I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (22 February 2014)
Sign up for The Ed’s Up, a weekly newsletter of my writing. Here’s a recent example.
Top picks
XKCD’s “Frequency” cartoon is one of its best. Whimsical, inventive, delightful.
252 million years ago, 96% of life went extinct in just 60,000 years. We still don’t really know why. By Carl Zimmer.
First ever photos of a successful snow leopard kill in the wild. Beautiful.
The most beautiful animal you’ve never seen, by Rebecca Helm.
Some couples are now using IVF to screen embryos & avoid passing BRCA breast cancer genes onto kids. By Bonnie Rochman.
Darwin’s children drew battling vegetables and other stuff all over his On the Origin of Species manuscript
David Attenborough narrating curling is the best thing ever.
Climate change is acidifying the oceans, spelling trouble for the entire marine food web. By Peter Brannen.
The US Supreme Court years ago ruled against applying the death penalty to people unable to understand the legal process. Now it must grapple with the science of how intellectual disability is measured. Fascinating piece by Sara Reardon.
Galapagos Finches are famous, yet Darwin learned more about evolution from the plants. By Henry Nicholls.
No more cold chain? 150,000 doses of meningitis vaccine delivered in Africa without ice boxes
Japanese institute launches inquiry after allegations of irregularities in blockbuster stem cell papers. By David Cyranoski.
What’s going on with Britain’s storms and floods? Tom Phillips explains (really well).
Science/news/writing
Big Corn versus Big Sugar, using paid-for science and biased non-profits.
Prions may be important for memories
Paul Bloom on psychology’s “war on reason“.
The Black Death left a mark on European genomes.
Monkey see, monkey BEND YOU TO ITS WILL.
Counting whales from space
A Pacific-Atlantic canal through Nicaragua could be an enviro disaster. (Also, er, isn’t there already a competitor?)
“Squeezed light“? Seriously, physicists? That sounds like The Day Today’s “heavy electricity”.
Wildleaks: a website that allows tipsters to report wildlife crimes.
Western Australia shark cull is a ridiculous embarrassment
Let’s stop the ‘hero worship‘ when it comes to big name academics
Three new species of marsupial discovered that engage in 14 hour suicidal sex sessions
What will happen after the rhinos are gone?
In worms, bursts of activity in mitochondria accurately predict lifespan.
Finnish reindeer sprayed with glow-in-the-dark liquid to prevent accidents
Psychologist fisks five of his own papers
Asian elephants console others who are in distress with vocalizations and gentle touches
“(blah blah oxytocin blah)”
I love Shara Yurkiewicz’s contemplative, philosophical medical snippets.
Embarrassing report on astrology and the unscientific public is more about the NSF’s crappy survey skills
Death by filthy monkey bite would be an ignominious way to go
In 2006, astronauts chucked a spacesuit packed with sensors out of the ISS, to see what would happen to it:
Why Watson and Siri are not meaningful examples of AI
Female Mimicry in Rove Beetles: How to Mate with Everyone at the Same Time on Dung
An interactive guide to the bluefin tuna
Careful reporting by Ian Sample on new study into genetic influences of sexual orientation
Nice set of tributes to Daniel Kahneman’s influence
Heh/wow/huh
HA! More research is (increasingly) needed.
Zack Seckler’s bird’s-eye-view photos provide a new take on the African savannah
The shifting adjectives of coolness.
Tumblr: Artist makes signs for little lost objects.
The Onion skewers rhetoric around “battling cancer”
The “Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed” selection here is AMAZING.
Internet/journalism/society
Portraits Made From a Single Thread Wrapped Around Thousands of Nails By Kumi Yamashita
On making the switch from writer to editor
A kosher product that’s only kosher specifically because it doesn’t have kosher certification.
Carl Zimmer on new developments in science communication.
V.good piece on the problems of voluntourism
Washington Post vows to stop reprinting press releases after Paul Raeburn calls them out. Hey British newspapers, take note?
“If you squint, tilt your head & look closely at [Vitruvian Man’s] groin, you might see what the fuss is about.”
Go Further
Animals
- 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
- Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
- Animals
- Feature
Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
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
- 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
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
Science
- 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?
- The unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and MounjaroThe unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and Mounjaro
- Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.
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