Our look at some of the significant happenings 100 years ago this month.
3. Died. Franz Kafka, Austrian author (b. 1883)
5. Ernst Alexanderson sends the first facsimile across the Atlantic Ocean, which goes to his father in Sweden
8. George Mallory and Andrew Irvine are last seen “going strong for the top” of Mount Everest by teammate Noel Odell at 12:50pm; the two mountaineers are never seen alive again
12. Born. George HW Bush, 41st President of the United States (d. 2018)
Behold, this month’s collection of links to items you may have missed. Let’s dive straight in as there’s quite a bit of science-y stuff this month.
Science, Technology, Natural World
Astronomers have been seeking the so-called Planet 9 for decades, but still can’t even agree that it is likely to exist.
Deep within Earth there are two giant mystery blobs. What do we know about them?
We all happily talk about the average this or the average that, but what do we mean by average, and why isn’t it always, well, average?
Now to the animal kingdom …
Many animals, including our pets, have a third eyelid, so why don’t we?
Try to get your head round this … Alan Turing’s pattern-generating mechanism for spots and stripes on animal coats; and how the mechanism is modified. [LONG READ]
Despite their size, gorillas have extremely small penises, and it turns out that the genetic mutations which cause this may also help human male fertility.
Scientists have been investigating the vocalisations of sperm whales for years, and some now think that they may be the elements of a language, with dialects.
A new to Britain exotic jumping spider has been found in Cornwall, and it isn’t the only one.
And on the subject of foreign arrivals, the Guardian has a sensible and thoughtful piece about the invasive Asian Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) which has invaded continental Europe and is trying to get a foothold in the UK. [LONG READ]
Here’s the BBC article which triggered my recent blog post on these hornets.
STOP PRESS: The Asian Yellow-Legged Hornet has now been discovered in a southern state of USA (Georgia to be precise)!
Still with wasps … It seems that many parasitic wasps have tamed viruses so they can use them to help subdue their prey. [LONG READ]
From hornets to their forest home … there’s a theory that trees are social and communicate with each other across the “wood wide web” of fungal filaments. But it is only a theory and some are arguing it is fantasy. [LONG READ]
Treat with extreme care … Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is quite a pretty American Spring flower. But don’t go messing with it as the roots contain a blood red alkaloid, sanguinarine, which will shut down and kill any cells it comes in contact with, and more.
We all contain vestiges of our evolutionary past like goose bumps, extra nipples and the ability to waggle our ears. [££££]
Which brings us to several items about Neanderthals …
So what is the difference between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens? We interbred so there can’t be a lot, right?
There’s still debate about Neanderthals ability to talk.
Some aspects of our health seem to depend on DNA we inherited from Neanderthals.
And most weirdly, apparently the Neanderthal Y chromosome (which codes for male) has been lost, suggesting that human/Neanderthal hybrid males were infertile (in some form).
Health, Medicine
So is the menopause like puberty in reverse? Well, yes, and then again no. [LONG READ]
Most of us guzzle diet drinks and other low calorie goodies, but research is now indicating that the sweeteners are actually harmful to our gut and its microbes.
Archaeological research is now suggesting that (red) squirrels were instrumental is spreading leprosy and transmitting it to humans.
Sexuality
What is the art of lasting sexual connections?
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
One astrophysicist has been exploring the connection between the Milk Way and Nut, the ancient Egyptian Sky Goddess.
There’s a rare and very strange, apparently Roman, object (below) which was found at Norton Disney, Lincolnshire. The trouble is no-one knows what it is, or was used for, and there are a number of theories.
A 1,700-year-old Roman shipwreck found on the coast at Mallorca was loaded with fish sauce when it sank.
We know there was a thriving, early medieval Norse colony in Greenland, but why did it suddenly vanish in the 13th century?
On fake medieval devices for torture and sex.
So what was going on in London during the English Civil War (January 1642 to April 1646). [LONG READ]
London
Specifically now to modern London … London’s Royal Parks have their own plant nursery in the middle of Hyde Park, and IanVisits went to look.
Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs
Bhutan, the Dragon Kingdom, strictly limits visitors in order to protect its environment and heritage. But what is it like when you do go there?
Kate Lister asks how you know when you’re in love, and when you’re falling out of it. [££££]
A growing number of women are choosing to not have children. Here some tell what that’s like.
And finally on one of my hobbyhorses … the need to normalise and desexualise nudity if we are to achieve a well balanced society.
