Top picks

A fantastic post on the dogged passion of scientists: , by Meera Lee Sethi

Threefold variation in UK ! Wait, that’s less than what you expect from chance, by Ben Goldacre

A lovely piece on the and what it’s like to study them

Turn the lights off and your speakers up. Ready? from the International Space Station

This is wonderful. Two scientists – SciCurious and Kate Clancy – critique a paper on their blogs and the author . Technical but civil comments ensue. Great.

: more “bacterial than primate”, by Elizabeth Kolbert.

Why biology is in dire need of some (and why the creationists are winning at SEO), by Kevin Zelnio.

An important piece on & why young-earth creationism is absent

says polio eradication isn’t going to happen any time soon. By Maryn McKenna

Love the tyrant, not the hype: A must-read post by Tom Holtz on the

“You don’t want to be the science writer who asks a famous astronomer ‘so are u telling me there’s a ?” Cassie Willyard on why science writers need to ask dumb questions.

A beautiful creative combo of : “Time+brain chemistry heal all wounds” by Christie Wilcox.

Carl Zimmer asks about the . A great conversation ensues.

Great feature on , by Ewen Callaway

Very good piece by Erika Check Hayden on , and the limits of modern genetics.

is more about “selling objects… than propelling the arguments they contain.” Excellent analysis by Megan Garber

show that ambush is possible without planning or cooperation

– great Wired piece on a 520-experiment in isolation, that simulates a trip to Mars

: Knowledge for Knowledge’s Sake. I love Paul Norris’ blog on animal intelligence.

: why women’s education is key to slowing population growth. Really important concept.

– but some scientists disagree with “keep cave closed” tactic. Cool story by Carmen Drahl.

An excellent deep-digging feature on the from the Boston Globe.

News/science/writing

Looming gaps in could create an important gap in climate data

are NOT a 13th Amendment problem

Killer Whales to…Exfoliate?

Not As Cute The Name Sounds

The neuroscience of

$10m prize for sequencing . Well, they should be easy to catch…

First patient receives . Good luck to him!

Stunts Evolution for Millions of Years

Was ? The debate about this iconic fossil critter continues. Brian Switek gets the nuance in the debate, unlike most journalists who opted for a simple turn-around narrative.

Declan Butler dissects the from last week. It’s still important, but how important?

The Royal Society has made free-to-access

The : conflicting studies fuel arsenic debate

Swans and stem cells: winners of this year’s

May Fuel Marijuana’s Side Effects

21% of “high impact biomedical journal” studies have

The UK’s National Cancer Director orders an independent review of . Good. Necessary.

? The definitive debate. Check out comment 20 for a clear lay explanation!

for boys recommended by CDC advisory panel.

This is big, important and potentially worrying. Non-invasive .

Might Survive Cancer Scourge

in a new blog called Nothing in Biology Makes Sense

One of the 7 billion humans has just brought the number of down to 50

The cometh

Argument over deepens

Before flight, did dinosaurs use ? Great videos on the evolution of flight, via Carl Zimmer.

This might be the earliest (and it was found by a blind student)

The , The World’s Monuments to Human Skeletons

“I wanna be like you-oo-oo.” develop different cultures like humans.

People are if they’re told that their club belonged to a pro

is f***ed up – let’s fix it

Why Do We Keep Going Back to ? Other than the fact that Hammond keeps on sending us.

– tech that allows paralysed ALS patients to draw with their eyes

“An ignorance about genetics so profound that I may lose hope in humanity”: Emily Willingham on the

“ gives us the illusion that nature is fixed, but it is as fluid as the language used to describe it”

“We knew our predictions were little better than guesses, but we continued to act as if each prediction was valid.”

People with strong involuntary are more likely to be conservative, oppose gay marriage.

& the rise of the ruling reptiles

Crabitats! Project Shellter aims to build

:  why MRI scanners don’t make for good sexy TV.

