The Art of Science: Manufactured Nature

Tara Donovan is a New York-based artist who turns huge quantities of everyday manufactured materials, such as plastic cups, paper plates, pencils and straws— into sculptural installations that evoke clouds, landscapes and gigantically magnified microscopic organisms.  Curator Nicholas Baume notes that, although her work contains elements of classical minimalism, it also suggests ”digital, cellular, emergent networks. It seems to speak to the systems that are shaping our lives.” (source) Continue reading “The Art of Science: Manufactured Nature”

Science Caturday: Fud Coma Edition

Scientists generally scoff at the idea that the the presence of the common amino acid tryptophan in turkey is the cause of the familiar post-Thanksgiving dinner sleepiness syndrome. Likelier culprits are booze and overeating. We don’t care. We blame the turkey ’cause it’s a stoopy big dino-bird.

via Cheezburger.com

Science Caturday: Mycrobe Catnip Toys

It’s always exciting to find another person working at the less-crowded intersection of art, science and kitties, so I was delighted to discover the work of Talia Jewell, a scientist who makes needle-felted, catnip-infused toys for lucky cats. She sells her creations at her etsy shop, Mycrobe , and she shared a little of the background behind her unique work. Continue reading “Science Caturday: Mycrobe Catnip Toys”

The Art of Science: Chemical Balance

Jean Shin’s Chemical Balance (2005-2009) is a sculptural installation made of used prescription bottles collected from nursing homes, hospitals and individuals. Says Shin, “Chemical Balance speaks to our culture’s over-consumption of prescription drugs and our bodies’ dependency on these medications. The piece acts like a group portrait, mapping our society’s chemical intake.” Continue reading “The Art of Science: Chemical Balance”

Science Caturday: Cats vs. Dogs

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Images via Quickmeme (top) and Memebase.