I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (24 October 2015)
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Top picks
Me at the Atlantic
- A Scientist’s Shocking Discovery About Electric Eels
- There’s a Mystery Machine That Sculpts the Human Genome
- A Genetic Study Writes a New Origin Story for Dogs
- Making Indigenous Peoples Equal Partners in Gene Research
A incredibly written coming-of-age story about dinosaurs, childhood, and friendship. By Steve Macone. If you only read one thing this week…
Utterly weird expose from Brooke Borel about a guy who got tangled up with Monsanto and created a shady podcast alter ego.
This Artist Painted Physicists Into a 3D Living Chalkboard
The mammography debate is about values, not science. From Christie Aschwanden.
The scientists at Oxford’s Centre for Time Use Research have terrible time management. And they know where your time really goes. By Helen Pearson
The Battle Over Genome Editing. Sarah Zhang on the untold background dispute over CRISPR
The Law of the Wonder Drug: a saga in three acts, by Katherine Sharpe.
“Many people will reject their own arguments if tricked into thinking that other people proposed them.” By Neuroskeptic
“Misdiagnosed and misunderstood, autistic women and girls frequently struggle to get the support they need.” By Apoorva Mandavilli
Meet the man who founded the now-defunct Museum of Menstruation. By Cari Romm
Science
Moscow biology department among the first to require that all manuscripts comply with law on state secrets.
Mega Tsunami vs Little Island
Plague has been plaguing us for 5000 yrs, far longer than previously thought
Tasting a Flavor That Doesn’t Exist
The Louder the Monkey, the Smaller Its Balls
Possible evidence of life on Earth at least 4.1 billion years ago
“I need to see the poop firsthand, and then the place itself. This is a recipe for time travel.”
A pioneer of continental drift theory also studied a fungus that makes what looks like icy hair.
They “created an algorithm that plans the safest way for a robot to fall“.
Oy, this silliness about hands evolving for punching again. This just isn’t how you test evolutionary hypotheses.
Genetics probe identifies new Galapagos tortoise species
Indigenous peoples must benefit from science
When you think it’s a shark, But you’re way off the mark, It’s a moray
Bacteriophages use slow, staccato movements to hunt bacteria on cell surfaces
This Is The Man In India Who Is Selling States Illegally Imported Execution Drugs
“According to the CDC, fewer Americans are burning up in their pajamas”
Oh good! The Crystal Palace dinosaurs are going to be repaired after all
Jumping genes in the brain
This man believed human aging could be halted by transplanting monkey testicles into people
What first case of sexually transmitted Ebola means for public health
Scientists have created fake skin that can actually feel pressure.
Seals catch prey by ‘slaloming’ their weirdly shaped whiskers
A comprehensive guide to Theranos’s troubles and what it means for you
Pernicious Parasite Strikes Explorers of ‘Lost City’
Gamblers, Scientists and the Hot Hand: How we perceive and misperceive randomness.
Every 48 hrs, malaria parasites shred their genes to evade the immune system. But not everything goes
The chief medical officer of Google’s life-sciences division is called Doctor Mega.
Conspiracy theories kill: on the horrific effects of AIDS denialism.
“When discussing photos of the blue orb and the black abyss, we’ll talk about our favorites, not the firsts”
One mathematician’s formula suggests all-male lineups don’t “just happen,” despite what conference organizers claim.
Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ recreated with bacteria in petri dish
Scientists follow Wood Thrushes around for 2 years. Also: machine guns, swamps & duct tape.
Christ. The Ebola outbreak killed >8% of Liberia’s health care workforce.
The biggest dinosaurs were picky parents.
23andme is making a comeback to direct-to-consumer genomics
Oestrogen in queen naked mole rat’s faeces turns subordinate naked mole rats into better babysitters
Crazy, frightening story of a cardiologist’s abuses–and the system that allowed him to get away with it for decades.
Miscellaneous
A 16th Century Pope Buried His Pet Elephant Under the Vatican
The Pros And Cons Of Freelance Employment
On journalistic ethics and conflicts of interest
Julia Rosen asks 4 writers to expose the narrative skeletons of great stories.
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