I have been trying to figure out why it's so hard for me to post on this blog (yes, unfortunately I am a perfectionist, now trying not to be). I've been working my butt off in therapy, doing inner child work. I've been using materials from Sharon Salzberg, one of the best mindfulness meditation teachers … Continue reading Whatever Stuff Is On My Mind
biology
Orchid People, Orchid Science
As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), introvert and INFP, I have been familiar with the Orchid vs. Dandelion theory of temperament since 2009, when David Dobbs wrote about it for The Atlantic. The basic idea of this theory is that children who are genetically prone to being highly sensitive, like an orchid, are highly sensitive … Continue reading Orchid People, Orchid Science
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“Naturally Obsessed”: A Graduate Student’s Perspective
Last night, at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan, I attended a screening of a wonderful documentary by Richard and Carole Rifkind entitled “Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Scientist”. This film documented the path and travails of 3 graduate students who were lucky enough to be in the laboratory of Dr. Lawrence Shapiro at … Continue reading “Naturally Obsessed”: A Graduate Student’s Perspective
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Wolves
I have always loved animals. When I was about 3 years old, I was fascinated with a beautiful collie that lived in my building. This dog did not like people, but I loved him. I distinctly remember one day running around him, hugging, petting and talking to him, and I remember hearing him growl (he … Continue reading Wolves
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Fat Cell Switcheroo*
Humans, mice -- indeed all mammals -- have two types of fat cells in their bodies; white and brown. White fat cells store energy. In contrast, brown fat cells dissipate energy as heat, thus counteracting obesity. Much to the chagrin of humans living in industrialized societies, most fat cells in our (adult) bodies are white … Continue reading Fat Cell Switcheroo*
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“Procreative Beneficence” Examined
In the spirit of raising awareness of the ethical challenges inherent in today’s most advanced medical technologies, the IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics and Bioethics International recently sponsored a one-day conference in New York City entitled “New Dilemmas in Medicine”. Three panels of distinguished experts, in turn, addressed three pressing issues: Professor Julian Savulescu’s theory of … Continue reading “Procreative Beneficence” Examined
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Revolutionary Biology
Today through Friday (May 14 - 16), the New York Academy of Sciences is hosting a conference on Integrative Physiology. In our time, this is a revolutionary concept because scientific/medical researchers and western medical practitioners in the past century have become habituated to zeroing in on individual organs, tissues, cells and molecules. In turn, however, … Continue reading Revolutionary Biology
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The Human Anemone Fish
Did you ever notice or have an encounter with someone and wonder how his/her partner could ever possibly stand them? There are many parallels to this in nature - one that came to my mind this evening involves anemone fish, who live among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. Most mobile coral reef inhabitants seem … Continue reading The Human Anemone Fish
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What is Parallelaphors?
Parallelaphors is a blog dedicated to my observations of the parallels and metaphors between our everyday lives and the natural world. I am a biological scientist and an animal-lover. My goal in creating this blog is to teach a little and learn a lot. I'm very new at blogging so this site should change quite … Continue reading What is Parallelaphors?
Parallelaphors™ 