893 words

Alligators as a sustainable alternative protein source

Reptiles and amphibians as sources of food: The solution to sustainability? Concerns about the sustainability of the Western diet, which heavily emphasizes methane-producing beef, chicken, pork, and endangered seafood, have motivated both ordinary consumers and chefs alike to seek out other sources…

~5 min read

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620 words

Giant salamanders: evolution, predation, and extinction risk

One of the great curiosities of the amphibian world is the large salamanders known as cryptobranchids. They appear to the naked eye more like prehistoric relics than the small, swift-moving salamanders with which most individuals are familiar.

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762 words

Why constructivism is superior to traditional classroom instruction

To a great degree, American education has remained the same in fundamental form and function since its inception in the one-room schoolhouses that became the nation's public education system in the 19th and early 20th century.

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617 words

How snakes evolved the ability to swallow oversized prey

One of the most fascinating aspects of snakes is their ability to swallow prey that appears (to us) to be impossibly large in relation to the dimensions of their heads.

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696 words

Lori Schiller's The quiet room and schizophrenia stereotypes

Lori Schiller's 1996 memoir the Quiet Room defies many of the stereotypes attached to the common image of a schizophrenic person. Like many schizophrenics, Schiller began to suffer symptoms in late adolescence.

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740 words

Chytrid fungus threat to Texas amphibians: detection and containment strategies

A chytrid is a type of fungus found almost exclusively in wet environments, the kind of areas where amphibians such as frogs make their homes. Although it is not specific to Texas, in recent years the chytrid fungus has proven to be a menace to many local amphibian populations.

~4 min read

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926 words

Objective versus subjective measures in college rankings

Compare and contrast: What makes a college good? The college admissions process can be viewed in either a data-driven or a subjective and impressionistic fashion.

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751 words

Personal goals for college and future graduate education

I am very aware that right now is the time to ensure that my future is what I want it to become. Therefore, my plans for now are all directly related to making sure that my plans for the future can be realized.

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718 words

Ivan Karamazov's challenge to divine justice and forgiveness

Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov deals with the problem of evil. In the section entitled "Rebellion," Ivan Karamazov asks the question of how evil can exist in the world if God is good. How can the world, created by God, be good if evil things so frequently happen to the innocent?

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749 words

Instructional differences between full-time and part-time faculty

Landrum, R. Eric. (2009, Winter). "Are there instructional differences between full-time and part-time faculty." College Teaching. 57(1): 23-26.

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