A couple of weeks ago a key Nature Network hub, Corie Lok, came to the New York Nature offices and showed us what’s happening on the Network. Within a short while of her tour of New York, the New York group has surged to 82 members.

There’s certainly enthusiasm for science-oriented happenings of all kinds here and fictional New York scientists even turn up in apple-centric sitcoms.

Plausible paleontologist, NYC, circa 1990.

At the end of May the World Science festival is coming to New York. Just last week Orli Bahcall (Nature Genetics) arranged a round table here to discuss the business models and ethical issues surrounding personal genotyping in light of the New York launch of a SNP delving company ($2500 to assess risk of 18 conditions). On a lighter note there are various nerd-targeted nights, discussion groups and cerebral entertainments aplenty around the city.

The basic idea behind this blog is to raise and discuss science news happenings from around the city: New York research papers, prizes, social gatherings, discussions, fetes and yes, food, drink and arts will turn up here. But I also love the musty old stuff, so quirks, curiosities and characters from New York science history will rear their grisly heads now and again.

So from the Nobel Nurseries to the 40th story home of the New York Academy of sciences, things are on the up and there’s always something going down for discussion in Big Apple science, and we’ll try to round it up here.

Next post: Untangling the tree of life.

Image by toothgap from flickr license