You really didn’t want to have missed these items …
Science, Technology, Natural World
The latest estimates are that Earth is home to around 20 million species of insect – that’s way more than was previously thought. [££££]
It’s interesting how non-native parrots thrive in cities – and largely don’t compete with native species. [LONG READ]
London’s Kew Gardens has digitised its 7 million plant specimens. [££££]
Here are some surprising facts about aquatic flora, including that seaweeds are not plants!
So what is it that makes about 10% of people left-handed?
Venezuela recently suffered a double earthquake, but why did so many buildings collapse?
Trust the Swiss! They’re pioneering putting solar panels between railway tracks as another way to generate electricity without using too much land for solar panels.
Now away from Earth … astronomers have detected “raspberry sugar” in a dust cloud in our Milky Way galaxy.
Health, Medicine
Drug chemist Derek Lowe looks at the very high failure rate of new drug candidates over the last 50-60 years.
I bet you didn’t know that hospitals routinely use antimatter! [LONG READ]
One academic writes about what it is like inside the UK’s top secret chemical weapons laboratory at Porton Down. [LONG READ]
There’s a new catalogue of viruses revealing which pose the greatest threats.
So now for some real, and scary, surgery: Irish surgeons have been able to remove a brain tumour through an eyelid!
Sexuality & Relationships
OK, boys, understand this … your ejaculate is not a waste product
Is it acceptable to state a preference over your partner’s pubic hair?
Art, Literature, Language, Music
Here’s an article on iconic and revolutionary Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki (above).
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
Archaeologists have at last managed to decipher 4000-year-old Linear Elamite from ancient Iran.
Back at home in the UK, archaeologists continue to rewrite what we thought we knew about Stonehenge.
An entire Byzantine town has been found in Egypt’s Western Desert
Back at home again, medieval football could end up getting you killed.
And now the story of the 17th-century siege of Basing House. [LONG READ]
London
And at last we journey to London to hear the story of Westminster Cathedral. [LONG READ]
Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs
Here’ are some thoughts about the human body and why for some naturism feels right.
And then here are some thoughts on sleeping naked. [LONG READ]
And finally I’ll leave you with a look at some of the world’s strangest nude traditions.
