wondered about how easily communication breaks down across species lines? Stuart Coleman has, and he’s posted his thoughts on the subject at Daily Irreverence.
Side trip: Thoughts from Kansas shares a descriptively-named fungus with us. But would our lupine friends really appreciate it being called a “Wolf fart?“

Last but not least, a post about some of my favorite dinosaurs. Be sure to finish up your vacation with a trip over to When Pigs Fly and check out Halbred’s post on The Strangest Theropods.