Here’s our next instalment of things that happened in ..24 years of yore.
Notable Events in 1224
Spring. Falkes de Bréauté, English high sheriff and a rival of Henry III, refuses to relinquish his castles and starts a rebellion. Cardinal Stephen Langton and forces under Hubert de Burgh deal with Falkes and the castles are handed over. Falkes is found guilty of 16 counts of Wrongful Disseisin; both he and his brother William are excommunicated by Langton.
June-August. The garrison at Bedford Castle, belonging to Falkes de Bréauté, refuses to surrender to Henry III. The castle is badly damaged and surrenders when the keep is undermined. The garrison who surrendered the castle are all hanged by order of the king. Falkes is allowed to leave the country but forfeits all his possessions.
Our look at some of the significant happenings 100 years ago this month.
4. Died. Edith Nesbit, British author (b. 1858)
11. Mercedes-Benz is formed by the merging of companies owned by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz
12. Born. Tony Hancock, English comedian (d. 1968)
Somehow we’ve almost got to the end of April, which means it’s time for our regular round up of links to items you may have missed. As well as the usual motley collection, we seem to have a lot of science-y stuff this month, so let’s get stuck in!
Science, Technology, Natural World
It is interesting the way that Nature keeps evolving the same patterns independently. As an example, crabs have evolved five separate times.
Talking of the unexpected, researchers have used decades-old tins of salmon to track the health of the ocean’s fish stocks. [££££]
And on the subject of tracking … scientists in the UK have developed a trap which is an early warning system for Asian hornets.
And we keep the chain going … wasp researchers have agreed that the media is biased against wasps. Well who would have guessed!?
And now for something completely different … medical researchers continue to try to make sense of death and near death experiences. [LONG READ]
So why is it that some people always get lost, but others don’t? [LONG READ]
Researchers are using ancient records of previous total solar eclipses to help measure history.
I bet you didn’t know that billions of years ago the moon turned inside out, well sort-of. I certainly didn’t.
It’s well established that Stonehenge is aligned with the sun, but is it also aligned with the moon? Archaeologists and astronomers are about to use a rare lunar event to find out.
And still on space, NASA scientists have seemingly done the impossible and managed to bring the Voyager 1 probe back to its senses. Two, slightly different, looks in the Guardian and on Live Science.
Health, Medicine
An epidemiologist highlights that kids don’t need to get diseases to be healthy.
Here a medical health researcher looks at the UK’s failure in 2020 to “act fast and isolate” against Covid.
And staying on pandemics, the consensus amongst scientists is that the next pandemic will be caused by a flu virus.
Changing tack somewhat … a top OB/GYN looks at the basics of menstrual blood and explodes more than a few myths.
And another myth exploded … it seems that time-restricted eating is linked to a 91% (ie. almost double) higher risk of cardiovascular death.
Lastly in this section: you’ve heard of dyslexia, but do you know about dyscalculia? [££££]
Sexuality
The somewhat outspoken sex researcher, Dr Kate Lister, asserts that all straight men should try pegging once.
Meanwhile sex educator Dr Emily Nagoski talks to the BBC about sex and orgasm myths.
And coincidentally two women talk in the Guardian about their experiences of their unexpectedly open marriages. First Cassie Werber; and secondly New Yorker Molly Roden Winter. [BOTH ARE LONG READS]
Social Sciences, Business, Law, Politics
IanVisits reckons that according to an inoperative law we have the date of Easter all wrong.
Politicians in the UK fulminate about foreign courts having sway over our law, when in fact there are more foreign courts on UK soil pontificating on affairs elsewhere in the world.
Now what have I been saying for years? … Using phonics to teach children to read doesn’t work.
Art, Literature, Language, Music
Here’s a blog post on the interesting work of New York artist Rose Wong.
Meanwhile Ian Dunt eulogises the word cunt.
Early medieval England saw a boom in the minting of silver coins, but until now no-one really knew why.
Mediaeval Mythbusting goes on the trail of the tales behind our more ancient pubs, including one of my favourites, The Mermaid in Rye. [LONG READ]
And Going Medieval discourses on obscenity, ancient and modern. [LONG READ]
London
London once had dozens of iconic green huts which were cabman’s shelters. Now there are only 13 and the final one has just got heritage protection.
Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs
So here’s another look at the culture and usefulness of pubic hair.
