Monsters are real

Have you ever considered where the myth of monsters originated? As it turns out, the link between science and the supernatural is smaller than you may think.

• Our friends at the Biodiversity Heritage Library rolled out a blog series on the matter in 2014. 
• Smithsonian Magazine also featured much of BHL's research in a compelling piece about five "real" sea monsters. 
• And most recently the magazine published a piece about a Renaissance-era sea monster that looked similar to a monk with scales. 

In the News: Monkeys and rodents and medicine - Oh my!

Fig.1. Capuchin monkeys may have had a role in the creation of early tools. (Credit: Nature)

This week we take a look at archaeological and other earth-based research. While archaeology has traditionally been about the study of human activity, what does it mean if our primate cousins can make tools similar to those of ancient humans? That and more in this week’s round up!

Monday Morning Coffee Break: October 17

(Credit: Psammophile) 

#sedimentcore #climatechange #environmentalchange #oceans

A reason to celebrate: National Fossil Day

Fig. 1. Fossilized bee's nests. (Credit: Parker, et. al, 2016)

Today, Oct. 12, marks National Fossil Day, an annual event put on by the National Parks Service to raise awareness of how fossils contribute to science. So you think you want to be a paleontologist, or perhaps you just want to learn of fossils' capabilities? Here’s a bit of a primer to help you decide:

In the News: Beer for climate change and out of Africa

Fig.1. Papyrus before (left) and after (right) the Brooklyn Museum works its conservation magic. (Credit: The Brooklyn Museum)

From rock drawings preserved in place to the painstaking processes of lab-based specimen care, there’s lots to explore in this week’s round up of collections news:

• Drawing conclusions: Researchers survey more than 250 rock sites in Australia to determine human origins. Through studying more than 30,000 rock drawings, University of Western Australia professor Peter Veth and company learn more about the Balanggarra people. Kimberley’s hidden world of Indigenous rock art revealed by researchers, The Guardian (October 2, 2016)
• We love all types of collections, and we know there’s a lot that goes into maintenance of scientific collections. So how do you care for an art collection? How the Brooklyn Museum Cares for Its Collection, The Creators Project (October 4, 2016)
• Calling all citizen scientists! The Australian Museum explores how citizens can enhance its research and findings. Museums a natural leader in the citizen science movement, SBS (October 5, 2012)
• There’s always time for a good beer story. This time, a big-name outdoor company’s executive is exploring environmentally stable ingredients to brew in beer. Solving Climate Change With Beer From Patagonia’s Food Startup, Bloomberg (October 3, 2016)
• One big happy family: Through the study of genomic data, scientists have determined a single exodus from Africa contributes to modern-day human populations. We’re from one African region: research, Deccan Chronicle (October 5, 2016)