Monthly Links for March
Herewith my collection of links to items you may have missed, but didn’t want to. Again this month we have quite a few science and medicine articles, and not so much on the arts – well it all depends on what’s published and looks interesting.
Science, Technology, Natural World
Now tell me … would aliens do physics, and do it the way we do? [££££] [LONG READ]
Beyond which, could aliens in another galaxy see dinosaurs on Earth? [££££]
So what is time? Is it just a figment of our imaginations?
A researcher has found Galileo’s handwritten notes in old astronomy text.
The Eye of the Sahara. They think it’s a circle and it shouldn’t be there. [LONG READ]
On the dying art of taxonomy and a love of midges.
In Papua New Guinea scientists have found a tiny possum and a glider which were thought extinct for 6,000 years.
Staying with discoveries, scientists have found three unknown geckos, and a lot else too, in Cambodia’s limestone caves.
And still with new discoveries, some other scientists have found lots of strange new species (example below) deep off the coast of Britain’s Caribbean islands.
Back on dry land apparently hedgehogs can hear very high frequency ultrasound.
Apparently cacti could help explain one of the oddities of evolution.
And finally in this section, an immunologist takes a hard look at the science behind the paraben panic.
Health, Medicine
Which brings us to the messier bits of the scientific arena …
We all have skin mites, but should we worry? Are they a health issue or harmless passengers?
Why do some people (like me) suffer from motion sickness, while others don’t.
What does body odour actually say about you?
Have you ever noticed that you breathe out of one nostril at a time. And have you ever stopped to wonder why?
Researchers have a suspicion that a previously unknown virus, hiding in a bacterium, may be a trigger for colorectal cancer.
And still wth gut bacteria, apparently couples share 30% of their gut bacteria. [I’m surprised it is so little – K]
Sexuality & Relationships
NSFW. So what does science tell us about why breasts send males wild? [LONG READ]
Remaining with female anatomy for a minute, apparently the clitoris has migrated from the inside (in most species) to the outside (in humans).
And so to male anatomy … with a look at the history of male member. [LONG READ]
The myths, misconceptions and realities of how porn shapes sexual health.
NSFW. Against which the evolution of erotic literature looks fairly tame.
Environment & Ecology
For once some good news: the Large Tortoiseshell butterfly (above) is no longer extinct in UK
It’s definitely counterintuitive, but when the human population fell during the Black Death, plant diversity dropped as well.
Social Sciences, Business, Law, Politics
The UK is considering putting native fauna on its banknotes, so some experts have a say.
Art, Literature, Language, Music
Here’s an interesting interview with Ruth Scurr who wrote a biography of 17th century antiquarian John Aubrey (below).
Apparently our least favourite word is all about womb wisdom.
NSFW. A look at art and the vulva. [LOMG READ]
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
The theory of the population of the Americas has again been turned on its head by an archaeological site in Chile.
King Harold’s movement of troops from the NE to fight the Battle of Hastings … was it (as has been assumed) the most heroic march ever, or did everyone travel by boat?
London
Matt Brown takes a look at some of the interesting and varied historical models of London. [LONG READ]
And I’ll leave you this month with Matt Brown looking at bovine influences on London. [LONG READ]
#biology #blog #books #environment #history #links #physics #science #sexuality #zenmischief
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