Flower Power: The Physics of Pollination

Pollination seems like a simple task, but complicated physics are at play. Photo by: Si Griffiths The BioPhiles Blog has been quiet these days and I’m only just now starting to emerge from under a mountain of teaching work, grant proposals, and funding reports. But last month, BioPhiles made a guest appearance at GotScience.org, with an article about the physics of pollination.  To read all about flower power and the blossoms that withstand more G-forces…

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Lupine Invasions

Roadsides, ditches, and railway lines in Norway are awash with colour right now.  The lupines are in bloom, and the dense swathes of purple, pink, and white blossoms stacked into perfect pillars brighten the countryside. I love the vibrant colours, but have to stop to remind myself that these are not the friendly wildflowers of my Canadian childhood. Lupinus polyphyllus is a wildflower in Canada, but is an invasive species in Europe that has taken…

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Responsible Citizens Catch Fish and Climb Trees

I’m sitting, staring intently at the red and white striped bobber floating just at the surface of the water. It rocks soporifically in time with the boat lulling me to near sleep until my five year old eyes are distracted by the shiny blue dragonflies tracing lazy figure eights overhead. That’s when it happens. The rod jolts in my hands and I panic as I see the tip of it arcing towards the water, the red and…

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