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| Singing mice after all!I am at work now and waiting for a step in my experiment to be finished. While waiting, i came across this article:
http://www.nrc.nl/wetenschap/article965689.ece/Ratje_huilt%2C_ratje_lacht_%2Bvideo
It is in dutch, but it describes new research that is being conducted on the emotions of animals, including some movies.
I am very enthousiastic about it!
A few years ago, an article came out, describing how mice can sing. But they sing so high, that it is impossible for us to hear.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/nov/01/research.highereducation
So i wrote in my thesis that the study of mouse song could be usefull in the study of memory loss (during aging or because of disease) with minimal stress for the animals.
And now there is actually somebody seriously trying to find out more about it!
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| Bird of paradiseIf you haven't seen the movie Earth yet, you should go out and see it today! I loved that movie and was amazed by everything in it, but maybe most from the bird of paradise that you can see in this picture. If you want to see it in action, just check out this movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gAxbxxmYZ8 
AND if you LIKED that movie, you will LOVE this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9gGfc0jlCs&feature=related ; ) X! | | |
| Swinging seagullI work in Amsterdam. When i tell you this, you probably picture my office in the crowded city, with dozens of pedestrians, hundreds of cars, and thousands of bikes going passed my building daily. This is not so. In fact, I look out on to green pastures, a small forest and a cute little creek. But also on seagulls. Whenever i drift off and stare out the window, i notice these seagulls in the grass, doing a little dance. It looks ridiculous! They are very focused and continue this for hours! Of course i found a video of it on YouTube, from somebody else who noticed it. But i think this fact should be known to the world! So see it for yourself! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdBEo4eRbYI Now the question is: what is it doing? It is doing spanish flamenco, tap-dancing, boogie, house or simply interpretive dance? | | |
| Mike, the headless chickenI have a brain (YES, i do) that is designed to specifically remember weird stories and facts. Also i cannot help but have unexpected associations with these stories and facts at inappropriate moments. I mentioned this story to my colleques some day during lunch. They wouldn't believe me. So i figured this story deserves to be posted here.
The Amazing, true story of this famous fowl dates back to September 10, 1945 when Mike, a young Wyandotte rooster, was about to become the dinner of Fruita, Colorado, farmer Lloyd Olsen. With a sharp ax in hand, Mr. Olsen firmly held Mike, preparing to make the bird ready for his wife Clara's cooking pot. Mr. Olsen swung the implement, thereby lopping off poor Mike's head. But here is the surprise: Mike lived!!
Headless Mike returned to his job of being a chicken. He pecked for food and preened his feathers just like the rest of his barnyard buddies. With an eyedropper Mike was given grain and water. It was becoming obvious that Mike was special. A week into Mike's new life Olsen packed him up and took him 250 miles to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City . The skeptical scientists were eager to answer all the questions regarding Mike's amazing ability to survive with no head. It was determined that ax blade had missed the jugular vein and a clot had prevented Mike from bleeding to death. Although most of his head was in a jar, most of his brain stem and one ear was left on his body. Since most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem Mike was able to remain quite healthy.
Mike's will to live remains an inspiration. It is a great comfort to know you can live a normal life, even after you have lost your mind.
If you want to hear more about this, you can read more at: www.miketheheadlesschicken.org
(This is also where i got the information and pictures from now, to save time) | | |
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