I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (21 Nov 2016)
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Top picks
From me at the Atlantic
- Health Experts Are Explaining Drug-Resistant Bacteria Poorly
- Do Organisms Become More Evolvable in Times of Stress?
- How Fairness Develops in Kids Around the World
- The World’s Most Popular Insecticides Are Messing With Bees
- The Algorithm That Creates Diets That Work for You
“The qualities we want in a child or in society can’t be had by tweaking a few nucleotides. There are no short cuts.” Nathaniel Comfort on the long history of trying to make designer babies and why CRISPR doesn’t change that.
The slightly sad tale of America’s lonely, overworked, only full-time forensic pollen analyst. By Elon Green
Even when diseases are eradicated, the world can remain one lab accident away from their reappearance. Important piece by Maryn McKenna.
No More Research Chimpanzees, Says NIH. Dan Vergano reports.
The woman who got impregnated by a bullet, and other science stories that are total lies. By Rose Eveleth.
“The blood that ran through that street also runs through me.” A beautiful piece by Nadia Drake on science writing in a time of atrocity.
Plight of the Funny Female – Olga Khazan on why the humor of men is appreciated so much more than that of women
Neuroplasticity won’t turn you “into a broccoli-loving, marathon-running, disease-immune, super-awesome genius.” By Will Storr.
This paper, by Bobbie Spellman, is the single best summary of psychology’s replication crisis.
A gleeful tour through the origins of English, and its delightful abnormalities. By John McWhorter
On the Martian, a blade made from flint, and our inventiveness. By Craig Childs
Science
Scientists discover how ocean fish magically disappear. Now the Navy wants to know
Different parasitic worms can raise or lower female fertility
Vocal cords grown in the lab stretch, vibrate, and make sound in scientific first
Meet Phylliroe: the sea slug that looks and swims like a fish
How the Last Ocean on Earth Will Die
A safety measure that could overwrite CRISPR-derived gene drives
Hiding in the center of our galaxy are stars that formed just after the Big Bang. Here’s how astronomers found them
Some success in saving frogs from the fungal apocalypse
Tomatoes taste good because we slowed down their biological clock
Derek Lowe riffs off the story I wrote on communicating better about drug-resistant bacteria
Fraudulent science papers have 1.5% more jargon than unretracted ones. That’s like saying some farts are 1.5% stinkier
The devil’s finger fungus cannot hear your screams or pleas for mercy
On PSA, Otis Brawley is spot-on: “Of 11 trials, all say there are harms from the test & only 2 say it works,”
One last-resort antibiotic with no mobile bacterial resistance gen… wait, never mind.
More DNA from those mysterious Denisovans
Long-sought biological compass discovered
A new neuroscience paper on the brain responses of neuroscientists to seeing neuroscience papers
A ‘supergene’ turns these male birds into female impersonators and parasites.
This bird disrupted a telecommunications network by stuffing an antenna full of acorns
Cats to blame for spreading disease to California sea otters? Not so fast, says research:
A radical new approach to stroke rehab using video games and robots
Miscellaneous
A newspaper written entirely by mental health patients
The Onion’s Seaworld coverage is the best
“If our free speech isn’t in jeopardy, why won’t my TA let me spend all of class yelling “F**K BRIAN” at Brian?”
Nobel Prize for physics awarded to man who successfully connected to free wi-fi
On Star Wars and a new way of making movies
Go Further
Animals
- 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
- 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
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?
- Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security, Video Story
- Paid Content
Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security
History & Culture
- Heard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followersHeard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followers
- 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
Science
- 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?
- The unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and MounjaroThe unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and Mounjaro
- Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
Travel
- 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
- Spend a night at the museum at these 7 spots around the worldSpend a night at the museum at these 7 spots around the world