I’ve got your missing links right here (2 July 2011)
Top picks
“If this were true adios theory.” Darwin’s margin scribbles show the evolution of a theory
Video games that use living microbes
It’s survival of the weakest when bacteria play rock-paper-scissors
Humans guided evolution of dog barks
The last Indian vultures, and the feral dogs that are replacing them
A fascinating piece about the real secrets behind Area 51 (no, really), involving stealth planes and a mystery illness
Thomas Knudsen carefully poisons a 3-week-old human embryo… in a computer.
What do you get when you put a terrorist inside of a brain scanner? We don’t know. Important piece by Virginia Hughes
“These critters are hell-for-leather, flat-out just gonna get there.” Wonderful David Quammen piece on animal migrations
The evolution machine: genetic engineering on fast-forward, a great story by Jo Marchant
Beetles with screws and nuts in their legs
News/science/writing
How airplanes punch spreading holes in clouds, cause snowfall
The value of simulations – why crew/pilot errors have become a minor cause of plane accidents
Bacteria in Carl Zimmer’s belly button was previously known mainly for being in Asian soil. What has he been putting in there?
Electrocuting women who look at photos of their partners… for SCIENCE
“Garcia inserted the compressed-air hose & blasted the pigs’ brains into a pink slurry” The Spam factory’s dirty secret
King of headbutts
“We need to ensure the anti-nuclear chaps and chapesses do not gain ground on this.” PR campaign to play down Fukushima
X-rays illuminate fossil pigment
Jellyfish force nuclear reactor shutdown
The failure spectrum, from Apple’s iPhone antenna to the Jamaican bobsled team to evolution
Crows never forget, and CROWS NEVER FORGIVE
A marketing programme for an epilepsy drug, designed to look like a clinical trial
Snake-eating opossums have evolved venom-resistant blood
Wilhelm Reich – the inventor of the orgasmotron, profiled in Slate
Finches tweet with grammar. Insert social media joke here.
Pics of the asteroid that buzzed the Earth. Damn thing probably scratched the mirror.
Tasmanian devils were sitting ducks for deadly cancer – and yes, it’s our fault
“The opportunity to get bitten by a ground hornbill presented itself to me… so who was I to miss out?”
Orca ears inspire all-depth hydrophone
“Fukushima residents’ urine now radioactive” 3 mSv = half a chest X-ray
Wildlife filmmakers use the fact that most species fail the mirror test to develop a hidden camera
Case of intense hallucinations triggered by, and of, faces
Intriguing. A design competition to re-design the food label
Heh/wow/huh
“Microbiological Laboratory Hazard of Bearded Men”
Hilarious vid of kids trying to resist eating a marshmallow, and failing
New Zealand land snail consumes earthworm in sudden, rapid attack.
Internet/journalism/society
Journal pulls paper on meditation and heart disease after “additional data” surfaces. Authors presumably calm about it
“Why’s this so good?” series analyses tricks of long-form. First up, Alexis Madrigal on Truman Capote. As good as it sounds
“Elegant bribery” – The fascinating Chinese art of bribing people with Chinese art. Also, step-by-step guide to forging
A kid’s view of marriage equality: “So what’s the big deal?”
“Influence scores” like Klout are complete nonsense – less-than-useless abstract numbers for fans of pissing competitions.
Splendid rant against the “aural ordure” that is UK train and station announcements
Gay Girl in Damascus hoaxer accused of defending himself with new persona, says it was a visiting friend
In 1906, people thought that in 2006, we’d have too much leisure time, with 16 hour work weeks
Go Further
Animals
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
- Heard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followersHeard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followers
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
Travel
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico
- Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?
- Follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood ForestFollow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction