I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (01 August 2015)
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Top picks
A new illness or mass hysteria? The village in Kazakhstan where people fall asleep for days. Incredible story by Sarah Topol.
One of the big myths: scientists know how drugs work. By Carolyn Johnson
Hospital checklists are meant to save lives — so why do they often fail? By Emily Anthes
Fantastic piece by Christie Wilcox into the four-legged snake fossil that I covered last week, including the ethical snakepit that it crawled into.
A rare condition causes Joel Salinas to experience other people’s emotions and sensations. Is mirror-touch synesthesia a superpower or a curse? By Erika Hayasaki
“Every means of confession creates a kind of person who confesses. “An essay on Fitbit and productivity tracking, by Moira Weigel.
The case of the night vision eyedrops “showed how biohacking works, and where it all falls apart”. By Rose Eveleth, who also has another piece out on the missing women futurists.
Cancer cells as cheaters in the game of life. By George Johnson
American dentist killed Cecil the lion, and triggers an online storm. Henry Nicholls interviews a conservationist who studied Cecil, and David Shiffman and Brigid Hains wrote some good pieces.
“It is so important for that empty chair to be there, so all of us who stay silent for whatever reason can know there is a place, waiting for us, if and when we are ready.” Roxane Gay on New York Magazine’s incredible cover and Bill Cosby
Science/news/writing
The Case for Fetal-Cell Research
Tornado wrecks town, infects the survivors with mysterious fungus.
“The discovery was made by analysing videos of ants carrying oversized food items, including Cheerios.”
Only 4 northern white rhinos left.
Buzzfeed vs some common tanning myths
Pluto: a world that’s evolving in slow motion, with nitrogen glaciers, and dark organic rain.
Car-sized ball of squid eggs off the coast of Turkey
Some people feel music so strongly, the experience is almost sexual
Crumb of mouse brain reconstructed in full detail
How to avoid a salamander apocalypse.
Uganda chimpanzees are binge eating clay to make up for the loss of a mineral-rich food plant.
Blueface, the masked seducer: a new species of peacock spider
Live Anthrax Was Shipped To 192 Labs (+ Counting) And Congress Is Pissed
A double review of ‘Life’s Greatest Secret’ by Matthew Cobb and ‘The Vital Question’ by Nick Lane
Oh, nothing, just a hyena carrying off the disembodied head of a lion. It’s the ciiiiiiiiiiircle of life.
From stem cells to 3D-printed nipples, breast reconstruction is constantly evolving
If scientists used droplets of fat to turn cells into lasers, this fried breakfast will give me heat vision, right?
Researchers are going a little bug-eyed trying to improve robot vision
This butterfly “avoids flowers, preferring rotting animal corpses, faeces, mud puddles – and even human sweat.”
The reign of the terror birds
Biologists led by Pamela Ronald make good by producing right result after high-profile retraction
Snow leopard, manta rays, and other endangered species to be projected onto the Empire State Building on Saturday.
How did you get that job: designing a parachute for NASA’s Mars rover
Golden jackal: A new wolf species hiding in plain view
Things like Fieldworkfail are where science Twitter really comes into its own: good-humoured, community-building joy
The wonderful David George Haskell on the moon moth
Our Absurd Creature of the Week is a two-foot-wide sea star that’s basically a bear trap
“This will go down in history as one of those hallmark public health efforts.” The Ebola vaccine trial proves 100% successful in Guinea
Swedish blood donors now get a text when their blood helps someone
Heh/wow/huh
Brits Tried To Guess The Cost Of American Healthcare And Got Really Confused
My life as a introvert
Man creates moving tribute to late grandfather by hand-drawing every single item in his shed
A gif of the Aurora Borealis from the International Space Station
Internet/journalism/society
The Tragedy of iTunes and Classical Music
Overspill: The adblocking revolution is months away
“Thomas couldn’t be doing anything that could be perceived by children as evil Thomas”
Humans are indeed underrated compared to machines
This fungus eats the butts off cicadas but “cicadas don’t seem too bothered, continuing about their short existence as if losing your butt is totally normal”
Related Topics
Go Further
Animals
- Cougar travels 1,000 miles in one of longest recorded treksCougar travels 1,000 miles in one of longest recorded treks
- Rare gray whale spotted in the Atlantic—and it's only the beginningRare gray whale spotted in the Atlantic—and it's only the beginning
- Why 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and fauna
- Termite fossils prove mating hasn't changed in 38 million yearsTermite fossils prove mating hasn't changed in 38 million years
Environment
- Why the 2024 hurricane season could be especially activeWhy the 2024 hurricane season could be especially active
- Mushroom leather? The future of fashion is closer than you think.Mushroom leather? The future of fashion is closer than you think.
- This deadly fungus is hitchhiking its way across the worldThis deadly fungus is hitchhiking its way across the world
- Why 'funga' is just as important as flora and faunaWhy 'funga' is just as important as flora and fauna
- This exploding mine holds a treasure that may change the worldThis exploding mine holds a treasure that may change the world
History & Culture
- See the story of Jonah and the whale like never beforeSee the story of Jonah and the whale like never before
- This ancient mosaic offers extraordinary insights into the pastThis ancient mosaic offers extraordinary insights into the past
- These are the real dunes that inspired Dune—and you can visit themThese are the real dunes that inspired Dune—and you can visit them
- Meet the only woman privy to the plot to kill Julius CaesarMeet the only woman privy to the plot to kill Julius Caesar
Science
- Women’s bodies are understudied—but that’s starting to changeWomen’s bodies are understudied—but that’s starting to change
- Hundreds of tiny arachnids are likely on your face right nowHundreds of tiny arachnids are likely on your face right now
- What's worse than a hangover? Hangxiety. Here's why it happens.What's worse than a hangover? Hangxiety. Here's why it happens.
Travel
- A taste of West Bengal, from curries to Kolkata street foodA taste of West Bengal, from curries to Kolkata street food
- Discover southeastern Spain's secret coastal regionDiscover southeastern Spain's secret coastal region
- All aboard Norway's slow train under the midnight sunAll aboard Norway's slow train under the midnight sun