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
- 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
- An octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret worldAn octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret world
- Peace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thoughtPeace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thought
Environment
- 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 - Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
History & Culture
- 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
- This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?
- See how ancient Indigenous artists left their markSee how ancient Indigenous artists left their mark
Science
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
- This 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its timeThis 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its time
- Every 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost timeEvery 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost time
- How do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tipsHow do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tips
- Why outdoor adventure is important for women as they ageWhy outdoor adventure is important for women as they age
Travel
- This town is the Alps' first European Capital of CultureThis town is the Alps' first European Capital of Culture
- This royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala LumpurThis royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur
- This author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomadsThis author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomads
- Slow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capitalSlow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capital