Once more (where is this year going; it’s already the end of February?) we bring you our monthly bumper bundle of links to items you will wish you hadn’t already missed. I’m ignoring Coronavirus per se for the simple reason that everything is moving too fast. Here goes …
Science, Technology, Natural World
One of our favourite physicists introduces the top 10 most important effects in physics.
Here’s an interesting idea about measurement: forget feet and meters there’s as more fundamental measurement for earthlings.
Anyone who is active in science, especially chemistry, will love The Pocket Chemist.
Male-male competition, and sometimes female preferences, have helped fashion the flashiest adornments. [LONG READ]
Health, Medicine
Do drugs deteriorate? Why are their use-by dates important?
Facemasks. Do they actually do any good against flu, coronavirus or pollution?
What can the medical profession do to help your back pain? It seems there’s not a lot in their toolkit which is of much help.
Retinal migraines are rare, but what are they like?
We all have left-right asymmetry (internally), but how do bodies map this out? [LONG READ]
And another biological conundrum … how do body parts grow to the right size? [LONG READ]
Apparently girls are beginning puberty a year earlier than they were 50 years ago.
Sexuality
Katherine Rowland talked to 120 women about their sex lives and desires.
As if we need an excuse, here are five ways to have more sex with your partner.
Here’s a review of Kate Lister’s new book A Curious History of Sex. I found it interesting and amusing. [Disclosure: I helped crowdfund it.]
An interesting look at parenting in a polyamorous relationship. There’s no evidence it’s any worse for children than any other style of relationship.
Meet some of Britain’s sex-positive influencers. [LONG READ]
Environment
Estate owners across UK are queueing up to reintroduce beavers.
Art, Literature, Language
Anglo-Saxon charters and place-names are an often-overlooked source of folklore and popular belief.
A portrait, long thought to be of Louis XIV’s son, turns out to be a late-17th century Lord Mayor of London.
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
The records of the High Court of Chivalry (which still exists) reveal quite a lot about the life of 14th cetury soldiers.
The British Library has digitised a 15th century children’s guide to manners: Pyke notte thy nostrellys.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the mysterious 14th century Bek’s Chapel, lost at the time of the Civil War.
Four secret societies whch operated in the London’s shadows.
A brief hiostory of the (somewhat disreputable) East India Company.
The vast collection of King George III’s military maps are now available online.
London
A secret passageway has been discovered in the Place of Westminster.
The V&A Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green is to close in May for two years for a £13m revamp.
Lifestyle, Personal Development
Want to rewire your brain for clearer, calmer thinking? The case for Transcendental Meditation.
And finally … Women share their stories of celebrating their body hair.
We’ll have more next month!