The first episode of Frozen Planet was incredible. Surfing penguins, the world’s most incompetent sea-lion, killer whales attacking seals with waves, and this

How to get a job in

How big was when you were born?

 

Heh/wow/huh

Study Finds Produces Disturbed, Miserable Adults

The beards! Oh god the beards! How the was illustrated

Do NOT attempt to answer this question. .

, crab gets hilariously awesome revenge on man

A , to be stapled to the heads of all strategy consultants.

: how the hell did he do a Kentrosaurus???

“Responses of unwitting participants to or propelled by a hidden cannon…”

Much Ado About Nothing. At the end, Nick Fury recruits them all.

“The was dragged from a big pipe and then some stuff happened”

Tumblr

Being alive linked to

The planet’s version of farting in the bath: an spews exotic lava

is confused

 

Journalism/society/internet

: Blogging Comes of Age. (I’m helping to judge and I quite agree. A particularly good batch this year).

Good round-up from Nieman Lab about getting .

I’ve been playing around with – an essential tool for journalists and other heavy web users.

A great dissection of why Amy Harmon’s autism story in the NYT is so good – I love the description of writers leaving “.

? Interview with, and essay by, palindrome king Barry Duncan. His record? 800 words

Someone hacked Israel’s in 2006. Now 9 million people’s personal info is on the loose.

A great piece on how , the new Shakespeare movie, relates to science denialism

“.” Android has a Siri, called Iris.

Why , and some buildings look really weird

Three psychiatrists urge DC Comics to stop .

Cyborg no more! The BBC moves to

The to discover your weaknesses. Er, I mean, help you find content.

: blogging your research is not a recipe for

It’s time to admit that , and they have opinions:

is offering fellowships of 5,000 euros for journos to report on geosciences research. Disclaimer: I’m judging

What are the that sci journos ask? Loads of great answers, plus some from me. Also: how to

How much energy does the ?

(1) Internet Porn Fills Gap in Spider Taxonomy
URL: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/10/27/internet-porn-fills-gap-in-spider-taxonomy/
(2) bowel cancer death rates
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/28/bad-science-diy-data-analysis
(3) mind of the octopus
URL: http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6474/
(4) Now watch this video of Earth
URL: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/10/this-is-probably-as-close-as-youll-get-to-being-an-astronaut/247483/
(5) responds on her own blog
URL: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/10/26/dont-lose-the-context-response-to-are-you-maternal-enough-to-be-a-woman/
(6) Human population growth
URL: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2011/10/24/111024taco_talk_kolbert?mbid=social_tablet_t
(7) viral marketing
URL: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/evo-eco-lab/2011/10/22/on-sticklebacks-and-viral-science-marketing/
(8) views of evolution in the Muslim world
URL: http://www.earthmagazine.org/earth/article/4a5-7db-a-15
(9) Brutally scathing report
URL: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/polio-not-soon/
(10) real reasons why T. rex is so damn interesting.
URL: http://archosaurmusings.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/guest-post-love-the-tyrant-not-the-hype/
(11) telescope in space
URL: http://www.lastwordonnothing.com/2011/10/20/embracing-my-hubble-moments/
(12) science & cathartic writing
URL: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/2011/10/24/brain_chemistry_emotional_wounds/?WT.mc_id=SA_facebook
(13) biggest cell
URL: https://plus.google.com/111770459801993602257/posts/hFeRcuoyrLf
(14) sequencing the Black Death genome
URL: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111025/full/478444a.html
(15) why sequencing Steve Jobs’ genome couldn’t save his life
URL: http://www.lastwordonnothing.com/2011/10/25/steve-jobs-and-the-limits-of-sequencing/
(16) The book marketplace
URL: http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/10/public-parts-and-its-public-parts-in-a-networked-world-can-a-book-go-viral/
(17) Virtual wolf pack
URL: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228354.700-wolf-packs-dont-need-to-cooperate-to-make-a-kill.html
(18) 6 guys in a capsule
URL: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/10/ff_marsmission/all/1
(19) Dolphin Curiosity
URL: http://animalwise.org/2011/10/25/dolphin-curiosity-knowledge-for-knowledge%E2%80%99s-sake/
(20) Educate a woman, educate a nation
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/oct/24/women-education-tanzania-population?CMP=twt_gu
(21) Bacteria threaten cave art
URL: http://cenm.ag/cave
(22) mislabeling of fish
URL: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/10/24/from_sea_to_sushi_bar_a_system_open_to_abuse/
(23) satellite coverage
URL: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111028/full/news.2011.616.html
(24) Killer whales in captivity
URL: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/2011/10/27/killer-whales-in-captivity-not-a-13th-amendment-problem/
(25) Migrate Thousands of Miles
URL:
(26)  Cookie-Cutter Cat
URL: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/cookie-cutter-cat-not-as-cute-the-name-sounds/
(27) ‘pissing yourself with fear’
URL: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer_extra/2011/10/peeing_your_pants_why_do_people_urinate_when_they_re_scared_.html?tid=sm_tw_button_chunky
(28) 100 centenarian genomes in 30 days
URL:
(29) novel gene therapy for type of blindness
URL: http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/111027.html
(30) Mass Species Loss
URL: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/permian-extinction-dynamics/
(31) Archaeopteryx an early bird
URL: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/dinosaur/2011/10/the-great-archaeopteryx-debates-continue/
(32) malaria vaccine announcement
URL: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111026/full/478439a.html?WT.mc_id=TWT_NatureNews
(33) all journal articles over 70-years-old
URL: http://royalsociety.org/news/Royal-Society-journal-archive-made-permanently-free-to-access/
(34) arsenic debate that matters
URL: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111025/full/478437a.html
(35) Imagine Science Film Festival
URL:
(36) Cognitive Chaos
URL: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/marijuana-brain-chaos/
(37) honorary/ghost authors
URL: http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d6128.short
(38) breast cancer screening programme
URL: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/cancernews/2011-10-25-UKs-breast-cancer-screening-programme-reviewed
(39) Does Time Exist
URL:
(40) Universal HPV vaccination
URL: http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/10/universal_hpv_vaccination_for.html
(41) fetal genetic screening debuts
URL: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111025/full/478440a.html
(42) Tasmanian Devils
URL: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/tasmanian-devil-hope/
(43) Two parasites, one host
URL: http://nothinginbiology.org/2011/10/25/double-double-toil-and-trouble-a-tale-of-two-infections/
(44) Javan rhinos
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15430787
(45) Iceman genome
URL: http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/10/the_iceman_genome_cometh.html?WT.mc_id=TWT_NatureNews
(46) RNA editing study
URL: http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/10/scientist_behind_rna_editing_c.html
(47) flap-assisted incline running
URL:
(48) Western childbirth image
URL: http://bit.ly/sOKE4e
(49) Empire of Death
URL: http://laughingsquid.com/the-empire-of-death-the-worlds-monuments-to-human-skeletons/
(50) Orangutans
URL: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-10/24/orangutan-culture
(51) better at golf
URL:
(52) Peer review
URL: http://www.michaeleisen.org/blog/?p=694
(53) Jurassic Park
URL: http://io9.com/5853891/
(54) EyeTracker
URL: http://scienceline.org/2011/10/talk-to-me-with-your-eyes/
(55) Huffington Post’s shocking science section.
URL: http://biologyfiles.fieldofscience.com/2011/10/huffington-post-irresponsible.html
(56) Naming
URL: http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/2868/
(57) Don’t Blink! The Hazards of Confidence
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/magazine/dont-blink-the-hazards-of-confidence.html
(58) digust reactions
URL: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/disgust-and-politics/
(59) Sail-backed crocodiles
URL: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/a-tale-of-three-sails/
(60) 3D-printed homes for hermit crabs
URL: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-10/24/hermit-crab-3d-printed-shells
(61) ‘Sex and the Scanner’
URL: http://sciencedigestive.blogspot.com/2011/10/sex-and-scanner.html
(62) epic wolf hunt.
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/15385364
(63) Antarctica
URL: http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2011/11/how-to/get-a-job-in-antarctica
(64) world’s population
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2011/oct/24/how-big-worlds-population-born
(65) Every Style Of Parenting
URL: http://www.theonion.com/articles/study-finds-every-style-of-parenting-produces-dist,26452/
(66) Joy of Sex
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15309357
(67) Mind splode
URL: http://t.co/pQnXtEZm
(68) Man chases crab
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkzxfhZsFYc
(69) strategic plan
URL: http://www.swiss-miss.com/2011/10/we-have-a-strategic-plan-2.html
(70) Dinosaurigami
URL: http://chasmosaurs.blogspot.com/2011/10/well-have-fun-fun-fun-until-daddy-takes.html
(71) balls unexpectedly thrown by an experimenter
URL:
(72) Joss Whedon’s
URL: http://muchadothemovie.com/
(73) dictator
URL: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/international/ecstatic-libyans-still-trying-to-get-story-straight-201110224455/
(74) HuffNo
URL: http://huffnos.tumblr.com/post/11611750977/how-to-make-huffpo-entertainment-honest-add-in-a
(75) autism
URL: http://biologyfiles.fieldofscience.com/2011/10/this-just-in-being-alive-linked-to.html
(76) Kangaroo vs Emu: FIGHT!
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9OBqYbZ99c
(77) underwater volcano
URL: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/10/underwater-volcano-spews-exotic-lava.html
(78) Confused grasshopper
URL: http://t.co/jOxagKy4
(79) Open Lab 2011
URL: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cocktail-party-physics/2011/10/28/open-lab-2011-blogging-comes-of-age/
(80) tablet news to pay
URL: http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/10/this-week-in-review-getting-tablet-news-to-pay-and-wikileaks-steps-back-to-fight-blockade/
(81) ifttt.com
URL: http://ifttt.com/
(82) gold coins” for readers
URL: http://www.niemanstoryboard.org/2011/10/14/october-editors-roundtable-no-1-amy-harmon-autistic-adult-world-new-york-times/
(83) Was It A Cat I Saw
URL: http://thebrowser.com/articles/was-it-cat-i-saw
(84) biometric database
URL:
(85) Anonymous
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/magazine/wouldnt-it-be-cool-if-shakespeare-wasnt-shakespeare.html
(86) Intelligent Rival Imitator of Siri
URL: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-10/24/iris-siri-android
(87) architects suffer from myopia
URL: http://www.guernicamag.com/blog/3176/the_architect_has_no_clothes/
(88) misrepresenting the mentally ill
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/opinion/putting-the-caped-crusader-on-the-couch.html
(89) human-edited Twitter feeds
URL: http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/10/cyborg-no-more-the-bbc-moves-to-human-edited-twitter-feeds/
(90) @Guardiantagbot will answer your queries
URL: http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/10/the-guardian-introduces-guardiantagbot-a-twitter-based-search-assistant/
(91) Brian Cox is wrong
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2011/oct/27/brian-cox-blogging-research
(92) journalists are human beings
URL: http://gigaom.com/2011/10/26/its-time-to-admit-that-journalists-are-human-beings/
(93) The European Geosciences Union
URL: http://www.egu.eu/home/press-release-egu-geosciences-communications-fellowship.html
(94) best “dumb” interview Qs
URL: http://www.theopennotebook.com/2011/10/26/ask-ton-dumb-questions/
(95) cover conferences.
URL: http://www.theopennotebook.com/2011/10/25/ask-ton-meeting-coverage/
(96) entire internet consume
URL: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/10/307-gw-the-maximum-energy-the.html