Time for another selection of links to articles you may have missed.
As usual let’s start with the real nerdy science stuff and descend into banality.
For those of a mathematical bent, and to celebrate the 400th anniversary this year of logarithms, here are ten top mathematical innovations.
We now know that our bodies are home to many microbes, both good and bad. But are we using them, or is our microbiome using us?
We all use pharmaceuticals of some form at least sometimes. What is surprising is how little we absorb and how much is excreted. So what happens to all those drugs we flush down the toilet?
Scary stuff for all those mothers and would-be-mothers out there. There’s actually a war going on in the womb.
So much of what we think we know is actually urban legend. Here’s an interesting long read on how such academic urban legends arise.

After many years scientists have finally sequenced the genome of the domestic cat. What’s interesting is the high degree to which their genome has been conserved over the years.
While on felines, none of the cats can taste sweet. This and other differences between us and other species.
Do you allow your dog to sleep in the bedroom? Or your cat to sleep on the bed? Or should you banish your pets from the bedroom?
OK, so now let’s move on to food …
So why wouldn’t we eat blue chicken? What is it about blue food that doesn’t appeal?
Next up, five things we should all know about washing food. We probably all do know them, but how many of us actually bother?
Walk on … does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
Most of us have to write stuff, at least occasionally. But why is it so hard to find your own typos?
OK here are some more of the things we think we know, but actually don’t … 33 well known “facts” that aren’t.
And so, at last, to history. I found this an interesting piece on London’s coffee houses, taverns, tea and chocolate.

Ah, yes, chocolate. It comes in many forms, but also now also as LEGO bricks.

And finally one to make you smirk. Some examples of phallic cartography.

Another in our series of links to items you may have missed, but which I found for you.
First off let’s kill off a few common science myths which most people seem to believe but which are, well, myths.

Next, something dear to my heart … what gives beer it’s flavour?
Also interesting is what causes the colours of gemstones.
And a third infographic (isn’t that a horrible word?) on how dogs evolved.
Returning to the theme of science mysteries and myths, here are a few things about how the world of flying works.
And on to the medical. What is the classical medieval disease? No not plague, but leprosy. It is something else which is commonly misunderstood, including the fact that it is still around.
And here are seven things you shouldn’t let your doctor do unless you absolutely have to.
Just what were they thinking? A Chinese hospital has installed an automatic sperm extractor.
Yes, apparently female infant masturbation is a thing, at least in America. And it really isn’t a cause for concern.
Meanwhile sex educator and blogger Emily Nagoski has this week been answering sex education questions from her readers. Interestingly one asked “How do you fix sex education?” Here’s Emily’s answer, which is just as applicable to the UK as the USA.
Apparently one psychologist is suggesting that we should give up forcing gender equality in the sciences at school. And from reading this article have to say I agree: far better that boys and girls study what they’re interested in than we channel them into subjects they may not do so well at, just because. At the end of the day I don’t care who deigns my drugs or my car; I’m more interested that they do it well and hopefully enjoy doing it. But that doesn’t mean we should put roadblocks in the way of girls doing science or boys doing needlework. When I was at school (half a century ago!) no-one stopped girls doing science. Yes more girls than boys did English, French and Biology at A-level but almost as many girls as boys did Maths and Physics. And we even had one boy who insisted on doing O-level Domestic Science! Let’s just find out what kids can do and encourage them to do what they enjoy — which should be so much more fulfilling.
Meanwhile according to another doctor we would all be much better off and less stressed if we were all to work a four day week. What he doesn’t say is whether we would get only 4 days pay for it, and if not how it would be funded.

Now an article on how wildlife is thriving in the aftermath of Chernobyl and in the absence of meddling humans.
A very interesting report on some historic experiments to determine if birds of prey see or smell out their carrion lunch.
What to do with dead wood? For the sake of wildlife, just leave it alone.
George Monbiot (who else?) suggests that the principal threat to freedom of expression comes not from state regulation but from censorship by editors and proprietors
Ah, so we’re now onto wordy things. OK, so here are 11 “modern” words which are much older than we think.
Still on words, it seems Shakespeare invented many phrases we take for granted in the modern world.
Which allows us to shimmy quickly to history. Our favourite London cabbie is still writing about the history of Waterloo Station and its environs. Episode 9 is about Waterloo’s darker side.
And while on the darker side, here’s an encyclopaedia of everyday monsters, starting with that widespread parasite, the earworm.
Coming up to date, here are some more infographics who owns all the major brands in the world. So who thought all these companies were independent?
Finally I’ll leave you with this summary of what it is like to be middle aged …

More items you may have missed and will wish you hadn’t. As usual the more scientific (though that doesn’t mean more difficult or incomprehensible) stuff first …
Ten scientific ideas that have transferred to common parlance and which we all misuse.

