![[animated GIF of seven tropical fish of various kinds, who are all in plastic bags, floating in the ocean. The image captions one fish, speaking, who asks the group, “Now what?”]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/12/nemo-end.gif)
We are all familiar with the plot of Finding Nemo: a scuba-diving dentist takes a small clownfish, Nemo, from a reef, keeps him in a fish tank in his office, and Marlin (Nemo’s father) goes on a whirlwind adventure to rescue his son. Obviously, Disney’s creative fiction is just that — fiction. However, many millions of fish are kept in tanks in the real world, for both recreation and research. Although we cannot know the fate of home-kept fish, for fish used in scientific research, there are specific rules for ethical treatment and proper care for fish of all kinds. How and why do scientists use fish in research anyways?
General Science
Seven species that used to be cryptids
![[an image containing about a dozen drawings of different animals, including a giant squid and a komodo dragon, in front of a light blue background. The image is labelled “Cryptids” at the bottom center.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/11/CreepyCyptids.png)
Cryptozoologists study cryptids: creatures whose existence has yet to be (or cannot entirely be) proven. Bigfoot, Nessie the Loch Ness Monster (yes, she has a name!), the Jersey Devil, El Chupacabra, Mothman, and werewolves are just a few of the many creatures that are studied in the world of cryptozoology. But, did you know that some real species we know about today were once considered cryptids?
The tale of anthropology’s sweetheart: Lucy
![[An artist’s rendering of two Australopithecus afarensis. They are both standing upright and are partially covered in black hair all over their bodies. One is grabbing a low tree branch.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/11/aafarensis_h.jpg)
The skeleton known as Lucy is arguably the most recognizable specimen of the modern human lineage. Anthropologists have used her remains to learn about the behavior and anatomy of Australopithecus afarensis, a member of the modern human lineage, as well as evolution in general. While she is one of the most famous and recognizable skeletons to the general public, she is also beloved in the field of anthropology.
What social media has taught me about science
![[This image is of a first person view of a desk with an opened lined notebook on the left, a laptop open in the center, a person's left hand is holding a cup of coffee, and the right hand is holding a phone opened with the Facebook login screen.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/11/notebook-614213_1920.jpg)
Science communication on social media largely happens through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (you can find the ScIU blog on all three platforms), but in reality, it extends beyond these three primary sites into platforms such as TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, and more. On any one of these platforms, people from around the world are able to form digital communities where they can talk, educate, learn, advocate, and make new friends. I have been the Social Media Chair for ScIU for over a year now, and in that time, I have learned quite a lot about science communication from social media.
Expert or poser? Debunking the psychology behind imposter syndrome
![[An open book with faded yellow pages is sitting on a black desk. The following quote by journalist David Carr is written in capital letters with black permanent marker on the pages “We all walk this Earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn’t end soon.”]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/10/Carr-on-Imposter-Syndrome-Austin-Kleon-Flickr.jpg)
As a young scientist, not a day goes by when I don’t see the phrase “imposter syndrome” in at least a few tweets or Instagram posts written by colleagues. In recent years, imposter syndrome seems to have become commonplace in academia, particularly among students and early-career faculty. So, what exactly is imposter syndrome, and how does it arise?
Can you turn a baseball into a donut? An introduction to topological materials
![[A chrome trefoil knot is shown coming out of a tunnel, with futuristic circuitry reflected on its surface.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/10/blog-1-cover-image.jpg)
In 2016, three physicists, David Thouless, Duncan Haldane, and Mike Kosterlitz, won the Nobel prize in physics for their groundbreaking discoveries of topology in matter/materials. Although many people have heard of topology before, likely associating it with the more familiar term “topography,” the fundamental nature of topology remains relatively opaque to those outside of the fields of math and certain applied sciences.
Against “the study”
![[An image of gloved hands working with test tubes. The image has a large red X over it.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/09/Study_X.jpg)
Science journalists are always announcing the results of the latest study. The more bizarre and controversial, the better. A recent study is, almost by definition, cutting-edge research — what better way to tap into the pulse of science? Except, the latest and greatest research is just as often wrong. The concern is not simply with hype. Rather, the problem is the “study.” As a unit of scientific research, it leaves much to be desired, and for those who are unfamiliar with the practices of the scientific community, how to interpret a lone study can be deeply confusing.
Can Animal Crossing make you happier?
![[image showing three animal crossing characters in the town square.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/08/Eb4ZSsKUMAARkv9.jpeg)
“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” was released on March 20th, 2020 and has since become a cultural phenomenon. Although the game itself has been praised by critics, some suggest that its success is partially attributable to its being released during the COVID-19 pandemic. During these trying times, many people have been affected by anxiety and loneliness stemming from, for example, social isolation and/or loss of work.
A 70% chance to win? The tricky math of election forecasting
![[two red and blue carton human figures are climbing a normal distribution curve that is decorated with the American flag.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/10/politicalhill.jpg)
The election is almost here and the election forecasters are in full swing. As of October 23rd, the Economist gives Biden a 92% chance of winning, and FiveThirtyEight has him winning 88 out of 100 “simulated” elections. How should we interpret these claims? If you have a coin and you flip it a thousand times, and it lands on heads 500 times and tails 500 times then you may infer it has a 50% probability of landing on heads and a 50% probability tails. Sounds simple, except, we’re not going to run this election thousands of times, we’re only going to run it once.
What’s in a name? How the Black Lives Matter movement is reshaping bird taxonomy
![[A drawing of a black bird is centered on the image. The bird is enclosed in a blue circle with a gold border. A black box with white text that reads “Bird Names for Birds” is located on top of the bird’s legs.]](https://blogs.iu.edu/sciu/files/2020/10/Bird-Names-for-Birds.png)
Since May 2020, millions of people around the world have shown their support for the Black Lives Matter movement by attending protests, posting on social media, and signing petitions. In the scientific community, perhaps one of the most vocal groups of researchers for this social justice movement has been birders. The birding community was the first group of scientists to create a social media initiative to celebrate diversity in STEM in May 2020: Black Birders Week.