Tag Archives: Biology

A Click Mechanism

In the search for organisms that are able to convert kinetic or mechanical energy into chemical energy (kinetitrophic autotrophic organsms), we should consider the possible need for some sort of click mechanism. A click mechanism stores kinetic energy (or mechanical … Continue reading

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Moving on…

My blog posts also get posted to Facebook, and for a short time I wondered if maybe they were too weird for Facebook.  Then I saw the post about the guy who went into Starbucks and was offended that the … Continue reading

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Where to Look

If we look for organisms that can convert kinetic energy into food–kinetitrophic organisms, where should we look? People who speculate on the possibility that life exists on other planets sometimes mention the possibility of kinetitrophic organisms among the half dozen … Continue reading

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Consider a Tree

Watch a tree sometime.  A slight breeze will get its branches moving and the leaves fluttering around. We know from our elementary science classes that all of the energy that goes into allowing a tree to grow comes from photosynthesis. … Continue reading

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When What We Know Changes

We go to school and get an education. Some of us learn fast and some of us struggle. But as students I think we all start out with a basic assumption. That is that facts are facts, and they don’t … Continue reading

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Female Treachery

Yesterday was cool and cloudy and not a good day for photographing butterflies.  So I took some photos of flies.  I found one that was new to me and got some photos.  However, my work is not done–they have an … Continue reading

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Why does the Monarch Hide its Eyes?

I have been taking photographs of butterflies for a long time, and I have some photos that I consider pretty good.  However, I have had a hard time getting photos that I really like of monarchs.  I think I figured … Continue reading

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Winter Flies

I love a good mystery.  Maybe that is part of the reason I chase bugs. We have had some early winter weather.  For the last couple of weeks the daily high temperatures have been below freezing.  We had a little … Continue reading

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An Insect Lek

Tiny insects are swarming and apparently doing a mating dance near a marker post for a prairie patch.  I try to get closer and they disperse.  When I step away they re-form. I think they are tiny flies–diptera.  But they … Continue reading

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I Can Get Close to a Twelve-Spotted Skimmer

This one may have emerged recently enough that it did not fly as readily.  When dragonflies are young adults they are called teneral.  They are typically brown or black, and their colors deepen (or brighten) with time. Three blue spots … Continue reading

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