Congrats!
I'm convinced that our modern day analogues to ancient scholars are comedians. -0dd1
Is that cake frosting?
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Congrats! What is it about?
I'm starting to write the first draft of a new article — it will take quite a bit to whip it into shape, but it feels good to work on something not thesis-related. It's been a while.
But I will admit, as an abstract logic dude, I have some serious experimental science-envy. I mean, take chemists, for example. They make things go fizz and go boom! They measure results with ludicrous degrees of accuracy! They use fancy machinery! And most importantly, they get to wear a lab coat and safety goggles!
I mean, I'd look pretty silly if I worked on a blackboard in lab coat and safety goggles... 
Well, kidding aside, chemistry always fascinated me. A lot.
edited 27th Jul '12 2:08:54 AM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
^ I posted about the topic of the research way back on the first page
: black pecan aphid distribution on pecan foliage. I noticed a pattern (BPA nymphs occurred on both leaf sides, BPA adults mainly fed on leaf underside, and nymphs and adults of other pecan aphid species occurred almost exclusively on the underside), and then I counted a lot of aphids on a lot of pecan leaves to make darn certain that this pattern was statistically significant.
So I looked into the cause of the pattern. I conducted a few experiments where I confined BPA first-instars to one leaf side, and compared (1) how long it took them to reach adulthood and (2) how big they were as adults. The results were enough for me to rule out the hypothesis that the leaf topsides are an intrinsically preferable habitat for the aphids.
My other hypothesis is that the nymphs move to the leaf tops because there are fewer predators there. The observations I made on predator searching behavior were consistent with this hypothesis. Although more experiments would be needed before I could say that's what happening with real certainty.
Is that cake frosting?
Interesting.
Stupid question: if there are fewer predators on the leaf tops, why don't the adults prefer the tops too? Do these predators feed primarily on the nymphs?
Or do the factors that you mention in your link (shade, protection from rain, protection from honeydew, ...) apply more to the adults than to the nymphs for some reason?
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
The adults have wings. (Black pecan aphids are unusual among aphids in that there are no wingless adults.) So they're better able to escape, so predation exerts less pressure on them than on nymphs.
Is that cake frosting?
Aah. That makes sense. Thanks!
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
I am planning on building a plasma-based instrument this year. Wish me well, please! 
Is that cake frosting?
Do you mean "instrument" as in musical instrument?
Sounds like an interesting project...
Good luck!
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
Yes, musical instrument. (Really should have clarified.) Originally considered rigging up a tesla coil to a MIDI keyboard to modulate the squarewave, but found out that it's been done.
So, currently (heh) trying to invent something more original.
Smile for me!
Is that cake frosting?
Cool! So, how will it work, according to your plans?
edited 27th Jul '12 12:18:44 PM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
I... have no idea, at present. Possibly a plasma speaker set to drone, played via magnetic implements distorting the arc?
Still researching, at the moment.
F-yeah, science-minded tropers! future BS Ch E here!
Let's see, how does the general public see our fields? (DISCLAIMER: Not sure if applies to all... must conduct extensive survey next year.)
Physics = awesomesauce courtesy of Hawking, Einstein, Tesla, and CERN. What everyone thinks of when they hear the word "science". Sheldon Cooper. Tarnished only by black-hole-phobia and radiophobia. Biology = treehuggers, animal rights, adventurers (coz it takes chutzpah to study wildlife in its natural habitat), sex, GM Os and IV Fs and stemcells. Astronomy = looking for aliens and apocalyptic asteroids. Related field cosmology seeking the number 42. Geology = tough as rocks, mining, hard*sses, rock your world (via tectonic activity). Archaeology = Indiana Jones. Paleontology = Land of the Lost, Jurassic Park. And you know what's the science with the worst reputation? Chemistry. Everyone thinks we're evil people who make drugs and bombs and are out to poison the whole world with our "industrial chemicals" and "toxic wastes" and etc. Maybe I should ask them about DHMO.
Is that cake frosting?
On the topic of science and puns: today I went through the biology department (not really doing anything there, it was just in the way) and found a research poster about cod overfishing titled "The Cod Delusion".
Brb laughing forever ![[lol]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lol2v12_4863.png "[lol]"){kind=small}
edited 27th Sep '12 3:08:56 AM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
Magical Girl
The Cod Delusion? That's great!
I just found out the journal accepted the manuscript based on my Master's thesis research, pending some very minor revisions. I'm gonna be published.