We’ve known for a long time that building bigger roads actually makes traffic worse, not better. Here’s a piece on why this is.
Ever wanted to know what it’s like to do research on whale vaginas? This will tell you (some of it).
Humans are very successful at domesticating animals — so successful there are three times as many chickens in the world as there are humans! Moreover we’re so good we apparently domesticated ourselves.
Apparently there is evidence that nudity provides health benefits for both body and brain.
Men’s naked bodies are the stuff of nightmares — NOT!
One day scientists will actually make up their minds … Maryn McKenna suggests it is likely that fat is good for us.
An interesting piece from Emily Nagoski re-analysing old data which shows that even before the pill, more sex did not mean more pregnancies.
So men think about sex every few seconds. Well maybe not!
So from sex to pussies … There are a few things you can do to hopefully add years to your cat’s life.
An interesting short piece on why it is so hard to objectively judge expensive wines — actually make that any wine.
Like judging wine, it’s all in the mnd. Here’s a quick “index card” summary of memory loss.

How the medievals got it so fantastically wrong about mandrake: the plant they thought murderous and grown from the blood of a hanged man.
Next year we celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and the British Library is staging a special exhibition as well as bringing together the four surviving 1215 copies of Magna Carta. Here’s a portal to their Magna Carta exhibition page, webpages and medieval manuscripts weblog.
Our friendly blogging London cab driver is still investigating the history of Waterloo Station. Here’s part 7: trivia.
Finally to end on a worrying note, WTF is wrong with Americans? According to this guy it is all down to their education system. And the UK isn’t too far behind!
Gawdelpus!

More interesting items you may have missed.
According to George Monbiot it is all very simple: if we can’t change our economic system, our number’s up.
In case you ever wondered, here a brief history of mathematical symbols.

Cats? Well OK, so what was the role of cats in Anglo Saxon England?
And while on cats, let’s have a quick look at the chemistry behind catnip’s effect on cats.
So how on earth do you manufacture a link from cats to the human penis? Oh well, maybe you don’t. Anyway, scientists are getting interested in all those microbes that inhabit our bodies, and one group is now looking at the microbiome of the penis.
So from old jocks to old books … What does cause that smell of new & old books?
OK, so you still need to get the kids interested in science … try the bizarre liquid that sometimes acts like a solid, and which you can make at home.
And from the crazy to the ridiculous (maybe) … here’s a possibly not so serious scientific investigation of mermaids.
And so to the truly astonishing. In Canada a group of swallows have worked out how to open automatic doors.
So yes, insects do sleep. Here are some nice pictures of sleeping jewel wasps.
And onto food … it now seems that the Mediterranean diet effect may all be down to salad and olive oil. Well who would have guessed!
Meanwhile everything you think you know about breakfast is wrong. Well almost everything.
Celery. Aphrodisiac or harbinger of death?
While on health things, here is a piece on the health benefits of sleeping naked. Personally I can’t imagine sleeping comfortably any other way.
OK so we’re on the slippery slope to nowhere, so here’s a brief history of 8 hallucinogens.

And Diamond Geezer tells us 30 things learnt about sex over the last 30 years.
While we’re talking about learning, it seems we learn better if we take handwritten notes and don’t use a laptop. Why do I not find this surprising?
What’s more learning to write by hand means young children also learn to read more easily. Seems it’s something to do with the connectivity in the brain.
OK, so hands. It also seems that the hand you favour shapes your moral space. Which I find kinda weird.
And finally to a couple of historical items. First up the next part in the series on Waterloo Station — this is part 6 on Waterloo’s wildlife.
Tom Shakespeare tries taking a look at what it would be like to take England back to the Dark Ages. I suspect we’d all agree it’d be fairly horrific.
And finally as a piece of lunacy it seems Great Britain has an underwater rugby team. Do what!?!?!?!

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.

More links to articles you may have missed.
Apparently odd numbers are dodgy — except for 7 — but even numbers are good.
So just what is the evolutionary or biological purpose of menstruation? Even you girlies might be surprised at the (details of) the answer.
While we’re on girlie bits, here’s probably more than you wanted to know about having a tit reduction.
Most of my friends will have managed to navigate this OK, but just in case you needed to know, here’s how to care for your changeling.
On the stress of trying to cope with a life-threatening nut allergy.
For all those of you who sleep together, apparently the way you sleep says volumes about your relationship, unless you sleep on your back. Not sure how Noreen and I have survived all these years then.
Research tells us that in the UK we start kids on formal learning much too young. As so often Europe gets it right and we get it wrong.

And now for something more light-hearted. Here’s a medieval image of John Lennon. Love the specs!
While on the old, here’s more on the riddle of the Voynich Manuscript. The article is suggesting it is a forgery — I agree this seems likely.
Back about 1750, long before Cleopatra’s Needle, Canaletto painted a large obelisk on the north bank of the Thames in London. IanVisits investigates.
For once a sensible and accurate article about the Japanese, sub-tropical paradise of Okinawa and Okinawan music in the UK press. And it quotes my friend John Potter.
How the coming of the railways changed elopement.

Meanwhile in Paris the new-fangled police force were spying on the mistresses of the well-to-do for no apparent reason.
And in modern Munich nudity is perfectly OK.
Apparently 2014 has been designated the Year of the Bush. And not before time, say I.
Finally … So you’re worried that your naked body isn’t perfect. Don’t be. A masseuse reassures us that we’re all the same — beautifully imperfect!