The Hopeful Monster Hypothesis

Warning: this is not a trailer review, though Hopeful Monsters does sound like a cinematic masterpiece. Rather, this is a discussion of a form of evolutionary theory: Hopeful Monster (or Discontinuous Variation if you prefer the dry scientific term, and who doesn't) is the hypothesis that suggests evolution proceeds through the same mechanism that basketball athleticism has: organisms who used to be a bit odd and possibly insanely tall now find their niche, excel, and rise to the top.

Prior to basketball, his height simply gave him neck cramps

Awesome Dead Shit: The Saber Toothed Salmon

Meet Oncorhychus (previously known as Smilodonichthys) rastrosus, the Saber Toothed Salmon:

Hey people of Eugene, see this exhibit in person! Art by Ray Troll

We've mentioned it in passing here and there, featured a blurb about the new Saber Toothed Salmon exhibit at the UO MNCH during our Ray Troll interview, but have we really explained the beauty of this extinct fish? No, no we have not. Let us list the ways:

Happy Birthday Mary!

It's Mary Annings birthday today and what a great day to celebrate! Meaghan and Amy are both doing SCIENCE on opposite ends of the country, and our interview with the paleo artist Ray Troll is coming soon!

Thanks to Ray Troll for scanning this image for us! This great portrait of Mary was first published in Troll's 1994 book Planet Ocean (check it out if you haven't already)

Want to learn more about the greatest fossil hunter who ever lived?! OF COURSE YOU DO!!!! Here are some quick links and books to explore more about Mary Anning and her incredible paleontological life in Lyme Regis, England:

--Our "Who was Mary Anning?" page on our blog

-- The biography "The Fossil Hunter" by Shelley Emling

-- The historical fiction novel "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY ANNING!!!