Evolutionary awesomeness strikes again.

 

 

Some birds have a heads-up display compass

via kottke.org by Jason Kottke on 3/15/12

Birds can detect the magnetic field of the Earth, which gives them an incredible sense of direction. Curiously, this sense of direction doesn't work in darkness. This led scientists to discover that some birds can actually see the directions overlaid on their normal vision, like a heads-up display.

According to the new model, when a photon of light from the Sun is absorbed by a special molecule in the bird's eye, it can cause an electron to be kicked from its normal state into an alternative location a few nanometres away. Until the electron eventually relaxes back, it creates an 'electric dipole field' which can augment the bird's vision - for example altering colours or brightness.

Crucially, the alignment of the molecule compared to the Earth's magnetic field controls the time it takes for the electron to relax back, and so controls the strength of the effect on the bird's vision.

There are many such molecules spread throughout the eye, with different orientations. So from the patterns on top of its vision, and the change of these patterns as it moves its head, the bird learns about the direction of Earth's magnetic field.

(via @daveg)

Tags: biology   science

 

 

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True

Soulmates

Recommended reading

I've been re-reading the Illuminatous Triology and find myself chuckling every few pages. It helps me keep the current political clusterfuck in perspective and I think it will give Brave New World a run for its cultural insights as the years pass.

Sarcasm is equally effective.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

 

 

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Vatican Dispatches Elite Team Of Bishops To Sabotage Contraceptive Manufacturer

via The Onion on 3/6/12

VATICAN CITY—Anonymous sources within the Vatican confirmed Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI has dispatched a crack team of six highly skilled bishops to sabotage the New York headquarters of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, a leading contraceptive manufa...

 

 

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• Subscribe to The Onion using Google Reader
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Ahhh... that's the secret.

10 commandments for con artists

From Lists of Note, the 10 Commandments for Con Men as set out by Victor Lustig a con-legend who once took $5K off Al Capone and sold the Eiffel Tower.

1. Be a patient listener (it is this, not fast talking, that gets a con-man his coups).

2. Never look bored.

3. Wait for the other person to reveal any political opinions, then agree with them.

4. Let the other person reveal religious views, then have the same ones.

5. Hint at sex talk, but don't follow it up unless the other fellow shows a strong interest.

6. Never discuss illness, unless some special concern is shown.

7. Never pry into a person's personal circumstances (they'll tell you all eventually).

8. Never boast. Just let your importance be quietly obvious.

9. Never be untidy.

10. Never get drunk.

Lists of Note: 10 Commandments for Con Men

(via Kottke)

(Image: Victig.com)

B Herr

I will no longer support taxpayer funded orgasms.