Friday, November 20, 2009
Three monarch caterpillars bred at the University were on board the space shuttle Atlantis as it lifted off from Kennedy Space Center earlier this week. They were the first of their species to voyage into space.
Chip Taylor, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, traveled to Florida to deliver the three caterpillars to NASA and watch the shuttle take off. Taylor is the director of Monarch Watch, a group of students, professors and volunteers dedicated to the study of monarch butterflies.
Taylor said the goal of sending the caterpillars into space was to test the effects of zero gravity on their development. He said he wanted to test if caterpillars were still capable of developing normally and emerging as butterflies, even in a low-gravity environment.
The opportunity to involve elementary schools across the country with the project, he said, was too good to pass up.
Taylor sent a request to schools to purchase caterpillars to observe along with the caterpillars in space. He said he expected only twenty schools to be interested in the program, but when he sent the request, he received 870 responses.
Jackie Getz, a volunteer for Monarch Watch, said she was impressed with the number of schools who showed interest in participating in the program.
“They had such an overwhelming response that they came up with plan B — They would let everybody do the parallel experiment.”
In eight days, Monarch Watch volunteers packed caterpillar kits and shipped them overnight to 425 of the 870 elementary schools that responded.
Taylor and his volunteers devoted the last two weeks to packing and delivering caterpillars. He called it a “monumental effort.” He said the spectacle of the lift-off took his mind off caterpillars for the first time in weeks.
“You think of this, and the power that goes into this, and, I tell you, I wasn’t thinking about those caterpillars,” he said. ”I was thinking about that crew.”
Sam Pippert, Baldwin City junior, said he took care of the Monarch Watch’s stock of butterflies and packed caterpillars into plastic cups with the pale green artificial diet Taylor had developed. He said he couldn’t predict how the caterpillars would react to life in zero-gravity.
“They weren’t even sure they made it through the launch,” he said. “It’s all cutting edge.”
Follow
Monarch Watch worked on the project in conjunction with BioServe, a research center based in Boulder, Colo. The shuttle docked with the International Space Station on Wednesday.
— Edited by Jonathan Hermes
Monarch watch takes off
A University professor hosted a butterfly watch where visitors participated in educational ...
Habitats assist monarchs
Students test space invention in zero gravity
KU engineering students experienced zero gravity on a "Weightless Wonder" aircraft. The ...
Annual monarch migration makes pit stop in ...
Monarch tagging event draws 500 people
Monarch Watch, a group dedicated to the conservation of monarchs, hosted the ...
Students get zero-gravity opportunity
The space program accepts more students from KU than ever for its ...
Microgravity teams test projects at space center
Groups spend time in zero gravity environment to prove hypotheses.
Blastoff! Student to participate in NASA Twitter ...
Tristan Moody has been selected to take part in a Tweetup next ...
Folmsbee: America needs new space race
Throwing support behind NASA means bolstering research and learning across America.
Mobile NASA exhibit stops at KU
Exhibit features one of seven moon rocks worldwide that can be touched ...
Campus reacts to final space shuttle launch
Aerospace students are questioning their futures.
Students experience zero gravity
KU team one of 20 chosen by NASA to conduct experiments under ...
Get some culture: Tag butterflies
It's not all about fast food and beer pong.
Professor to discuss the importance of pollinators
Orley “Chip” Taylor, professor of ecology, will present the lecture “What’s Happening ...
Monarch documentary lies into Lawrence
Volunteers encourage service over corporate life
Former astronaut: prepare yourself for opportunities
Steven Hawley, professor of physics and astronomy, to speak Sunday.
KU professor does field research in the ...
Along with contributing to science, field research has helped professor develop an ...
Crop design to replicate butterfly stamp
A half-acre design of flowers and mulch will resemble the butterfly postage ...
Taylor shuts out Tigers at Kauffman Stadium
Freshman pitcher Thomas Taylor held Missouri to two hits in 8 innings ...
The KU alumnus who found Pluto
Michael Byers discussed his new novel about Pluto's discovery at the Kansas ...
Expo introduces children to world of engineering
Engineering students prepared science-related displays and demonstrations for Kansas students.
City provides free shuttle to football games
With many parking spots near the stadium eliminated, attendees have a transportation ...
Already accomplished Taylor is right at home
KU plays Washington with Tyshawn Taylor playing ...
Freshman Taylor is trying to fill the shoes of Mario Chalmers as ...
Calligrapher in an electronic world
Cathy Ledeker says there’s no substitute for the human touch in today’s ...
Students volunteer for new church
River City Church, a new place of worship with some unconventional practices, ...
CReSIS joins NASA for ice excursion
The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets will study climate change ...
Taylor efficient on both ends of floor
Tyshawn Taylor quietly helps Kansas roll Kansas State.
Astronaut becomes professor
Alumnus Steve Hawley will start classes in the field he graduated in, ...
Students go ‘Into the Streets,’ volunteer for ...
The week-long event provides events such as volunteering at the Jubilee Café ...
Selby’s absence noticed at banquet
Josh Selby is still in Las Vegas, training and trying to decide ...
'Eagle Day' celebrates their return
Lawrence has its own flock of loyal eagles. Every year a free ...
KU Badminton loses
Homeless Family Program focuses on keeping kids ...
The Lawrence Homeless Shelter is filling up rapidly with families looking for ...
KU students lead wetlands adventures
Volunteering with Lawrence elementary schools, students introduce kids to the environment in ...
Living the dream
Kansas’ seven newcomers fulfill goals of playing in the NCAA tournament
Leukemia survivor plans for future, literally
Doctors gave him a 60 percent chance to live, but Pen Parrott ...
Alumni give artists a start on Web
New Web site lets aspiring artists gain exposure and earn money.
Thomas was recruited to rebound, but thinks ...
Coach Bill Self recruited freshman forward Quintrell Thomas to dominate under the ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Caterpillars’ guide to the galaxy
Kudos to Monarch awareness! Here in Fremont, Ohio I joined Monarch Watch and converted my yard into a Monarch Waystation. I got the City of Fremont to join MW and they have an official waystation, too. Please visit my "CREATE A WILDIFE FRIENDLY YARD" site enjoy all the free videos and articles about Monarchs and songbirds. Robert http://wildlifefriendlylawn.blogspot.com/
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID