I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (3 April 2016)
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Top picks
From me at the Atlantic:
- Lost for Words: A disease called primary progressive aphasia gradually robs people of their language skills while leaving their minds intact.
- The 8-Bit Game That Makes Statistics Addictive
- How to Make Psychology Studies More Reliable
In the 1910s, in the early days of film, women dominated action movies. What happened? Great pieces on The Hazards of Helen, The Perils of Pauline, and other forgotten shows, by Adrienne LaFrance
Chimpanzees have been observed performing the same rituals over and over. Is that spirituality? Barbara King discusses.
The Nameless Mouse Behind the Largest-Ever Neural Network. By Katie Palmer
This is a wonderful story by Chris Baraniuk about Jennifer Null and other people whose names break databases
“I’ve seen the greatest AI minds of my generation destroyed by Twitter.” By Anthony Lydgate
Wonderful piece by Maggie Koerth-Baker on the (il)legitimacy of dinosaur names
Andy Goldsworthy arranges leaves, sticks, and stones to create magical land art
Is Ebola hiding in the eyes of survivors? Fascinating story by Emily Baumgaertner
A team of rival scientists came together to fight Zika. A great story of scientific collaboration by Amy Harmon.
“This has been the saddest research trip of my life,” says coral scientist Terry Gross on the biggest Great Barrier Reef bleaching event ever.
That time when Amazon sent Ian Bogost some lumber as a prank
A video game company is trying to deal with toxic behaviour in the world’s most popular online game. By Brendan Maher.
Science
The amazing fossil discoveries made possible by CT-scanning
Of 960 studies on anti-dengue mosquito control, only 41 stand up to scientific scrutiny
How stress affects the pace of evolution
Zika highlights role of controversial fetal-tissue research
Largest ever study of transgender teenagers set to kick off
Homo floresiensis vanished around 40,000 years earlier than we thought. Were humans to blame?
Mysterious space thing punches Jupiter
Proto spiders could produce silk but not weave it.
“The birds reacted very aggressively… including kicking intruders in the head. They ignored the neutral humans.”
“One advantage that this show has over some reality shows: it’s hard to find a boring blade smith.”
Scientist leaves EPA after they shut down his fracking study, then FOIs the data, and finishes the study.
How dancing animals help explain the evolutionary origins of rhythm, by Ferris Jabr
Gut bacteria and stroke recovery
What one snarky facial expression could teach us about the evolution of language
A look at Google’s troubled attempt to transform medicine
Spring, via satellite.
Physicists at the gate: on collaboration and tribalism in science
The view across the ocean is not what you think.
The Designer Who Peered Into Microscopes and Saw High Art
Miscellaneous
The exotic animal traffickers of Ancient Rome
Why do so many digital assistants have feminine names? (The dek on this is perfect.)
Hilarious Batman v Superman FAQ
Sick burn from ancient Pompeii: “Oh Epaphras, thou art no tennis-player.”
Ta-Nehisi Coates on writing; can’t recommend it enough. Touches on the major issues: perseverance, failure, practice
10-yr-old makes five-barrelled, arm-mounted, prosthetic glitter cannon called Project Unicorn.
‘Hikaru Dorodango’ is the Japanese Art of Turning Dirt into Perfect Spheres
Great review of Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
The world owes an enormous debt to this quiet Russian naval officer, who likely saved your life.
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
- 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 - Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?
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?
Science
- 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
- 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
Travel
- 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
- How nanobreweries are shaking up Portland's beer sceneHow nanobreweries are shaking up Portland's beer scene
- How to plan an epic summer trip to a national parkHow to plan an epic summer trip to a national park
- This town is the Alps' first European Capital of CultureThis town is the Alps' first European Capital of Culture
