I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (29 November 2014)
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Top picks
A surprisingly fascinating list of people’s favourite numbers, compiled by Alex Bellos. (Click The Full Results for a spreadsheet)
Important piece on rings of cheating scientists who rig the peer-review system, by Ivan Oransky, Adam Marcus, and Cat Ferguson.
The man who discovered PSA explains why it’s a terrible cancer screening tool, and why scientists behind some recent trials are behaving very badly. Christie Aschwanden also takes on cancer screening at her debut at 538.
“So what looks like anthropomorphism, the universe described in human terms, is really humans following the rules the universe follows.” Ann Finkbeiner on top form.
40 yrs ago, Donald Johanson discovered an incredible fossil called Lucy. Now he reflects on the find
Jay Piatek has collected two-thirds of the oldest piece of Mars on Earth. Fantastic story by Eric Hand.
Can the way hospitals are designed improve the experiences of staff and visitors, and even the recovery of patients? Fascinating piece by Lucy Maddox.
“At one point not so long ago, we were willing to take away a person’s freedom — perhaps the ultimate sign of disrespect — for innocuous behaviors considered “abnormal.” And yet, at the same time, we went to great lengths to remove and preserve and label and, yes, respect these people’s dead brain tissue.” Virginia Hughes on the best brain book she’s ever read.
News/science/writing
Bullet-proof armour and hydrogen sieve add to graphene’s promise
Carl Zimmer reveals how museum collections can help us plan for the future
How the sons of undocumented Mexican immigrants, w/ no resources/knowledge, built a ROV & won a national competition
A tiny spider that takes down ants helps save woods from developers.
DNA seals case in porpoise-less killings
Species of deep-sea angler fish caught on film for the first time.
This vulture microbiome study is terrible, as are reports like this. Of many problems, the biggest is that the dominant bacteria in vulture guts, Clostridia and Fusobacteria, are portrayed solely as bad things; they’re actually very diverse and often beneficial.
Coral “seeds” grow 25 times as fast as they would in the wild. Can they save our reefs?
How towering termite mounds breathe.
Annalee Newitz talks about her “backwards meta” brand of web journalism
Google’s latest: A spoon that steadies tremors for people with tremors, Parkinson’s Disease
The effect of Fish & Chips on eider ducks
A recent study about the significance of decadal birthdays turns out to be a lot of dodgy stats.
“Being paid kills nearly 100 Swedes a year.”
Interesting piece from Chelsea Wald on whether webcams and other tech obviate the need for zoos
“Once you saw them, it was hard to un-see them.” Nadia Drake, talking about galaxies
The surprisingly interesting science of phantom traffic jams
“The “telepathy” technology remains so crude that it’s unlikely to have any practical impact.”
This probiotic supplement may not be misogynistic, but it’s still pseudoscientific nonsense.
Heh/wow/huh
“We feel your nerdly pain. Even if we have no idea what you’re talking about in this case.”
You can only spell out the names of 13 elements if you use just element symbols
This Man Has Agreed To Be Murdered To Ensure A Second Season Of ‘Serial’
An outdoor tree cathedral is being grown in Italy, its roof & walls made of soaring branches
Internet/journalism/society
Neil Gaiman: Why Disney’s Sleeping Beauty doesn’t work
Excellent piece on the price of accepting a hostile online environment as the norm
An excellent lay language science writing guide
The US Supreme Court is about to tackle online threats for the first time
Most suicide hotlines “have a specific person each shift whose job it is to listen to persistent masturbators”
Why saying grace can matter, even for atheists.
Everything you need to know about fact-checking and surviving it.
“Twitter can hone your skills as a writer” says Steven Pinker
Go Further
Animals
- 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? - This biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the AndesThis biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the Andes
- An octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret worldAn octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret world
- Peace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thoughtPeace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thought
Environment
- 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?
- Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security, Video Story
- Paid Content
Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security - Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
History & Culture
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
- How technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrollsHow technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrolls
- Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?
- See how ancient Indigenous artists left their markSee how ancient Indigenous artists left their mark
Science
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
- This 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its timeThis 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its time
- Every 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost timeEvery 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost time
- How do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tipsHow do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tips
- Why outdoor adventure is important for women as they ageWhy outdoor adventure is important for women as they age
Travel
- This town is the Alps' first European Capital of CultureThis town is the Alps' first European Capital of Culture
- This royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala LumpurThis royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur
- This author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomadsThis author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomads
- Slow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capitalSlow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capital