I’ve got your missing links right here – 14th November 2010
Science writing
David Dobbs writes about the development of schizophrenia in the young brain. My read of the week: this piece is a masterclass in explaining difficult concepts clearly without shying away from them. Other science writers take note.
“This is about my dying: and how my life got here.” An incredible memoir of living with a brain tumour and its effects on speech and life.
“A British team is celebrating the launch of a paper aeroplane into space.” YEAH! Take that, NASA.
Sterile mosquitoes wipe out dengue fever in field trial. This is potentially very big, but I’d love to see more data. Or actually, any data, rather than just a press release.
“Today I will donate an orgasm to science.” In which a scientist gets female volunteers to pleasure themselves in an fMRI scanner, bound by restraints. For knowledge! SciCurious also chips in on female orgasm.
An international conference called for a moratorium on geoengineering “until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities and appropriate consideration of the associated risks.” Nature News has the story.
Deborah Blum on the really-quite-terrifying frequency with which carbon monoxide poisoning shows up in the news. Oh and she has fun with structure.
Conjoined twins Tatiana and Krista may see through each other’s eyes and even share unspoken thoughts. Wow.
Who are the world’s hardest scientists? Ian Sample wants your nominations.
Our minds wander half of the time and this makes us less happ.. OOH SQUIRREL!
Two-sided arguments *that refute the opposing view* are more persuasive than one-sided ones
More after the jump…
The Feds are criticised as an “apocalyptic bat disease” sweeps the US. Brandon Keim investigates (and you can support his work here).
“Volunteers were actually watching an elaborately rigged video of a tarantula which they believed was near their foot.” For SCIENCE!
A new species of all-female lizard discovered… served in a restaurant. And a tangential shout-out to Emily Anthes’s awesome Venn diagram.
Can science prove we’re psychic? An intriguing study gets covered well by Peter Aldhous at New Scientist and Alan Boyle at Cosmic Log.
Was the Earth oxygenated early (and why does it matter for the evolution of animals)? Joe Milton considers the evidence at The Great Beyond
The 10 Commandments of Helping Students Distinguish Science from Pseudoscience in Psychology – an excellent and educational list.
The five stages of grief are: fear; surprise; a ruthless efficiency… wait. Vaughan Bell on misconceptions about grief.
Why making dinner is a good thing – Jonah Lehrer discusses the IKEA effect
Here are some words you don’t want to hear in conjunction with wildlife deformities: sudden, widespread, unexplained
Hufflepuff trumps Ravenclaw. Why it’s better to be hardworking than smart
Slave-making ants target the strong not the weak, says Ella Davies at the BBC
Do nice guys finish last? Not necessarily says Tim Harford.
Why do fish shoal? Hannah Waters considers the question at Scientific American, but fails to acknowledge the hypothesis that it makes it easier for David Attenborough to film awesome documentaries.
“Many men have come to understand the risks of increasing scrotum temperature“. But most are just thinking “Heh… scrotum”
Female sea lions sometimes adopt orphaned pups. Awwww….
Waterboarding a seal? “These images do not show animal abuse of any kind… Some led to breakthroughs that change how we think about the natural world. They also happen to be quite funny if you view them out of context.” From Southern Fried Science
Maryn McKenna continues to terrify us all with more news about the drug-resistance factor NDM-1
Wired catches up with Kate McGroarty, the teacher who won a competition to spend a month living in a science museum
Horned dinosaur evolution is more complex than people think – a recurring theme from Brian Switek.
Heh/wow
Ahahaha! People who aren’t in Britain, we pity you.
Save the words! An awesome website. View with the sound on.
Realistic anatomies of cartoon characters. Cool but somewhat terrifying.
The world’s best underwater photographs 2010
This fire exit, photographed at a recent scientific conference, is reserved only for the most agile attendees.
Internet/journalism/blogging
Be sure to check the summaries of the National Association of Science Writers’ conference, which I’m sorry I missed. You can watch all the slidecasts here, and the Rebooting Journalism session with David Dobbs, Bora Zivkovic, Emily Bell and Betsy Mason is especially illuminating.
“Online, The Times has stopped being a newspaper… instead, it is becoming a newsletter.” Ouch! Clay Shirky on the paywall situation.
A fascinating discussion on whether objectivity and impartiality in journalism are more important than transparency and taking sides. Pros and cons of both sides of the argument.
“While accurate numbers are hard to come by…” Slate on the sneakiest phrase in journalism.
“If I knew the rules, I would probably have to break them” Brian Switek on writing books
Sign of the times #1232: the New York Times to publish e-book bestseller list early next year
Should science papers be retracted because they’re mistaken? Ivan Oransky covers a recent retraction that raises this intriguing question and Doctor Zen explores it further.
“Denied press pass by the Cetacean Society ’cause I refused to guarantee them a story. Most disturbing line: “What are you gonna do for me?” The American Cetacean Society opens a can of whales, and Ivan Oransky watches as it beaches itself.
And finally, the countdown to ScienceOnline 2011 has begun! Registration opened on Wednesday and closed 45 minutes later after every one of the 250 places filled up! I’ll be there, taking part in four different sessions:
- Blogs, Bloggers and Boundaries? on whether blogs are reaching new audiences or ending up as echo chambers, and how they could break boundaries between writers and audiences. With Alice Bell, Marie-Claire Shanahan, Martin Robbins and Viv Raper
- Death to Obfuscation – a workshop on the use of language in science writing. With Carl Zimmer
- Science journalism online: better, or merely different? – a look at the past and present of science journalism and the opportunities, changes and pitfalls provided by the web. With Virginia Hughes, Deborah Blum, John Rennie and Steve Silberman.
- Keepers of the bullshit filter – on crowdsourcing accountability and accuracy in the new media world. With David Dobbs, Steve Silberman and Ivan Oransky
Go Further
Animals
- These 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animalsThese 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animals
- These photos are works of art—and the artists are bugsThese photos are works of art—and the artists are bugs
- The epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfishThe epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfish
- Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75
Environment
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
- The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?
- The most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater weldersThe most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater welders
- The harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to surviveThe harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to survive
History & Culture
- Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’
- A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.
- Meet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural iconMeet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural icon
- Inside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysicsInside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysics
Science
- LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?
- NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.
- Humans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying themHumans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying them
- Why engineers are concerned about aging infrastructureWhy engineers are concerned about aging infrastructure
Travel
- 2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip
- Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada
- Paid Content
Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada