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
- These 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animalsThese 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animals
- These photos are works of art—and the artists are bugsThese photos are works of art—and the artists are bugs
- The epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfishThe epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfish
- Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75
Environment
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
- The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?
- The most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater weldersThe most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater welders
- The harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to surviveThe harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to survive
History & Culture
- Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’
- A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.
- Meet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural iconMeet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural icon
- Inside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysicsInside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysics
Science
- LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?
- NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.
- Humans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying themHumans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying them
- Why engineers are concerned about aging infrastructureWhy engineers are concerned about aging infrastructure
Travel
- 2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip
- Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada
- Paid Content
Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada - This couple quit the city to grow wasabi in Japan's mountainsThis couple quit the city to grow wasabi in Japan's mountains