DocentDoings

This story was sent to you by: Chuck -------------------- Australia's marsupials originated in what is now South America, study says -------------------- The research in PLoS Biology suggests that Australian kangaroos, wallabies and more evolved from a common South American ancestor millions of years ago. By Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times July 28 2010 The kangaroo, a beloved national symbol of Australia, may in fact be an ancient interloper. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-marsupial-20100728,0,5549873.story Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

Chuck Milam (cdmilam@hotmail.com) has sent you an article from The Economist online Article link ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The role of grandmothers Battling grannies Animals explain why grandmothers evolved Jul 13th 2010 IN THE narrowest evolutionary sense, reproduction is the sole measure of success. Menopause, then, poses a bit of a riddle: in a handful of species, including humans, females cease breeding decades before they die. This is puzzling because it limits the number of offspring they can produce. However, two recent studies suggest that, in very different ways, the explanation lies in the extraordinary value of having a grandmother. See the full article http://www.economist.com/realarticleid.cfm?redirect_id=16588687 Visit http://www.economist.com for more global news, views, and analysis from The Economist.

Hi Chuck, Here is what happened to the dinos. Mary How became extinct.jpg

Friday, I went to the Autry Museum (got in free with my docent I.D.) and saw the spectacular exhibit, "How Women Made the West". It was beautifully mounted and presented. All parts of the west and Pacific Northwest were featured. The exhibit ends Aug. 22. There's another exhibit of Indian basketry with many fine examples from the Southwest Museum. Please put this info in your Blog. I also met Scott Frank, our speaker at the Sept 14th Docent Picnic. He's charming! I think he'll be a good speaker. See you at the Board meeting Wed. Maria

This was an email sent to me by a friend and it caught my eye as well: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW A female mate was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road, and the condition was soon fatal. Her male mate brought her food and attended her with love and compassion. He brought her food again, but was shocked to find her dead. He tried to move her - a rarely seen effort. Aware that his mate was dead and would never come back to him again, he cried with adoring love... ...and stood beside her with sadness and sorrow. Millions of people were touched after seeing these photos in America , Europe, Australia , and even India . The photographer sold these pictures for a nominal fee to the most famous newspaper in France . All copies of that edition were sold out on the day these pictures were published. And many people think animals and birds don't have brains or feelings. You have just witnessed love and sorrow felt by God&

Click on NY Times link below (in blue) to view article: This page was sent to you by: cdmilam@hotmail.com SCIENCE | July 13, 2010 Baan Na Kum Journal: Old Bones Yield a New Age of Dinosaurs in Thailand By THOMAS FULLER Giant bones found regularly in the Khorat Plateau of northeastern Thailand turned out to be from dinosaurs.

Docent field visit to Venice Canals on May 18, 2010. Double click on image to enlarge for better reading:

Staff and volunteer night and preview party, July 8, 2010

This story was sent to you by: Chuck -------------------- Human ancestors lived in Britain 840,000 years ago -------------------- Their presence dates to more than 100,000 years earlier than archaeologists previously believed, researchers say. By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times July 9 2010, 2:51 PM PDT Relatives of modern humans inhabited Britain at least 840,000 years ago, more than 100,000 years earlier than archaeologists previously believed, researchers reported Tuesday. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-humans-europe-20100710,0,4139197.story Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

This story was sent to you by: Chuck -------------------- 'Age of Mammals' at the Natural History Museum -------------------- The L.A. County institution tracks the evolution of the creatures in its new exhibit in the facility's recently renovated northern wing. By Suzanne Muchnic, Special to the Los Angeles Times July 4 2010 How do you squeeze 65 million years of mammalian history into an eye-popping, mind-bending, crowd-pleasing exhibition? The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-natural-history-museum-20100704,0,3635610.story Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

This story was sent to you by: Chuck -------------------- Ancient sperm whale's giant head uncovered -------------------- The largest fossilized skull of the mammal is found off the coast of Peru. The 12-million-year-old skull belonged to a now-extinct genus and species of sperm whale. By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times July 3 2010 Paleontologists digging near the coast of Peru have uncovered the largest fossilized skull of a sperm whale ever found. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-whale-fossil-20100703,0,6302999.story Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

This story was sent to you by: Chuck -------------------- How sharks sniff out their prey -------------------- As the odor reaches their nose, sharks swim in the direction of which nostril first detects the scent, a study finds, suggesting that more widely spaced nares help in the hunt. By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times June 11 2010, 4:35 PM PDT When tracking down the tantalizing smell of prey, a shark relies mostly on which nostril first detects the scent rather than on the strength of the odor, a study has found. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-sharks-20100612,0,7165164.story Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com