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Author Archives: Dr Chloë Cyrus-Kent
Cambridge Science Festival 2016 – data and knowledge
It’s back and it’s even bigger than before, the veritable feast of exploration and adventure that is the Cambridge Science Festival. Head on over to the 2016 site to find out what this year is all about and what events … Continue reading
Posted in News
Gliding in ants, bristletails and spiders
Tropical rainforest tree canopies offer an environment with unique rewards but also challenges for the many inhabitants, amongst which are wingless insects and other non-flying arthropods. Whilst they benefit from the abundant flowers and fruits found at the treetops, wingless … Continue reading
Posted in Convergence, Research
Tagged ants, arthropods, bristletails, gliding, spiders
Follow an Expedition into the Deep
The deep sea of the Gulf of Mexico is about to come under the microscope. Dr Edie Widdie and colleagues from Team ORCA (Ocean Research and Conservation Association) are running an expedition from 14 – 27 July. They will explore … Continue reading
The Runes of Evolution: a fresh new read on convergence
For those fascinated by the living world, a great treat is in store. About to hit the shelves is a new publication about convergent evolution, The Runes of Evolution: How the Universe Became Self-Aware. This book is by the renowned biologist Professor … Continue reading
Posted in Convergence, Events, News
Tagged book, convergence, convergent evolution, Conway Morris
A Festival of Light: Map of Life at the Cambridge Science Festival 2015
This year’s much anticipated Cambridge Science Festival was a great celebration of scientific discovery, exploration, ideas and research around the theme of LIGHT. Throughout a dynamic and busy fortnight thousands of people joined in a rich programme of talks, hand-on activities … Continue reading
Posted in Events, News
Tagged bioluminescence, Cambridge, crustaceans, Earth Sciences, explore, glowing, light, marine, science festival, Sedgwick Museum, shrimps, squid
Tetrodotoxin: a potent defence for pufferfish… and other organisms
Tetrodotoxin is a lethal pufferfish defence chemical In Japanese cuisine, the iconic pufferfish Fugu (which refers to several species) is notorious because if improperly prepared its consumption can have fatal consequences. Some body parts, particularly the internal organs, contain high concentrations of one … Continue reading
Posted in Convergence
Tagged defence, marine, octopus, pufferfish, tetrodotoxin, toxin
So, ARE there limits to evolution?
Cambridge plays host to many meetings each year but few as unique and ambitious as the “Are There Limits to Evolution” conference that took place over two sunny days this September. Professor Simon Conway Morris and his team from the … Continue reading
Posted in Events, News
Tagged bryozoans, Cambridge, cichlids, conference, convergence, convergent evolution, Conway Morris, human evolution, limitations, limits, lizards, Peter Kjaergaard, prokaryotes, proteins, Richard Wrangham, The District
An asymmetric diet of snails
One of the new entries on the Map of Life highlights some of the extraordinary convergences relating to snake and lizard feeding. Perhaps the most charismatic example relates to some beautiful neo-tropical snakes who have become truly adept at extracting snails from their … Continue reading
Posted in Convergence
How is a sea urchin like an insect eye?
Sea urchins and starfish may not be the first creatures that come to mind when pondering animal eyes, but they are full of surprises. Many echinoderms (sea urchins, starfish, brittle-stars, sea cucumbers and sea lillies) are sensitive to light. Certain … Continue reading
Posted in Convergence
