I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (9 August 2014)
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Top picks
The Ebola outbreak continues in West Africa, as does the outbreak of panic and misinformation. Here are better sources:
- Maryn McKenna, one of the best disease reporters around, curates all the best information and offers her views.
- Tara Smith—an infectious disease researcher who has actually written a book about Ebola—has penned some of the best pieces. She explains why Ebola isn’t airborne, busts five common myths including the massively exaggerated symptoms, and explains how Ebola was already in the US.
- Megan Garber explains how one jet was transformed into a flying Ebola quarantine unit.
- Susan Grant, the head nurse at Emory, explains why she wanted to bring two Ebola patients back to the US.
- Kelly Hills gives one of the worst fearmongering pieces the Red Ink treatment.
- And Erika Check Hayden explain why the WHO has declared an international emergency.
- Vincent Racaniello talks to infectious disease researcher Tom Solomon about the situation in Africa
- Zaire ebolavirus in West Africa
- Here’s a chart comparing Ebola deaths to other diseases (Ebola’s on there, honest).
Tragic: Amazing stem cell scientist Yoshiki Sasai was found dead in wake of the recent STAP scandal. David Cyranoski (who wrote a feature about Sasai’s work) collates tributes from his fellow scientists. Michael Eisen offers a deeply personal post on how science deals with misconduct. And Ivan Oransky responds to criticisms that a focus on retractions is part of the problem. (And for future reference, here are some suggestions for journalists reporting on suicides.)
Building chemistry’s dream machine—one that could synthesise (almost) anything. Fascinating feature by Mark Peplow.
For the first time, a spacecraft—Rosetta–has made a rendezvous with a comet (that looks like a rubber duck and has a face). Ian Sample explains why that’s important and what comes next.
How to cross 5 international borders in 1 minute without sweating. By Robert Krulwich.
A team of scientists (including Phenomena’s own Brian Switek) have been excavating an incredible natural trap cave, where the bones of tens of thousands of animals are piled 10 metres deep.
“If the question is how we should think of addiction, the answer is from every angle possible.” Great piece from Bethany Brookshire.
This is so beautiful. Ben Lillie mingling the dynamics of stars with the uncertainty of adolescence.
Leigh Cowart reports from a clown convention and it’s glorious.
The Great Emu War: In which some large, flightless birds unwittingly foiled the Aussie Army. Most emusing, from Bec Crew.
News/science/writing
139 scientists who actually understand genetics decry Nicholas Wade’s book on race, including many of those whose papers he cited in support of his thesis.
Thriving microbial communities found in tar lake, with implications for breaking down oil spills. By Mark Zastrow.
A husband and wife spent 40 years in the Galápagos watching Darwinian evolution happen
Truvada, a drug for reducing the risk of HIV infections, could help women in abusive relationships take back some control — why aren’t people talking about it?
Chilaquiles, fried rice, pain perdu: there’s a long tradition of dishes that prevent things being wasted.
1 in 6 dolphins in the Bahamas has been bitten by a shark. You know what they should do? They should jump the sh… [pulled off-stage by cane]
World’s oldest eel dies in Swedish well. Love the picture caption.
In 2011, Slavc the wolf walked 2000km from Slovenia to Italy. Henry Nicholls talks to the guy who tracked him.
This has got to be the worst way of treating a battle wound.
Watch Pluto and Charon endlessly circle one another in this animation
How do other animals deal with disease?
Space is surprisingly full of stuff. But there are also vast empty voids. How do you find them?
This self-folding origami robot is really cool… until it walks.
“The human brain can judge the apparent trustworthiness of a face [even if] the person has no idea they have seen it”
The quantified microbiome self—a couple of people monitored their microbes every day for a year.
China’s greed for ivory could drive elephants to extinction in just 20 yrs
The Royal Society’s new professorship “makes a mockery of both science & sci-comm expertise”
Aspirin for cancer prevention is looking pretty good. Caveats as ever, but evidence is piling up.
“I am a Bear of Very Little Diabetes…”
“The star is in an awfully deranged state and no one knows why.” I blame society.
A tiny piece of DNA keeps two species apart.
An obituary for autism scientist Paul Patterson
An ode to moss, by Elizabeth Gilbert, via Robert Krulwich
Artificial selection can change colours in a butterfly’s wings in record time.
Parasite Shoots Tiny Animals with Harpoons Launched from Guns
Dodgy claims and magical thinking about saving the world by eating more meatby eating more meatby eating more meat, as featured in a TED talk viewed 2.6m times.
This parasite eats shark cornea
Quick, fetch me my tiniest possible violin.
A study everyone cites to say fish oil prevents heart disease actually doesn’t show that
A scare about toxic algae has left 500,000 people in Ohio without drinking water
The K-index paper gets the Red Ink treatment.
This basically works as a comprehensive list of Galileo myths.
101 geysers dot the surface of Saturn’s frozen moon, Enceladus
Heh/wow/huh
Elephant uses car as scratching post. I’m not sure the insurance will cover that.
An utterly nerdy explanation for why Gandalf didn’t just send the ring to Mount Doom via eagles.
An FMRI study of inconceivable cosmic horror.
Watch a transparent glass mantis gobble down a decapitated blue bottle fly
What Men Are Really Saying When Catcalling Women
Grootify: make it look like any webpage was written by Groot
That time when Nic Cage broke his cave bear skull while drinking with Sean Bean
Dead koala with $50 stuffed in mouth dumped at Australian police station
Internet/journalism/society
The online scienceverse: kicking itself in the groin once again.
Kabaddi is awesome! An ancient Indian village game in India has been given a slick TV makeover
Shut Up About “Clickbait”
Indonesian family finds daughter swept away in 2004 tsunami
The evolution of slang, as told through the NYT’s often-hilarious attempts at wordsplaining.
2000 words of HIV feature retracted after it transpires that a main source just made stuff up.
No, Wikipedia didn’t claim that a monkey has copyright over a photo it took.
Well here’s one way of stopping students from googling exam answers: shut down the whole country’s internet.
Bompas and Parr grill a steak over lava.
The story about the last speakers of a dying language not speaking to each other isn’t so neat
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
- Why you should try beach-hopping by boat around Paxos, GreeceWhy you should try beach-hopping by boat around Paxos, Greece
- Mansion museums show visitors the gritty side of the Gilded AgeMansion museums show visitors the gritty side of the Gilded Age
- 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