Weekly Roundup: The Fascinating Revelations of the Online Universe
Unveiled: Revealing Revelations by Ferenc Szalma
Dive into this assemblage of Internet's best findings from the previous week, handpicked to tickle your curiosity. We've got Top Picks, Science/News/Writing, Heh/Wow/Huh, and Journalism/Internet/Society sections to cater to your diverse interests.
Top picks
Investigative journalists at Last Word on Nothing uncover the scientific fields that they find daunting, including biology, neuroscience, archaeology, chemistry, and technology. Check out their "Secret Satans" series for enlightening insights.
Earthworms ingeniously producing quantum nanotechnology? You bet! Let Carl Zimmer astound your mind.
Curious about what randomness looks like? Aatish Bhatia shares a captivating post on the subject.
Ukraine's rise as a hub for untested stem cell treatments is cause for concern. Vaughan Bell discusses the issue in a thoughtful piece.
Artist Simon Beck creates stunningly beautiful crop-circle shapes in snow. Follow him on Facebook to appreciate his work.
Get smart, have fun
GIVE OR GETNew Insights on the 'Post-Traumatic Stress' Debate, by David Dobbs, and more from Daniel Lende
Regarding the heated UK science-communication dispute between Cox and Ince, Jon Butterworth offers a brilliant take on the matter, advocating for clearer communication.
Wondering whether social media is nothing new? Historical digging by Daniela Hernandez sheds light on its roots.
Generosity and the Social Brain, One Neuron (and monkey) at a Time, by Virginia Hughes.
Discover how Cities Would Look at Night Without Lights
Did communist turtles witness the Earthrise from the Moon? Amy Shira Teitel uncovers the story behind this intriguing claim.
Unravel the mysteries behind the werewolf myth, as explained by Ricki Lewis
In a heartwarming demonstration of love, a biologist proposed to his girlfriend using DNA fragments. Aww!
Weirdest animal stories of 2012 - a roundup of tales that will surely grab your attention.
The New York Times asked five esteemed scientists about their favorite childhood toys. The responses are heartwarming.
When "Mental" Illness Isn't. Neuroskeptic offers a compelling argument against the fundamental anti-psychiatry argument.
The most important new pharmaceutical of 2012, according to Matthew Herper
Science/news/writing
While a genomic analysis of Newtown shooter Adam Lanza may seem appealing, it is woolly-headed and unproductive, according to many experts. The study will likely reveal no new information beyond potential genetics-related health issues.
Monkey brain area keeping track of kindnesses? That's a tally of altruism in the brain!
The "Golden Duck award for quackery" is causing a stir among skeptics. Frank Swain discusses the tediously repetitive nature of the debate.
Why do we blink so frequently? A new study may have an explanation.
Looking for reliable information about infectious diseases? Here are some resources to get you started.
The fascinating world of Gigantiops destructor, a skittish, non-stinging ant.
If you think science is dull, think again! Virginia Hughes explores science's imaginative and creative dimensions.
The search for life at Lake Ellsworth in Antarctica has been called off, disappointing the British Antarctic Survey.
Dental Damage is complicating the fate of America's great fossil cats.
A reindeer attack in Siberia left four children unharmed but trauma-stricken. It seems reindeer have a taste for fear!
Amy Harmon debunks the stigmatizing narrative surrounding autism in the wake of recent events.
In 2012, retracted papers were far from uncommon, with stories like "Hyung-In Moon is a genius, says Hyung-In Moon" garnering attention.
Various animals are exhibiting virgin births, from Komodo dragons to bonnethead sharks.
The most-read science piece of 2012 on Slate, written by Tara Smith, beat out all political coverage. We're grateful for its success!
How to kill an earworm stands as a useful guide for music lovers.
Monkey brain area keeping track of kindnesses? That's a tally of altruism in the brain!
Religion rises after a disaster (but doesn't help)
The discus fish parents secrete a highly nutritious mucus all over their bodies. The young feed on it.
