Science and Art Archives

Neoteny: Why do Disney princesses look like babies?

Neoteny: Why Disney Princesses Look Like Babies

August 21, 2018August 17, 2018 Science Connectedevolution, human evolution

Neoteny, Evolution, and Disney Our friend Dr. Joe Hanson from It’s Okay to Be Smart (PBS Digital Studios) goes full science nerd on neoteny, Disney princesses, and evolution. I noticed something weird about Disney Princesses lately. Naturally, I had to examine it through the lens of science. The answer led me to new knowledge about human development, the domestication and taming of animals, and why we find things cute in the first place. You’ll never look at cartoons the same way again. –Joe Hanson, PhD [tweetthis]It’s time to go full…

Science and Art STEM Education

STEAM: Adding the Art to Science

January 16, 2017March 30, 2021 Science Connectedcells, STEAM, STEM

STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, ART, and Mathematics. The goal of STEAM is to help engage with and explain science through art.

Paleontology Science and Art

Amber Preserves Details of Ancient Bird Wings

August 8, 2016April 9, 2021 Science Connectedbirds, dinosaurs, fossils

An ancient bird wing has been found preserved in amber. Learn about it from a paleoartist, or scientific illustrator, who recreates extinct creatures.

Paleontology Science and Art

Dromaeosaurus: Dinosaur Brought to Life in Colorful Sculpture

July 25, 2016July 1, 2023 Science Connecteddinosaur, dinosaur feathers

See David Alden’s life-sized sculpture of Dromaeosaurus albertensis, a dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period.

Nature Photography Science and Art

Yosemite, Half Dome in Photos

July 11, 2016July 7, 2016 Science Connectednature photography

By Max Goldberg @GoldbergISD When you think of Yosemite, Half Dome probably comes to mind (it’s on the park logo, after all). So, as part of our family trip to Yosemite, I had to see it. Coincidentally, Half Dome was visible almost all the time during the three days we were there, giving us multiple-angle views of the unique rock formation. After a four-hour drive from San Francisco, we got our first view of Half Dome at an overlook called Tunnel View. Some people say that Tunnel View is the best…

Astronomy and Astrophysics Science and Art

Painting the Way to the Moon: An Impressionist Portrayal of a Rocket Scientist

January 13, 2016January 17, 2016 Science Connectedmoon, NASA, space exploration

By Dan Spengler Ed Belbruno is a self-admitted motormouth. Painting the Way to the Moon, a new documentary about the mathematician and painter who previously worked for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), does not prove him wrong—it mostly features Belbruno talking about himself. Painting the Way to the Moon takes its title from Belbruno’s experience of finding inspiration for a ballistic capture trajectory to the moon in a painting he made, but ultimately struggles to find a clear identity. Belbruno tells most of his own backstory, with brief comments from…

Max Goldberg photographing grizzly bears and other wildlife in Alaska

Nature Photography Science and Art

Alaska Wildlife Photography: Behind the Scenes

January 6, 2016April 18, 2021 Science ConnectedAlaska, wild alaska, wildlife photography

Hello! My name is Max Goldberg, and you may have seen multiple stories and photos of my adventures in Alaska last summer. As you read, you may be wondering, “How did he get those pictures? They have to be fake. Also, how do I get to Alaska? What gear do you recommend?” Before we get into all that, I should give you a little background. First, you simply cannot just get up and go to wild Alaska, unprepared. Not only dangerous, but incredibly stupid. During the entire trip, my father and I…

Biology Oceanography Science and Art Zoology

Preserving a Soft Skeleton: Backs without Bones

December 16, 2015May 12, 2016 Science Connectedfish, shark, skeleton

By Sebastien Enault What are shark skeletons made of? The skeleton of modern sharks, rays, and skates consists of cartilage, a connective tissue that is lighter and more flexible than bone. Most people closely associate the skeleton with bone, and are familiar with the skeletal structure of many ancient and modern vertebrates, which are beautifully described in a vast number of anatomical works and frequently displayed in most natural history museums. However, while sharks and rays are very popular in aquariums around the world, few people actually know what their…

Nature Photography Science and Art Zoology

A Tale of Two Turtles: Part 2

December 9, 2015December 15, 2015 Science Connectednature photography, turtles

By Steven Spence This is the second part of our series on turtles and how cute animals can inspire successful conservation efforts. Have you read A Tale of Two Turtles: Part 1? Best-Looking Turtle in the World Chris Van Wyk, photographer and conservationist, was in the right place at the right time to capture incredible photos of an algae-covered Mary River turtle. His photos went viral and appeared in major newspapers worldwide. Thanks to this photogenic turtle, conservationists were able to save its habitat from a dam that was going…

Paleontology Science and Art Zoology

Dakotaraptor: Giant Raptor Straight Out of Hell Creek

November 30, 2015May 12, 2016 Science ConnectedDakotaraptor, dinosaurs, fossils, paleontology, raptors

By Emily Willoughby For centuries, dinosaurs have captured the public’s imagination through their massive proportions and power, and their ancestral connection to birds has more recently brought a new fascination to paleontology. But when a newly discovered dinosaur is both huge and covered in feathers, it becomes the stuff of legend—a true dragon shaped by evolution instead of mythos. Meet Dakotaraptor steini, one of the largest “raptor” dinosaurs known to science. This 17-foot-long predator was described by Robert DePalma, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Palm Beach Museum of Natural…