I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (07 December 2013)
Top picks
Heart-warming story about countering sexism in schools (and honouring the awesome Marie Curie). Well done, Jamie Gallagher.
Ferris Jabr on the tricky business of defining life.
“Die, Selfish Gene, Die” – David Dobbs’ beautifully written but controversial take on the selfish gene metaphor. Reactions have been fierce. PZ Myers liked it and expanded on some of the ideas, Jerry Coyne loathed it and deconstructed it in two posts, Larry Moran agreed with Coyne’s criticism but has his own gripes with the metaphor, Dawkins defends himself, and Dobbs defends himselfdefends himself (twice). All of this, I think, is enlightening and well worth reading.
Do crocodiles and alligators use tools? Do they use sticks as lures to attract waterbirds? Darren Naish examines the evidence.
Gut bacteria reverse some autism-like symptoms in mice. Careful coverage of an interesting study, by Jessica Wright. And some post-publication peer review on the paper.
Brain-scanning study suggests that “men and women are wired differently” and while authors make dubious claims and papers report it uncritically, Tom Stafford brings a good critique, as does Matthew Thomas. Neuroskeptic also pulls up some possible flaws. Cordelia Fine comments about this in the context of other ‘gendered brain’ studies. And Christian Jarrett concludes: “In conclusion: Wow, those are some pretty wiring diagrams! Shame about how they interpreted them.”
The psychology behind our inordinate fondness for lists, by Maria Konnikova.
“At first, the manure was just harmlessly foaming. Only later on did things get lethal.” Wonderful story by Sarah Zhang on exploding pig farms, or “The Pig Bang”.
The Apollo 11 crew’s customs forms are amazing. They declared “MOON ROCK, MOON DUST, and SAMPLES”. Via Megan Garber.
Turtle Moms Choose Their Babies’ Genders by Where They Build Their Nests. By Liz Preston
WHAT? Saturn has a continent-sized hexagonal hurricane w/ 200 mph winds over its North Pole.
News/science/writing
Hopes of HIV cure in ‘Boston patients’ dashed, as virus rebounds months after therapy ended.
Chernobyl’s “elephant’s foot” is still lethal. Good piece on the disaster by Kyle Hill.
Bradley Voytek on whether consumer brain stimulation devices are likely to be effective
Leaping Land Fish Has Perfect Camouflage, Is Not a Hoax
How to deal with mental health in countries where therapists are scarce: train ordinary people to be counselors?
“It’s really nice to be worrying about 175 cases of measles.”
Dyslexia linked to breakdown in communication between two brain regions
Some song sparrows habitually bluff about how hard they are
Peer reviewers urged to speak their minds. Very interesting simulation study of herding effects in peer review.
The animals got herpes two by two, hurrah, hurrah
Pro-Tip: Look up “Streisand Effect” before threatening to sue Retraction Watch
Cool animation from Rose Eveleth about the dastardly mosquito
Scientists have a hard time agreeing on how to measure an animal’s personality.
“Recent rise in retractions is most plausibly the effect of growing sci integrity rather than growing misconduct.”
Why did some non-avian dinosaur have beaks? All the better to eat with
Museums hunt for relics from genomics’ early days
Merriam-Webster’s word of the year: “science“. That’s lovely. It also makes me think they don’t get the point of WOTY
Here’s Tal Yarkoni with some big caveats on the Dunning-Kruger effect
We ain’t top predators. In food webs, we’re on a par with pigs and anchovies.
The invisible consequences of mistaking plastic for dinner (and a story of making lemonade from scientific lemons)
Just in time for Christmas, MRSA found in UK turkeys.
Why birds can sleep on branches without falling off. But wait! The common explanation may be wrong!
Stone-tipped javelins preceded (the earliest fossils we recognise as) modern humans by 80,000 years
The Mental Glitch That Makes Us Throw Good Money After Bad
Do Giraffes Float?
Gigantic scholarly barney among toxicologists over those pesky endocrine disruptors
Why octopuses really suck
Mice inherits father’s memories, because epigenetics? Virginia Hughes continues her reporting on this fascinating but controversial study.
The Shocking Sex Secrets of Insects – great piece by Marlene Zuk.
An 83-year-old discusses the practical implications of radical life extension. Do we really want to live longer?
Florence Williams, Kathleen Raven and Christie Aschwanden discuss what they’d like to see happening to address gender issues in sci-comm.
Heh/wow/huh
The Best, Most Stunning, Jaw-Dropping Space Station Time-Lapses of All Time, Ever.
Biting Onion satire: Deformed freak baby born without a penis.
Awesome head-on footage of a shark snapping at some fish. The money shot’s at 1:30
Watch WWII unfold in 7 minutes.
David Attenborough Playing With Dinosaurs Might Just Make Your Christmas
Best sign edit ever.
Rather wonderfully/terrifyingly, snapdragon seedpods look like skulls
The Grand Canyon, breathtakingly wreathed in mist
A Slideshow Of Different Animals Who Are Not Friends And Have Never Met
Headlines from a Mathematically Literate World
Batmobile golf cart
Amazon says it will trial delivery by drones. Waterstones responds.
Spectacular insect drawings by Alex Konahin
A wonderful visualisation of deep time
Journalism/internet/society
Another Problem for Amazon’s Delivery Drones? Angry Birds
Most Female Journalists Have Been Threatened, Assaulted, or Harassed at Work. Here’s Why We Don’t Talk About It
“’Too good to check’ used to be a warning to newspaper editors not to jump on BS stories. Now it’s a business model.”
How I Cured My Impostor Syndrome
Big Data comes to the Marvel Universe
Journalists’ amazing response to a money-grabbing owner.
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
- 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
- On the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migrationOn the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migration
- Everything you need to know about Everglades National ParkEverything you need to know about Everglades National Park