New entomology supplies coming

The Beagle has several new entomology supplies coming. These include aerial nets and sweep nets as well as new bug collection displaying options. We will also be offering a new type of killing jar. We expect these new supplies by the first of October, so keep us in mind for your bug collecting needs.

No black holes today.

Well, the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) was switched on and guess what? No black holes resulted. That must be a BIG letdown to the folks and organizations that fought to never allow it to be turned on.

Of course, maybe a black hole was created and we were all instantaneously sucked into it and came out the other side in a different, but parallel universe. Are you feelin' it? Does everything seem back to front and left to right?

DNA and one's voting patterns

Louisville, KY, June 25-28, 2008: As reported in the July 25th issue of Science (page 486), researchers studying same sex identical and fraternal twins have found a compelling link between one's genetics and ones voting patterns. The article states, "fresh evidence (has been) produced that DNA also has a hand in the intensity of someone's partisan attachment and even in whether someone bothers to vote."

Reference: Science, vol 321, page 486, 25 July 2008

KC Space Pirates

I encountered one of the Beagle's customers this morning at the Conoco in Parkville. He said that the KC Space Pirates have completed their trip to Detroit where they tried out their new LASERs and other equipment in an effort to get a working space elevator. Their web site (which includes a blog) is http://kcspacepirates.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/.

Sex reversal in a cichlid fish.

University Park, Pennsylvania: In their article, "Behaviorally induced sex reversal of Metriaclima cf. livingstoni (Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi," researchers Jay R. Stauffer, Jr. and Renea A. Ruffling describe a rare event. While sex reversal is a well-known and well-documented phenomenon among marine reef fishes, the same cannot be said for freshwater fishes. In their experimentation utilizing wild-caught M. cf. livingstoni (captured while SCUBA diving off the Mazini Reef in Lake Malawi) were held in tanks with one male and multiple females. This is a typical aquarium setup familiar to thousands of cichlid aquarists around the world.

M. cf. livingstoni are typical mbuna from Lake Malawi, they are maternal mouthbrooders, and the males will spawn with as many ripe females as they can entice. In their experiments the aquariums (75.5 L (= 20 gallons) in volume) were divided into equal compartments with sealed-in clear Plexiglas panes. The single male was placed on one side and the females remained on the other side in each tank. The males in each tank could see the females, and vice versa, but there was no physical contact between the sexes in the tanks. The populations were manipulated in different tanks and in subsequent trials. The resluts were that a total of three previously confirmed females acquired males secondary sexual characteristics. In one of the trials a reversed females sucessfully fathered three large broods of fry. In a second trial another brood of fry was fathered by a different sex-reversed female.

The full citation is Copeia 2008, No. 3, 618-620, Stauffer and Rufling. Reprints can be requested from Jay R. Stauffer, Jr., Pennsylvania State University, School of Forest Resources, 420 Forest Resoirces Building, University Park, PE 168802 (e-mail: vc5@psu.edu).

Beagle Society meeting; a friend passes.

Parkville, MO: Monday evening, 15 September, 2008, the evening was beautiful, the presenter, Gene Nowaczyk was gracious and informative but the turn out was sparse. Gene had a computer presentation of his work with civilian rocketry, his company Payload Specialties, and his launches at Black Rock, Nevada. Mr. Nowaczyk did state that his seven consecutive world altitude records were unconfirmed, but no one doubted his veracity and all were suitably impressed.

Mr. Nowaczyk will have his rocket on display at the Beagle's 3rd annual Rocket Science Day on October 4th. That even will be in the west parking lot from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and is free to all. Bring your rockets and the local amateur rocketry society, KCAR, will be running the range and will handle safety and rocket inspections. There will be tents set up for repairing and building rockets and the Beagle will be open for anyone needing engines or other supplies. All rockets will be limited to B size engines or smaller. The event has some new participants and there will be displays and exhibits. At the launch pad there will be contests and challenges.

On a very sad note, one of our first Beagle Society members and a proud owner of one of the Beagle's custom chemistry sets, Dennis Bingham, has passed away. Dennis died this past Sunday. He is survived by his wife Ann and their children and grandchildren. Dennis will be missed and mourned by his friends in science.

3rd Annual Rocket Science Day...Its FREE!

Time is drawing close for the Beagle's third annual Rocket Science Day, "October Skies". Just like last year it will be on the first Saturday of October; that's the 4th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. As always the event and participation in it is free.
Not seen in these parts since the first Rocket Science day, Gene Nowaczyk will be appearing with the rocket with which he set the world's altitude record for unmanned, parachute-recovered rockets. Gene will have his rocket and launch pad on display and folks can get his picture and an autograph. Gene will talk to attendees about his next attempt which is to fly an unmanned rocket into outer space and recover it. That rocket will carry aboard some artifacts from the Beagle which we hope to have on display at the store when Gene returns then to us.
The local amateur rocketry group, KCAR, will once again be running the show. They will supervise the launch area and range safety and will approve all rockets from participants who wish to have their rockets launched. Again, no rocket motor larger than a B size will be allowed from the participants. This is to ensure the best chance of recovery after launch.
Participants will have work space available to them in two tents so they can build and repair their rockets, or make last minute changes. There will be contests, challenges, give-aways and lots to see and many other rocket scientists to meet.
There is no age limit to participate. Last year the youngest was 5 years old and the oldest was 85. Join us in the west, gravel parking lot in English Landing Centre; come early to get a good parking space (parking behind the Beagle's building is also available).