Prominent German polymath and one of the most important logicians, mathematicians and natural philosophers of the Enlightenment. As a representative of the seventeenth-century tradition of rationalism, Leibniz’s most prominent accomplishment was conceiving the ideas of differential and integral calculus, independently of Isaac Newton.
Polish (naturalized-French) physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, is the only woman to win the Nobel prize twice, and is the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields.
A Dutch businessman and scientist. Largely self-taught in science, he is commonly known as “the Father of Microbiology”, and one of the first microscopists and microbiologists.
Theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics).
English physician who made seminal contributions in anatomy and physiology. He was the first known physician to describe completely, and in detail, the circulatory system and properties of blood being pumped to the brain and body by the heart.
Possibly the most accomplished of all medical researchers of antiquity, Galen influenced the development of various scientific disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and neurology, as well as philosophy and logic.
Once more, dear friends, unto our monthly collection of links to items you may have missed the first time. And we have a well stuffed list this month.
Science, Technology, Natural World
First off something to worry you (well maybe) … Scientific American looks at how easy it is to hack GPS, and the USA’s lack of a backup. [£££]
I’ve never liked the way we change the clocks twice a year, and it seems there is evidence that daylight saving time does affect our health.
Another of my bêtes noir is the way wasps get such a bad press and abuse. We need to learn to love them as they’re amazing pest-killers and useful pollinators. [£££]
Many more birds migrate than we realise. Now a Robin has been recorded doing 140 mile crossing of trhe North Sea in just four hours
And now for some good news … a mouse deer thought to be extinct (it’s not been seen for nearly 30 years) has been found alive in Vietnam.
Now you now we had to get to cats eventually! It seems that our cats are more attached to us than we thought. [£££]
A mysterious 300 million-year-old fossil known as the Tully Monster could be a vertebrate or an invertebrate: scientists are still trying to decide and the oddities keep multiplying.
Do animals speak to us? Dutch philosopher Eva Meijer says that they do but we don’t (know how to) listen to them.
Finally in this section, one not for the squeamish. A look at how forensic scientists are studying the microbiological decay of corpses using human bodies. [LONG READ]
Health, Medicine
In the 1950s, photojournalist Lennart Nilsson set out to capture photographs of foetuses, and his Foetus 18 Weeks may be the greatest photograph of the 20th century.
Why is measles such a dangerous illness, even after recovery? Because it appears to make the body forget how to fight infection.
Now here’s something very odd: apparently some left-handed women can smell normally despite having olfactory bulbs in their brain. And this is only left-handed women!
So are women’s experiences of menopause psychosomatic? It seems they may be (at least in part) as women’s experience of menopause appears to be related her family’s experiences.
Sexuality
So here are seven myths about fertility.
New in London: the world’s only Vagina Museum. Needless to say it’s dedicated to female genitalia. [LONG READ]
Environment
We aren’t nearly good enough at recycling, so here are 15 ways to reduce your plastic footprint.
The National Trust is set to release families of beavers at sites in Somerset and Sussex as part of plans to ease flooding and improve biodiversity.
Art, Literature, Language
Italian police have arrested over 20 people in connection with the trafficking of archaeological artefacts.
Now here’s another oddity. It appears that our (western) perception of musical octaves is learned and not hard-wired in the brain.
Art can be cathartic, as Laura Dodsworth discovers when talking to high security prisoners about her work.
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
Should the Iron Age really be called the Flax Age? [LONG READ]
The Ancient Egyptians mummified millions of sacred birds, but were they wild caught or captive bred?
So just why was the year 536 AD the worst year to be alive?
Researchers are linking the Catholic Church’s ban on cousins marrying (well, incest in general) to the emergence of western individualism. [£££]
We all know that inflation happens, but how much has the value of money changed over the centuries? It seems it depends on how you measure it, and that isn’t easy.
It is a wise child who knows its father. New research shows this is truer in cities than rural areas.
London
The Museum of London is planning to move into part of the old Smithfield Market. IanVisits looks inside the space before construction work begins.
Meanwhile London blogger Diamond Geezer gives us an A to Z of Kew Gardens.
Food, Drink
Ten of the world’s most environmentally controversial foods.
Zoe Williams in the Guardian contends that there’s a generation gap in food.
Lifestyle, Personal Development
Collective worship in schools must be provided for all pupils in an appropriate way for their beliefs, and not be single religion.
One woman tells the story of how she became an astrologer, what it was like, and why she stopped.
The patriarchy is not the natural human state, after all hunter-gatherer societies remain remarkable for their gender equality. [LONG READ]
Attachment: are you a secure, avoidant or anxious partner?
We all know about green space, but blue space? It appears that time spent near water is the secret of happiness.
So fifty fascinating facts about our friendly felines.
People
And finally … Who would have guessed that Rod Stewart has spent over 20 years building a mega model railway?
Another instalment in the dull days following Christmas! Have a good one.
Being our round-up of links to items you missed the first time – but they’re a bit thin on the ground this month.
Science, Technology, Natural World
An article on the American woman who established industrial medicine and toxicology.
A southern European wasp species (Polistes nimpha, right) has seen in UK for probably the first time.
Should we feed garden birds or not? A BTO researcher weighs the evidence.
Health, Medicine
Transplant of vaginal fluid could help cure bacterial vaginosis.
A look at how Mooncup bust period taboos and built a successful business
Sexuality
Is this sexuality or is it medicine? Anyway it is here … It is suggested that stimulated ovulation (eg. in rabbits) could provide an underlying explanation for female orgasm.
Art, Literature, Language
A look at something we all know … the English language is not normal. [LONG READ]
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
Some recent research suggests that Botswana’s Okavango Delta was the cradle of all living humans.
There is now some debate over whether Neanderthals are the same species as Homo sapiens. It seems to depend on how you define a species.
Aerial geophysics scanning has found 1000 ancient sites on the Scottish island of Arran.
Still in Scotland, some ruins in a Tayside forest may have been illicit 18th century whisky distilleries.
The Museum of London has acquired a silver plate which belonged to diarist Samuel Pepys.
And that’s all for this month, folks!
Here goes then with this month’s selection of links to items you may have missed the first time round, and probably shouldn’t have done!
Science, Technology & Natural World
Cheeky monkeys! Apparently squirrels eavesdrop on birds’ chatter to find out if there’s a security alert.
After which it isn’t surprising that squirrels’ cousins, the rats, love games, giggle and jump for joy.
Insects deserve much more respect than they get; without them we’d not be here! [LONG READ]
One insect group deserving of greater respect, and admiration, are the wasps. Not just the annoying “yellow jackets”, there’s a whole diversity of species and they’re brilliant predators.
On the other hand we all like butterflies, and this has been an especially good year, especially for Painted Ladies.
Health & Medicine
Research has shown definitively that babies born by Caesarean have different gut bacteria compared with vaginal births. Why does this surprise anyone?
Statistical analysis shows that 26 September is the busiest day for births (at least in the UK) at about 10% above the average. Yes, you guessed it: it’s all down to Christmas and New Year shagging.
Sexuality
The world’s first Vagina Museum opens in November at London’s Camden Lock. Aim: to educate and raise awareness of vaginal and vulval health and fight stigmas.
Environment
Apparently the fish stock calculations were way off and North Sea cod should not have been labelled as sustainable.
What practical things can you do to combat climate change? One thing we seldom consider is to plant your own trees.
Art & Literature
After 119 years the Wallace Collection in London is to start lending out its artworks. Under the terms by which they were established they thought they couldn’t do this, but now they think they can.
History, Archaeology & Anthropology
Archaeologists have uncovered over 250 Neanderthal footprints, many of children, in northern France. They promise to throw some light on Neanderthal lifestyle.
Again, I’m not sure why this is surprising, but there is now evidence to suggest that the first people in the Americas came by sea.
Archaeologists are also now suggesting that prehistoric babies were fed animal milk from pottery bottles.
Coming more up to date, English Heritage are concerned that damp is putting many ancient murals, especially church wall paintings, at risk.
A piece of what is thought to be Elizabeth I’s lost dress is to go on display at Hampton Court.
In Scotland there is a plan to establish a national witches’ memorial.
London
While Britain’s parliamentarians are letting off quantities of hot air, the Houses of Parliament are threatening to collapse on their heads. [LONG READ]
One of our favourite London bloggers, Diamond Geezer, takes a random walk from Oxford Circus.
Food & Drink
No part of the pig is ever wasted. Now chefs are beginning to sign up to fin-to-gill eating – cooking fish without discarding anything.
Lifestyle & Personal Development
A pair of (American) researchers are suggesting every couple should have eight intense discussions to cement and develop their relationship. When you read their book, although they are deep discussions, it is the usual structured common sense – but something many will not easily do without a prompt.
It has apparently now been confirmed that there are benefits to being left-handed.
Shock, Horror, Humour
And finally, it’s time for this year’s Ig Nobel prizes. Amongst this year’s winners is a study of French postmen’s testicles.
More next month.
The mess following the meltdown of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in 2011 continues – and will do for decades!
The latest concern, see for example the Guardian of 16 September, is that the power company Tepco wants to discharge a million or more tons of contaminated water into the sea.
Currently, just over one million tonnes of contaminated water is held in almost 1,000 tanks at Fukushima Daiichi, but [Tepco] will run out of space by the summer of 2022.
… … …
Tepco … removes highly radioactive substances, such as strontium and caesium, from the water but the system is unable to filter out tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that coastal nuclear plants commonly dump along with water into the ocean … water in [the] tanks still contain[s] contaminants beside tritium.
What the other contaminants are we are not told.
Having spent the last eight years trying to rebuild their almost destroyed industry, needless to say the Fukushima fishermen are opposed to the idea.
Understandably this is a problem. Tritium does occur naturally, although at incredibly low levels. So given that its half-life is a little over 12 years, depending on the initial concentration of tritium the water will reduce in radioactivity and toxicity relatively quickly (a few decades) and could eventually be discharged safely.
On the other hand contaminated groundwater is still being recovered and stored at the rate of around 100 tonnes a day. And that’s likely faster than water can be released following the tritium decay.
While the decay products of tritium cannot penetrate skin it can be a concern if ingested in the form of tritiated water (water molecules containing a tritium in place of one of the hydrogens). And of course marine life swims in the would be contaminated water.
So no wonder the Fukushima fishing industry is concerned. It’s a circle that is going to be very hard to square.