#sciencedrake

[sciencedrake]

Happy Birthday Sciencedrake blog!

I got an email from tumblr the other day telling me that my blog recently turned 2! It seems crazy to think it’s been that long and even stranger to think I’ve spent a lot of that time too busy to update but I’m looking to find more time to get back into updating it. My master’s degree is winding up in about a month and so I’ve been pulling extra time in the lab to try and wrap things up which has been taking most of my time. I will be going almost immediately onto a PhD project starting this summer that I’m very excited about but it also means I don’t have a huge amount of time to prepare (no doubt that will add to my workload and slow updates). But the good news is that all of the extra bits of coursework for my master’s degree is now completed meaning that I should be a little less busy for the time being and can back to giving updates on the world of science. I’ve missed sharing so much good science while I was away but I will do my best to make up for it!

To those still following my blog, and especially those who still remember it exists (even more so to the rare few who are looking forward to it coming back), thank you. I’ll get back to posting hopefully later today and try to make this a regular thing once again.

[sciencedrake]

For those select few who have even noticed, I apologize I haven’t been active on my blog for quite some time now. I have been hoping to be more active here but my master’s degree along with chasing possible PhD positions is leaving me with hardly any time to share my love of science with all you followers. I will do my best return before too long! Keep on learning, my loyal friends!

[dragonsrights]

Why don't you describe your dragon-y self for us?

oh nice question… I don’t know exactly, but probably the sort of four-legged, bat-winged, fire-breathing lizard you see in Europe. maybe a darkish color. I like caves and forests and shiny rocks so that would probably be the general scenery. sometimes I think about underwater serpentlike dragons but I think that’s missing out on the incredibly satisfying element of terrifying-the-neighboring-peasant-village-into-obeisance, so there’s that.

[sciencedrake]

Finally back!

Finally! My dissertation is done and I have time to get back to my blog. So many good things I’ve missed posting about since not being here; especially the whole Zika Virus fiasco (considering I’m a virologist that was a big one). Nevertheless, I’m back on the rails now and actually, while I was away I discovered that I’ll be working on Zika come October so plenty of interesting things in the near future for me and no doubt plenty of interesting science discoveries that I can keep you posted about too. 

If there’s any specific area you want to see more of or any questions you have then hit up my ‘ask’ section (keep in mind I’m a virologist who has dabbled in microbiology and cancer/genetics so I’m not exactly an expert in a lot of areas though I will of course do my best to research any questions as best as possible)!

[sciencedrake]

Sorry that I’ve been quiet for so long, my little band of watchers! My dissertation is due in a few weeks and I’ve been working like mad to get all my lab work finished and get everything written up. I’ll try and be a little more active when I can but hopefully when my dissertation has been handed in and my viva is finished I’ll be back to normal. Should only be a few weeks.

[sciencedrake]

Sorry I’ve not been posting as regularly as I’d like! University currently has me pinned under a lot of work but hopefully I’ll manage to wriggle some time to get some science posts out on a more regular basis! Don’t forget, you’re always welcome to ask questions too!

[sciencedrake]

Societal norms dictating that men should be masculine are powerful. A new study finds that men who believe they fall short of those ideals might reassert their masculinity in small but significant ways.

A man’s ego is a delicate thing. Didn’t need science to tell us that but oh well, there’s now a study done about it.

[sciencedrake]

In a new recommendation published in the June issue of SLEEP, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and Sleep Research Society (SRS) recommend that adults obtain seven or more hours of sleep per night to avoid the health risks of chronic inadequate sleep.

I think I may be the most healthy person on the planet