19 Feb 2017
If you wonder why cats like boxes so much, it could be that they want to avoid stress. Vinke et al. found that shelter cats experienced much less stress if they had a box to hide in. Another reason if you live in a temperate climate is that the thermoneutral zone for cats is much higher than humans. Around 30 – 36 degrees C.
Or maybe they’re trying to hide their time portal.
↓ TranscriptPanel 1.
Prof Panda: See?! There can't be two of you. This is definitely a paradox! You have to fix this!
Panel 4.
Dr Mad: Can you get the duct tape?
12 Feb 2017
Part 1: Time Portal – Box
This weekend we were at the Starving Artist Fair! Check our blog for more details, including a video of Kat’s talk “the science of reading comics”!
↓ TranscriptPanel 1.
Prof Panda: Now your past self is here! Aren't you worried about creating a paradox?
Panel 2.
Dr Mad (beard): Nah, he's gone. There's only one of me here now...
...it's like nothing happened.
Panel 3.
Dr Mad (goggles): WAIT!
5 Feb 2017
On the 11th of February we’ll be teleporting ourselves to the Starving Artist Fair at Scape in Singapore. Come say Hi at the Mad Scientist Cat table, the first 10 people to buy something from us will get a free badge. We’re also both doing short talks: Kat will be talking about the science of reading comics and Jess will be talking about how she created the font for this comic. Even if you don’t live in Singapore, please check out some of the great local talent here: http://www.starvingartistfair.com/
We’ll be selling the first printed issue of our comic, and Jess will be selling illustrations and crafts.
Dr Mad’s Time Portal box is our ode to the Transmogrifier in Calvin and Hobbes, a comic we both really enjoy.
↓ TranscriptPanel 1.
Prof Panda: So your new invention is a box.
Dr Mad: Not just any box, this opens a portal to any time in the past or future!
Panel 2.
Dr Mad: Here I GOOOOOO!
SFX: LEEEAP
Panel 4.
Dr Mad: WAIT! Don't use the box!
Prof Panda: You're too late!
Panel 5.
Dr Mad: Eh, never mind then.
24 Dec 2016
One-person case studies are actually pretty popular in the medical field. One of the interesting ones for neuroscience is the case study of HM who had a severe form of amnesia after bilateral medial temporal lobe surgery. These are the sorts of studies that you don’t want to be able to find a large population for.
In student research projects it’s very common to have little or no money to reimburse participants. Many of these studies run on the offers of tea or baked goods as incentives to draw in volunteers. Some volunteers are happier about this than others.
Christmas-themed research is relatively popular. The BMJ has a Christmas issue each year, covering such topics as Rudolph’s red nose to whether Santa really keeps a naughty-or-nice list.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, we’re still a new comic, but all the kind words and feedback really help us to continue. And if you’re an academic reading this, stop working over the holidays!
↓ TranscriptPanel 1.
Prof Panda: A study with one participants will never be published!
Dr Mad: But HE is the key to time travel!
Panel 2.
Santa: Can I get a glass of milk with the participation cookies?