And finally … Another of my favourite places in Dungeness, on which stands Prospect Cottage, the late Derek Jarman’s seaside home. It is sometimes open to the public, but the Guardian has some interior photographs.
Here’s our next instalment of things that happened in ..24 years of yore.
Notable Events in 1024
Unknown Date. Introduction, in the Sichuan province of China, of the world’s first paper-printed money (replica below), which greatly benefits the economy of the Song dynasty
Our look at some of the significant happenings 100 years ago this month.
1. Adolf Hitler is sentenced to 5 years in Landsberg Prison in Germany for his participation in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch (he serves less than 9 months)
15. Born. Sir Neville Marriner, English conductor and violinist (d. 2016)
20. Born. Leslie Phillips, English actor (d. 2022)
24. Born. Clement Freud, British writer, broadcaster, chef and politician (d. 2009)
28. Born. Kenneth Kaunda, 1st President of Zambia (d. 2021)
OK, guys and gals, it’s time for our monthly round up of links to items you may have missed the first time round. So here goes …
Science, Technology, Natural World
There’s this giant star-shaped sand dune in Morocco whose mysteries are now beginning to be understood.
There are some mathematical techniques which can not only tell use where we’re going, but where we’ve been.
Most parents would agree that teenagers are odd. Here are two reasons why.
First it seems there may be evolutionary advantages to the affliction of “teenage brain“. [£££]
Secondly apparently puberty triggers “teenage armpit odour” of cheese, goat and urine.
Now to something more wholesome … Every cat has a strange pouch under its belly and scientists still don’t know why.
Health, Medicine
Girls are entering puberty ever earlier, and for some it is proving a significant mental health risk. [LONG READ]
Along with this we must stop trying to normalise and ignore women’s menstrual pain and bleeding. [LONG READ]
Mind you, it doesn’t help matters when menstrual health literacy is so alarmingly low.
Progressing through the reproductive cycle, here’s a piece of pregnancy and childbirth in 17th-century England.
Now for something different. Unusually some people are totally unable to picture things in their mind, they have no mind’s eye. [LONG READ]
Sexuality
This one’s not for the squeamish … Why do some people find it pleasurable to insert objects into their urethra? [LONG READ]
On safer ground, here’s a look at some new insights into people’s motivation for polyamory.
Social Sciences, Business, Law, Politics
It is much believed that girls avoid studying physics because the maths is too hard, but that is not the case.
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
The world’s oldest known fossilized forest has been discovered in England.
A Copper Age necropolis, containing skeletons and still sharp weapons, has been found in Italy.
Burginda was an early medieval English woman who was not just educated but well-versed in African poetry.
A guy fishing with a magnet from an Oxfordshire bridge has pulled up an 1100-year-old Viking sword.
So how do historians sensibly divide the 1100-ish years of the Middle Ages into manageable chunks of time.
Just as today, medieval women had informal social networks to share health problems and medical advice.
In which 17th-century ladies go dildo shopping.
Don’t like a seven day week? How does a 10 day week sound? The French Revolutionary Calendar tried it for 13 years until Napoleon abandoned it in favour of keeping step with the rest of Europe.
Food, Drink
There’s an impending risotto crisis as it seems the key Italian rice crops are dying due to drought. [LONG READ]
Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs
Here’s one neurologist who makes a good case against daylight saving time. [LONG READ]
Meanwhile one sex researcher has vowed to never share her bed with anyone anymore. [££££]
There’s a growing belief that many of our ills, and especially those of younger generations, are all down to our dependence on smartphones.
You’ve doubtless heard of incels, now we need to start understanding the psychology of femcels.
And finally I’ll leave you with one (naturist) writer’s take on understanding the difference between naturism and primitive living. [LONG READ]
Here’s our next instalment of things that happened in ..24 years of yore.
Notable Events in 824
11 November. The Constitutio Romana establishes the authority of the Holy Roman Emperors over the papacy of Rome.
Unknown Date. Zenpuku-ji, one of the oldest Tokyo temples, is founded by the Japanese Buddhist monk Kukai.
Our look at some of the significant happenings 100 years ago this month.
3. The 407-year-old Islamic caliphate is abolished when Caliph Abdülmecid II of the Ottoman Caliphate is deposed. The last remnant of the old regime gives way to the reformed Turkey of President Kemal Atatürk
29. Died. Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, Irish composer, resident in United Kingdom (b. 1852)