Abby Tabor
This week, on the MyScienceWork menu:
In this interview with Mark Parsons of the Research Data Alliance, the importance of sharing research data was discussed, as well as the practical changes underway to make it possible.
Data Without Borders — The Research Data Alliance
We say that Earth’s continents are “drifting”, but did you realize that they’re floating on solid rock? And that no one had seen, until now, how the crystals in the mantle’s rocks are able to bend and yield? These results will have an impact on plate tectonic studies, as well as material science.
The hidden explanation behind the plasticity of earth’s mantle
Artwork by Sergey Krasovskiy via Discovery News
Some favorites from around the web:
This week, TechCrunch explored the way start-ups are changing the world of research, moving into the realms of crowdfunding and open access.
From Crowdfunding To Open Access, Startups Are Experimenting With Academic Research
The discovery of a new, giant virus was just announced: 30,000 years old, frozen in the Siberian soil, and still infectious. This and others like it suggest the need to reconsider the way we classify life.
Viruses Reconsidered: Discovery of more and more viruses of record-breaking size calls for reclassification of life
Another “biggest ever” was revealed this week: Europe’s largest predator ever discovered, in the form of a new dinosaur.
New Dino Ranks as Europe's Largest-Ever Predator
From the point of view of those making such discoveries, mental health has become a big concern. Two posts from this past week addressed the high rate of such problems among PhD students…
There is a culture of acceptance around mental health issues in academia
…and asked why they seem to be increasing in academia.
Dark thoughts: why mental illness is on the rise in academia
Perhaps one small way researchers can improve their own working conditions is by…blogging! Sociologist Mark Carrigan wrote about freeing his academic creativity through the act of blogging.
