The Tangled Bank Survey #68: The Voyage of Discovery

In the spirit of the original Tangled Bank Survey, here is a review of the most recent science blogging.

1831 December 27- Navigating Scientific Uncertainty

We left Plymouth harbour this morning. As ship commander I made sure we had the most advanced nautical devices to date, to navigate uncertain seas. No messing about with Greek calculators [Salto Sobrius] for us. It was also crucial to understand the uncertainties of the weather [Backseat Driving], as well as risks to our personal health while at sea (to this end I commanded every sailor to have a talk with a health insurance specialist [RDoctor Medical Portal] prior to departure.)

1832 February 28 - South American Beauties

The assortment of life Darwin discovered upon reaching South America was dazzling: a false crocus geometer, a yellow-spotted salamander, a pallid bat, and a tiger moth [Living the Scientific Life]. They certainly inspired the imagination about how life forms, or biomorphs [Science Notes], come about.

1834 June 10 - A Closer Look

Today we passed through the Magdalen Channel into the Pacific Ocean. Darwin has been busy with his microscope, examining hard boiled eggs preserved in volcanic ash [Living the Scientific Life], and crawling cells [The Daily Transcript].

Mr. Darwin imagined a time when he could see the very structure of life itself, which is most assuredly complex [Genetics and Health], but which could offer a great depiction of the branching of life forms [Living the Scientific Life]. He hoped also to see how the action of Really Neat Advanced ideas (RNAi) could benefit human health []Living the Scientific Life], or to see how proteins are synthesised [BoingBoing].

1835 September 15 - To Live Forever or Die Trying

Once at the Galapagos archipelago, Mr Darwin collected a number of specimens. The tortoise he collected seemed of such age, that it prompted much contemplation of strivings to remain alive for a good many years. I could certainly do with finding the Fountain of Youth. I’m not getting any younger, you know.

Thoughts on the matter included cellular senescence [Ouroboros], supplemental melatonin [Ouroboros], and even engineering analysis [Fight Aging]. After a chat about life-extension in general [Pimm – Partial Immortalization] with one of the crewmen taking a leave from Cambridge University, it was refreshing to realise differences in opinion among researchers in the field have been progressively eliminated over time [Fight Aging].

An alternative approach to immortality would be to ask an esteemed novelist to immortalise oneself in a book or play - there are certainly too few scientists as characters in entertainment these days [Eastern Blot]. However, it is heartening to know of scientists, one phychologist in particular, who offer advice to playwrites [RDoctor Medical Portal].

1835 December 21 - Greener Pastures

H.M.S. Tangled Bank arrived at New Zealand, and anchored at a place called the Bay of Islands. The bright red flowers of the pohutukawa [Down to Earth] tree were a delight. The landscape has a very English feel to it, a fine opportunity for grazing cattle and sheep. I imagine the ingenious locals, with the no. 8 wire, could even develop some way of tapping the energy of cow manure [Science Sketches].

1836 January 12 - Australian Dreamtime

We anchored at Sydney Cove, and went to shore for a fine turkey meal. After dinner we wandered Sydney’s alleys, discussing how hunting or changing habitat have affected turkey population dynamics [Thoughts From Kansas].

That night, we all slept well. I think it had something to do with the turkey. I learned later Darwin dreamed that his ideas about the diversity of life were proven wrong by a rabbit [Talking Squid]. I assured him it was merely a dream, or that he was in some sort of trance where people’s brains operate differently [Scientia Natura]. I suggested he try some mental exercises [SharpBrains] to recover his intellectual prowess.

1836 May 31 - Stowaways Discovered

Upon arrival at the Southern tip of Africa we noticed a great scurrying of rats off the ship. We wondered if they smelt some more appetising food ashore. They certainly have powerful senses of smell, so powerful, we thought, that the rats could be used to detect explosives in fields [Walking the Berkshires].

And while wandering around Cape Town, Mr. Darwin noticed a group of people arguing over some trees [Invasive Species Weblog]. Some people wanted the trees to stay, others wanted them gone. It seemed to Darwin that such an argument, if not based on facts, would just alienate people from one another.

1836 August 21 - Are We There Yet?

The seas were rough these past few days as we crossed the equator. The vigourous rocking back and forth made poor Mr. Darwin ill. During a serious bout of sickness he joked he would have to adapt to these cyclic environmental stimuli [A Blog Around the Clock] or perish. Later that night I heard him repeatedly chanting “om” to calm his nerves. Or was it “ome”? [A Blog Around the Clock]

When both seas and stomachs became calm again, there was a general thirst for land once more - to have a pint of beer and see friendly, pretty faces [The Skwib]. This aroused my attention, but I’m told women are aroused just as quickly [Science and Reason], nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean, know what I mean, say no more, say no more! A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat!

Mr. Darwin, meanwhile, was contemplating his next challenge: how to explain his new theory of life’s diversity in the classroom [The Voltage Gate].

1836 October 2 - Epilogue

Today we reached our final destination. With the 68th voyage of the H.M.S. Tangled Bank now complete, be sure to board the ship again in a fortnight, with Captain Martin Rundkvist of Salto Sobrius at the helm. Submit proposals for scientific studies via The Tangled Bank shipyards.