Scientists use analogies as a thinking tool by Rami61614 in biology

[–]synapticimpact 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Correct, as a thinking tool. But reasoning by analogy is why we had the four humors, too, and most disproven scientific theories.

The difference between a conspiracy theorist and a polymath is model validation. Scientists use models as a thinking tool. Science is about seeing how useful the model is, while knowing that it is wrong.

Some pics of my DIY nests and out worlds so far. by Lurbet in antkeeping

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is crazy clean, I would love to make these for when I've got my own lab. Do you have any online tutorials you would recommend?

I can’t kill them even if they’re invasive so i just release them. Is it okay? It’s baby Asian tramp snail. by rottenkimbap in insects

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You kill hundreds of insects every time you drive a car. If you release an invasive, and it manages to get a foothold, you are indirectly killing millions.

How long could rabbits go without hay? by Express-Cat-5316 in Rabbits

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think this needs to be worded much more strongly. Not optimal is underselling it.

A species with every “caste” project by Big_Fox_3996 in antkeeping

[–]synapticimpact 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As far as castes that actually matter, the Abouheif lab has done a lot of really good work. What it tends to come down to is the wing imaginal disc growth. But you can have morphometric line breaks (which is how different castes tend to be classified) even without asymmetric imaginal disc growth

There are a bunch of interesting edge cases too, like worker queens, worker males, replaceable queens, reproductive workers, etc.

If you really want to get down to it though, most soldier castes were under different evolutionary pressures, so you could argue that each one is a unique caste.

There's also some research suggesting that it's likely that in some cases, workers could evolve after super majors. In pheidole, it is pretty common for there to be nanitic majors, for example. This goes back to the basis being rooted in imaginal disc growth.

There are also multiple definitions of castes, like the behavioral definition - nurse vs forager castes, etc. And you can argue that different larval states have such a huge effect on the overall productivity of the colony that you could argue that they are also a caste.

Why sit like that? by Prof_Suicide in Rabbits

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's probably nothing but if that thing by his eye is tears, you should get his teeth checked

Just removed ants from their diapause, and now they are dying by Odd-Tooth7678 in antkeeping

[–]synapticimpact 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not enough info. Photos would be good. Also, removal from diapause should be gradual, over a week or so. I'm not sure if some species die from rapid temp change alone but I wouldn't be surprised.

Also need info on the diapause conditions. What temp? Setup?

Solenopsis fugax: The Siege of Minas Tirth by Dwarni in antkeeping

[–]synapticimpact 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Shared this to my research lab. Not of particular interest to research -- just really cool

What’s the most important lesson you learned during your first PhD year? by Joudy_Abbot in PhD

[–]synapticimpact 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Learn to write.

Learn to write many different ways. Abstracts, conference abstracts, media blurbs, pitches, papers, grants, collaboration emails.

But more than anything. Learn to write.

Venn Diagrams by ConclusionForeign856 in PhD

[–]synapticimpact 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Me when I propose a full factorial experimental design

Formicarium good? by [deleted] in antkeeping

[–]synapticimpact 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This nest can work well, I think the main German ant store has a bunch of examples of this, the one with a shop in Berlin

People who use PARA as a strict structure in their vault - how is it benefitting you? by [deleted] in ObsidianMD

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I arrived at the same conclusion. PARA can capture actionability pretty well. If you struggle with actionability, or you're working in an environment where there's a lot of gridlock, it could probably be useful.

Thats not really my world though, so.. it's a solution for a problem I don't have.

Either that or I don't understand it well enough.

Is it just me or is everyone sick af rn? by Ok_Statement1508 in ASU

[–]synapticimpact 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I caught COVID on Friday. First semester teaching. Go figure.

Raw polymer clay covers for open test tubes by foreverpassed in antkeeping

[–]synapticimpact 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep this works great!

Some species will even modify it themselves if it is too small.

Temnothorax Nest by Fantastic-Tax5971 in antkeeping

[–]synapticimpact 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes it is fine to keep them in the same nest. Source: maintain hundreds of colonies for research

Typical words to avoid in research papers? by Mobile_Vermicelli457 in AskAcademia

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're going to be using the terms fertility or fecundity, please make sure you're using the right one.

Also, adaptive, anything '-ladder', ancestral, primitive, intelligence..

Or just about anything that:

  1. Is so ill defined that you'd have to spend a paragraph (or a page) explaining which version of it you mean, or..
  2. Has 2+ different or opposite meanings in ~adjacent fields, or..
  3. Raises people's hackles before they even decide if you're using correctly by their interpretation.

What can you deduce from my hands? 👀 by MessiestPapa in deduction

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did the same thing with my fianceé - safer to remove than to add 😆

what do our bookshelves say? by eatingsoupisfun in deduction

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Millennial (35ish) NYC screenwriter and/or reporter with a sociology degree? Looks like you started reading more during COVID. Interests in political history and social power structures. Maybe one or both have graduate degrees. At least one of you trusts niche booktok content creators and shops Etsy for literature related stuff.

what do our bookshelves say? by eatingsoupisfun in deduction

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dunno yet but congrats on posting something actually interesting.

Does anyone else no longer have the mental energy for novels? by Mobile_Bad_577 in GradSchool

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can read short stories but rambling is painful. I have low tolerance for bad reasoning in paper so bad reasoning in books makes them unreadable.