So soon already we have another instalment of links to items you may have missed. Although many of the links in these articles are scientifically inclined, I do try to steer away from heavy science in favour of things which are of more general interest and intelligible by intelligent non-scientists. And of course I do try to include items on history, pets and other interests as well as amusements. Anyway here is today’s collection.
So you don’t really need to know the science of how any of this works to appreciate these freaky chemical and physical reactions. [Animated GIFs]
No there isn’t soap in your mayonnaise! Why are we all so terrified of chemicals? Everything is a chemical! Gal Science shows how ridiculous these fears can be.

Garlic eating cows fart less methane, so could this save the world from climate change? Nice idea, but I suspect it will turn out to be a big definite “probably not” when the true effects are realised.
Changing tack, here’s an interesting piece on how IUDs work as contraceptives — and it mostly isn’t how you think!
Got a cold? Then take care who you spread it to, because we have a lot of delusions about when we are contagious — and it is more than you probably think!
While on things infectious, how much do pets bring bacteria into our homes? Answer, yes, just as much as you feared!
Every cat owner knows that, despite being inscrutable, cats think, but what do they think about and how intelligent are they really? Are you surprised that finding out was a real challenge?
Do animals give each other individual names, just as we do? It is hard to tell, although it seems that parrot parents do give their chicks names which stick for life.
Many many things have been used as a writing pad, but an ostrich egg?!

And remaining on things medieval, here are some wonderful blue maps of the medieval world. And they’re surprisingly accurate.
Next up, the history of food. How was tomato ketchup invented? Well, no, not originally by HJ Heinz although they had a finger in the jar.
Changing tack again, here’s a piece on the, to me scary, world of extreme cavers. Surely these guys are out of their trees! What is it about the human species that makes us have to do these things “just because they’re there”? [Very long read]
I’m not sure this is quite right but certainly the Awkwardness Zones should be bigger.
We’re always busy — busy, busy, busy. No wonder we’re always tired. We need to kill the culture of “always busy/always on”. Here are a few ways that will help at an individual level — and yes, these really do work!
Why is there such a resistance to nudity? Because we have this myth that nudity is sexual. But it is just a myth.

And finally an article from the Independent saying that the UK is too prudish and we should follow Munich’s example and legalise public nudity. Errr … actually public nudity isn’t illegal in the UK unless with intent to cause distress, alarm or outrage — although the Plod so often ignore this distinction.