Welcome to this month’s collection of links to items you may have missed the first time round and might want to catch up on.
Science, Technology, Natural World
The Black-Browed Babbler, known only from a 180 year old stuffed specimen, has finally been seen in Borneo.
So you always thought those little vials used for vaccines were any old glass, or even plastic? Well think again!
More on vaccines … Here’s a series of articles on Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing and distribution.
First, Derek Lowe on some myths about vaccine manufacture.
And a detailed look at some of the supply chain challenges for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. [TECHNICAL and VERY LONG READ]
Another item on the challenges of setting up manufacturing and distribution. [LONG READ]
Understanding the vaccine source code, or how to build a vaccine at the molecular level. [LONG READ]
Yes, these are all long, and in places rather technical, reads but worthwhile nonetheless if you want to understand just what the pharmaceutical industry has achieved in the last year.
Here’s Derek Lowe again, this time looking at drug discovery and the immune system.
Sexuality
And now to things which are a bit less intellectually demanding …
So how about a piece on the way the penis has influenced scientific research, as well as a lot else! [£££]
Or a journalist writes about her experiences of reporting on the porn industry. [LONG READ]
Social Sciences, Business, Law
The Guardian seems to have just discovered that the Queen has more power than we thought – and they’re highly indignant.
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
A 17,000 year old conch shell hs been found in a French museum – and also found to be a musical instrument.
Two reports on the supposedly dramatic discovery that some of the stones of Stonehenge were previously a stone circle in Wales – one report from BBC, the other from the Guardian. Well I must say they haven’t convinced me: it all just seems to be no more than circumstantial evidence.
Oh, no! We’re back with the penis again! Amongst many archaeological finds during the building of the A14 trunk road upgrade in Cambridgeshire, there was a rare Roman penis carving.
Meanwhile on the Isle of Man a metal-detectorist has uncovered some rare Viking jewellery.
When is a history not a history? When it’s a chronicle. Eleanor Janega explains the differences between history and chronicles, with some history along the way.
Coming almost up to date, here, in two parts, is the story of one WWII SOE Resistance agent, found in the National Archives. Part 1 and Part 2.
London
The slightly curious history of the Priory Church of the Order of St John in Clerkenwell.
Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs
Researchers are suggesting that feeding our pet cats meatier meals and playing with then more will reduce their toll on wildlife. Here are two reports, from Science News and the Guardian with slightly different takes on the results.
And finally … Oh, God, we’re back with sex again! … It appears that the Jewish community have lost sight of the fact that the Purim Hamantaschen cookies look like the female pudendum. No, I didn’t know either, but then why would I?