MRSA detected in UK milk. The food industry now faces a potential health crisis.
key archaeological finds in 2012? A series of small walls. The answer may surprise you!
As forests disappear, some researchers are trying to understand exactly how trees die.
Does a thermostat have consciousness? It's an intriguing thought, according to John Kubie.
The Yangtze finless porpoise is facing extinction, joining the baiji dolphin in the list of vanishing aquatic species.
How Intelligent is IQ? A new study calls the 'myth of IQ' into question.
Erin Mckiernan seeks your help in choosing her next project. Lend her your support!
How a lizard fossil ended up with skin and teeth but no bones is still a mystery.
The chance that a massive asteroid will hit Earth in 2040 has decreased from 1 in 500 to 0. Christmas has come early!
Inject Rhino Horns with Poison and Paint Them Pink - That'll Stop Poachers. (Sadly, this plan does not involve rhinos with venomous attack horns)
FDA says genetically engineered salmon is safe for consumption. We'll see about that.
Infectious disease researcher Stephanie Mounaud creates seasonal artworks using mold. He's a fungi artist!
Heh/wow/huh
Time-lapse Images of Nude Dancers (SFW) created with 10,000 individual photographs
Discover the history of dogs as a power source for kitchen appliances.
The 100 greatest lists of all time. (#4 The Ten Commandments; #3 Craigslist.)
Admire beautiful nature photos from Alexis Madrigal. Licensed what I'm seeing!
The strangest, most haunting images of Saturn you'll ever witness
A gorgeous photo of Jupiter, taken from Earth
Fascinating photos of microbes from National Geographic
A useful gift for freelancers
The only Christmas GIF you need.
Adding "100 diagrams that changed the world" to my wishlist
"Why yes I would like to take possession of this $2 billion package, which consists of a space shuttle."
Sort-of robot uprising: Watch the most useless machine ever created defy your every move
Scientists have isolated 'the vibe' in this intriguing study.
Internet/journalism/society
12 Most Hated Technologies based on Wired commenters' opinions
Good news for journalism: The New York Times paywall is working better than anticipated
CJR shares the best profiles of 2012. Read them and be inspired!
Two intriguing pieces on atheism and faith, by Alom Shaha and Jim Al-Khalili
Amazon cracking down on fake book reviews
Oh, Mensa. If only scoring well on an arbitrary test could suppress arrogance.
"Mansplaining" is real, and it affects women in the science field in insidious ways.
A foul-mouthed myna bird has been censored in China for its explicit language. Birds and their foul mouths.
Just when you thought 2012 couldn't get any more embarrassing, Sean Penn entered the chat.
A poignant account of rape in India. End violence against women.
New York makes it incredibly difficult to become a licensed falconer. Featuring the weirdest application form ever.
Read the Download the Universe review of the NYT's interactive story Snow Fall, which has garnered over 3.5 million views so far.
The revolution will be footnoted: How a book on vaginas gave Frank Swain an idea for a new way to blog
"Why the eff didn't you watch these talks?" A list of under-watched TED talks from the best curmudgeon on the TED staff.
- The investigative journalists at Last Word on Nothing explored daunting scientific fields like biology, neuroscience, archaeology, chemistry, technology, and now we can learn more about these subjects through their "Secret Satans" series.
- In an intriguing debate, various experts question whether a genomic analysis of the Newtown shooter will be productive, as it may only reveal potential genetics-related health issues.
- Artificial intelligence has been a topic of fascination for many, from the most useless machine defying commands to the question of whether a thermostat could have consciousness.
- The world of gigantiops destructor, a skittish ant that doesn't sting, continues to intrigue scientists and nature enthusiasts alike.
- A series of small walls made significant key archaeological finds in 2012, surprising many researchers.
- In the realm of entertainment, Amy Shira Teitel uncovered the story behind the claim that communist turtles witnessed the Earthrise from the moon.
- The work of a fungi artist, infectious disease researcher Stephanie Mounaud, has been gaining attention with his creative artworks made using mold.
