I’ve Got Your Missing Links Right Here (23 April 2016)
Top picks
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From me at the Atlantic:
- Why We Sleep Badly on Our First Night in a New Place
- Florida’s Dragon Problem
- The Long Decline of the Dinosaurs
Scientists have discovered a 600-mile coral reef at the mouth of the Amazon River. By Robinson Meyer
Julie Beck on the future of menstruating in space (or maybe, not menstruating in space)
The dark tales of the world’s most epic sleep-talker. David Robson on “somniloquies”
“Each particle interaction takes about 4 microseconds, so we have to sift through data to find the 50 microseconds a year of data we actually care about.” J. M. Porup on a frozen neutrino observatory. With amazing pics.
Beautiful cryptic cards and chromascape art from Immy Smith
My friend Kathryn Schulz won a Pulitzer prize for her incredible earthquake piece, and I couldn’t be happier.
A Snow Leopard showing off.
On feeding the trolls, or not. Wonderful insightful piece by Adrienne LaFrance
Great piece on a long collaboration between British, US, and North Korean volcanologists. By Sarah Zhang.
What It’s Like To Be The Only Painter In Antarctica. By Cara Giaimo
“This is an unprecedented event that has never been done before in the world.” Maryn McKenna on swapping out a new polio vaccine.
The Twilight State Between Wakefulness and Sleep is a Window into Consciousness. The wonderful Vaughan Bell makes his Atlantic debut
Veronique Greenwood writes about learning Mandarin as an adult.
Science
“It is arguably the most clever CRISPR gadget to date.” Sharon Begley on the latest in the CRISPR story.
“We’ve kind of been bullshitting people for a decade.” Positive mindfulness research is overreported.
“Elk produce the eerie noises by whistling and roaring through their vocal cords at the same time.”
Engineers are finishing a giant arch–largest moveable structure ever–to entomb the Chernobyl reactor for 100 years
Why some moths are evolving to avoid artificial light
Look at These Beautiful Planets JK They’re Bacteria From Public Buses
Queen’s birthday message is etched on Corgi hair with focussed ion beam
Skepticism about the “genetic superheroes” from the Resilience Project paper
One in 25 papers contains inappropriately duplicated images, screen finds
More people are likely to have reached the summit of Mount Everest than have been to the top of an old-growth redwood
What will be the long-term effects of Zika?
The US Is Playing a Dangerous Game of Musical Chairs With Nuclear Waste
The insect collection at the Field Museum has 12 million specimens.
Cadaver study casts doubts on whether tDCS can actually stimulate the brain at all
How these island rats survived 75 metric tons of poison
The CDC recommends against forming a human pyramid with the diseased guy at the top.
On whether insects have subjective experiences
Synthetic biology tackles global antivenom shortage
Gene-editing research in human embryos gains momentum
New fossils show that when some dinosaurs hatched, they were left on their own in harsh environments:
Deadly animal prion disease appears in European reindeer
David Attenborough’s early films to be shown in colour for first time
New monkey species found thanks to distinctive penis
Boaty McBoatface to receive fake stage name that no one will use because obviously it’s Boaty McBoatface
Irreproducible cancer research wastes many billions every year. By Dan Engber
That viral photo of two “male” lions mating? One is likely a female
Why a yellow fever outbreak in Angola is a “potential threat for the entire world”
Miscellaneous
Quis splainiet ipsos mansplaines?
Report: 79% Of Sincere Thoughts Played Off As Jokes
It’s Okay to Think of the Gilmore Girls As Your Real Friends
Who invented eggs Benedict—a traitor, a pope, or a hungover dude?
Watch a Calligrapher Turn Shopping Lists Into Art
Go Further
Animals
- What La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planetsWhat La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planets
- This fungus turns cicadas into zombies who procreate—then dieThis fungus turns cicadas into zombies who procreate—then die
- 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
Environment
- What La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planetsWhat La Palma's 'lava tubes' tell us about life on other planets
- How fungi form ‘fairy rings’ and inspire superstitionsHow fungi form ‘fairy rings’ and inspire superstitions
- Your favorite foods may not taste the same in the future. Here's why.Your favorite foods may not taste the same in the future. Here's why.
- 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?
History & Culture
- Hawaii's Lei Day is about so much more than flowersHawaii's Lei Day is about so much more than flowers
- When treasure hunters find artifacts, who gets to keep them?When treasure hunters find artifacts, who gets to keep them?
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- When America's first ladies brought séances to the White HouseWhen America's first ladies brought séances to the White House
Science
- Should you be concerned about bird flu in your milk?Should you be concerned about bird flu in your milk?
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
Travel
- Are Italy's 'problem bears' a danger to travellers?Are Italy's 'problem bears' a danger to travellers?
- How to navigate Nantes’ arts and culture scene
- Paid Content
How to navigate Nantes’ arts and culture scene - This striking city is home to some of Spain's most stylish hotelsThis striking city is home to some of Spain's most stylish hotels
- Photo story: a water-borne adventure into fragile AntarcticaPhoto story: a water-borne adventure into fragile Antarctica
