I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (31 October 2015)
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Top picks
From me at the Atlantic:
- Hey Obama, Can We Have a Unified Microbiome Initiative?
- Electric Eels Put Their Prey in a Killer Sleeper Hold
- Beefing With the World Health Organization’s Cancer Warnings
“At first glance, the “sonic chip” experiment, as Spence fondly refers to it, does seem trivial.” Nicola Twilley on the collision between sound and taste.
Greenland is melting away. Solid piece backed by incredible visuals, by Coral Davenport, Josh Haner, Larry Buchanan & Derek Watkins.
A story about how the first galaxies eventually made something that could see the first galaxies. By Ross Andersen
This is a really interesting story on the science of sports bras, and the physics of breasts. By Rose Eveleth
Climate change may not drown Kiribati, but its residents might be forced to leave anyway. By Kenneth Weiss
Really interesting piece on the sexism of heart disease diagnosis. By Vidhi Doshi
How my generation of Brits became the heaviest drinkers in a century: Chrissie Giles on the climb to Peak Booze
Bug nerds: the truly hardcore among us. By Erik Vance
A “eureka moment” in diagnosing a genomic chimera. Great story by Dan Vergano.
XCKD on polio eradication and unrealistic scientific approaches
Here’s me, waffling on at ScienceFriday
Science
Great news! Cases of these horrifying, 31-inch parasites are dropping sharply.
Here are some remnants of a supernova that exploded 8,000 years ago.
“When Dutch architects started to work on a new bridge in a small town called Monster, they had two users in mind: People who would bike and walk across it, and bats.”
An obscure whale species with an asymmetrical face finally swims into view
On “madness”, “neurosis”, and the changing vocabulary of mental health
Who owns the patent on nutmeg?
On the racial inequality of sleep
Criticism mounts of a long-controversial chronic fatigue study
Explaining science and technology in museums
Problem when studying bias: our bias in interpreting and evaluating the studies of bias.
“The Hunt“, by Attenborough and Fothergill
“Almost everything we ‘know’ is based on small, flawed studies.”
Comet found spewing booze out into space
The best explainer on that big meat and cancer story
Are cats domesticated or just “semi-domesticated”?
A landmark Academy of Medical Sciences report on Reproducibility and Reliability of Biomedical Research
An obscure whale species with an asymmetrical face finally swims into view:
Lion population to halve within 20yrs. “If there is an overall bias in our results, it is probably toward optimism.”
The Dino Pet, a micro-aquarium filled with bioluminescent sea creatures!
On decapitation, YouTube, and cockroaches without heads
Epic eel migration patterns have been mapped for the first time
Studying the science and culture of fear by hanging out at a haunted house
Phytoplankton loss as oceans warms has been overestimated by a glitch in models
What do children know of their own mortality?
“It’s just that almost everything that could go the cyclone’s way, did.” On how Patricia got so strong.
This fish leaps out of water—and temporarily stays on land—to cool itself
NIH to throw money at chronic fatigue syndrome research
Atacama desert covered in pink flowers after freak rain
Miscellaneous
What makes up the microbiome of a werewolf?
Here’s my mate Alex Marshall giving a talk about his amazing book REPUBLIC OF DEATH!
Glorious posters from the golden years of the London Tube
Every hit song in four chords
Waiting for Benedict Cumberbatch
Go Further
Animals
- How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?
- 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?
Environment
- Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?
- The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?
- 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
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- 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
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?
Travel
- Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico