See here. There has been great response so far to the latest podcast, and the guest has now answered a large bunch of listener questions online--and is promising to do more soon. I think we've gotten a real dialogue going, so if you want to join in, please visit the Point of Inquiry forums!

• The unveiling of Australopithecus sediba was covered by some excellent journalism from Carl Zimmer at Slate, Kate Wong at Scientific American and Brian Switek at Laelaps. Meanwhile, Ivan Oransky covers the embargo farrago that surrounded this story, and I suggest to the world’s journalists that the only acceptable use of the phrase “missing link” is this.
• Grisly video of a hyena eating a giraffe while sitting in it. Not for the squeamish.
• A great piece by Dan Ariely of Predictably Irrational, talking about why businesses don’t experiment and why they should (instead of relying on consultants)
• An incredible story by Abel Pharmboy from Terra Sigillata about a blog reader who was a former homeless addict and turned her life around. Amazing, life-affirming stuff.
• Colin Schultz discusses whether science journalism is caught in a reinforcing cycle of niche reporting, with views from me, Carl Zimmer, Ferris Jabr and more, and a great comment discussion developing
• Crittercam reveals a great fight between a sealion and a giant octopus. I say “great”. I really mean “quick”. Poor octopus.
• The best infographic of all time
• From Lifehacker, a study showing that touching an object for longer increases our perception of its value. It explains why we hold onto our clutter, and also why arrogant people are such w*nkers…
• The always excellent BPS Research Digest tells us that people lie more in email than when using pen and paper and that emailers feel more justified in lying. I choose to believe them.
• Christine Ottery discusses the future of investigative science journalism following interviews with me and other participants at City University’s Science and the Media debate.
• PLoS ONE has an interesting paper about how positive results increase down the hierarchy of the sciences, from physical sciences to social ones.
• The scientific community is abuzz with news that everyone’s favourite black-bellied dew-lover Drosophila melanogaster might have to be renamed. Nature News has the story. Brendan Maher has already set up a #savedrosophila hashtag on Twitter.
• In the Atlantic, Lane Wallace has an excellent piece about the bias of veteran journalists – essential reading for anyone who thinks that journalists are the only people capable of impartial, independent reporting.
• A PNAS paper about beautiful insects preserved in Cretaceous amber prompted a fascinating blog fight between Alex Wild of Myrmecos and the paper’s authors. Alex has since conceded but the entire issue makes for fascinating reading.
• Ever since Titanoboa, the world’s largest ever snake, was discovered, every fossil in the surrounding area became destined to be described in relation to this mega-serpent. As an example, see Wired’s piece about a fossil turtle that had an extra-thick shell to fend off Titanoboa.
• National Geographic has a piece about a rare breed of super-taskers who can juggle driving and using mobile phones without an increased risk of accidents. But can they juggle phones while driving?
• The New York Times had an interesting piece about gay behaviour in animals. Jonah Lehrer gave his take on it, and Vanessa Woods followed it up with a post in Psychology Today claiming that a story about gay sex in animals without bonobos is like an article about big ears without elephants.
• Mind Hacks has a post about how rates of yawning change throughout our lives, which will almost certainly make you yawn.
• Will the iPad change journalism or publishing? Who cares? The big question is will it blend?
• In the NYT, Natalie Angier says that even among animals, there are leaders, followers and schmoozers
• Phil Plait shares one of the most incredible astronomy photos of all time – the International Space Station flying through the aurora
• New Scientist covers research that suggests Archaeopteryx may have been nocturnal
• And finally, I started a Posterous account to mock a piece of hilariously bad PR which suggested that atoms are conscious and that I am Jennifer Ouellette. Neither is true.

UPDATE:  SOLVED at 12:17 CDT by Sean

Welcome to Saturday’s scheduled entertainment.  Are you ready?  Tom and I are already looking forward to the next bonus riddle (and working on getting a great prize lined up), so get your name on the list!  We’re also starting to step up the competition, so you might find today’s riddle a bit harder than last week; but not too much.  I know you’re ready to play riddle, so…

Today’s subject is an event.

It has happened before.

It will happen again.

Little understood by ancient mankind, this event horrified our distant ancestors.

There is documented loss of life associated with this event.

Something about this event is closely associated with the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

Modern studies of the event have greatly influenced empirical sciences.

The event is well represented in ancient and modern literature.

Let’s see… event… horrified… loss of life… science… literature… yep, that just about does it.  Okay, the clock’s ticking, and I’m lurking.  Good luck!

Marian, et al, lurking...

Having now been here a couple of weeks, I can say that Austin is possibly the best place I've lived--or at least ranks alongside New York. I'll wait a few months to decide for sure, as it doesn't count until I've made it through the summer heat. So far I've been exploring town on foot and meeting all sorts of friendly people. Breakfast tacos are the staple and there are fresh avocados everywhere. Dogs and bicycles are popular, flip-flops are 'the Austin work boot', and wildflowers abound thanks to Lady Bird Johnson. I've been hanging out with a lot of great folks involved in energy and recently toured a coal power plant. I also visited Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge which offers great birding opportunities. And since it's Austin, it was easy to find a group of talented guys to play music with. Something about this place already feels like home. CM's on the way over to visit, so I'm hoping the city inspires him to pick up his guitar again...

Trying to find the perfect gift for the Trekker in your life? Why not try Tiberius cologne? Or, if you’re feeling the love, maybe the scent of Pon Farr will do the trick… though maybe smelling like a frisky Vulcan may not work out so well. Of course, anything’s better than Red Shirt.

Honestly, though, I have to admit I’d much prefer this.

Tip o’ the VISOR to BABloggee Lindsay F.