DNA the nano-legos of life

Nanotechnology is a very big deal these days, DNA is always fascinating, and legos are the coolest toys ever created.  Somehow this article  from Discovery News manages to incorporate all three.  Very cool.

Weird Hurricane of Venus

This ESA article talks about a puzzling weather system in the atmosphere of the planet Venus.  Part of the interest of studying weather on other planets is that it can provide valuable information in understanding what happens right here at home, on Earth.

Harlequin Frog

                                  (from National Geographic)

Pterosaurs grew fast and mated young

This article from National Geographic discusses how pterosaurs, the flying reptiles that lived during the same time as dinosaurs, likely grew rather fast and were able to reproduce at a young age.  Personally I have a hard time understanding how a paleontologist can make these determinations (as the article says it has something to do with growth rings in the fossilized bones) but am not really in any position to refute the claims. 

I think this might be my first paleontology related post on this blog which is a big deal because my love of science in general probably started with my extreme love of dinosaurs when I was just a very young child.

Water and Air

Evan pointed me to this very interesting graphic showing the comparative volume of all the water and all the air on our planet to the volume of the Earth itself.  It is pretty awesome.  Thanks.

Water is on the left, air on the right

credit – ADAM NIEMAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY