Given the ongoing outbreak of H7N9 flu in China (and, now, also Taiwan), this is a good time to listen to a fascinating podcast discussion with David Quammen. Quammen recently published a FANTASTIC book, Spillover, about zoonoses — the diseases that humans contract from animals. This includes bird flus like H7N9. It also includes AIDS and a whole host of familiar viruses and bacteria. Bonus: Scary disease girl Maryn McKenna has a cameo in the podcast, discussing the way news media (in China and the US) are covering H7N9 and what you can do to better understand what's happening.
How animals pass disease to humans
An old rocket booster crashed on the moon and left a peculiar double crater
Two craters 16m and 18m wide appeared on the moon right next to each other. It's out fault, obviously (obviously?), but the double trouble has scientists aflutter. Astronomers predicted a mysterious object would hit the Moon on March 4 after tracking the debris for months. The object was large, and believed to be a spent… READ THE REST
Scientists discovered the world's largest bacterium and you can see it with your naked eye
Below is an image of Thiomargarita magnifica, the world's largest bacterium that scientists just discovered in the French Caribbean hanging out on underwater on decaying leaves from a mangrove tree. The size and shape of a human eyelash, you can see it without a microscope. (The illustration above shows the lil' creature beside a dime.)… READ THE REST
Watch these miniature Brazilian frogs in all their awkward glory
These miniature Brazilian frogs (aka pumpkin toadlets) don't have much balance and thus jump in reallllly awkward ways. Apparently, their inner ears are too small to provide good balance. New research published in Science explains the phenomenon: Miniaturization has evolved repeatedly in frogs in the moist leaf litter environments of rainforests worldwide. Miniaturized frogs are… READ THE REST
This iPhone app lets you scan your problems away, and it comes at a discount!
Let's face it. Most people need an assistant. Who doesn't want a little bit of help from time to time with things like organization? Unfortunately, especially with our current technology surplus, it can be a bit easy to fall behind and feel disorganized. When scanning documents, in particular, it can be tough to figure out how to… READ THE REST
Grab a refurbished MacBook for the best of work and play for under $500
Some computers blast their fan the second you open Excel, but not MacBooks. As compact as they are, MacBooks are workhorses you can put through the wringer for years. That's what you'd get if you picked up this refurbished 11.6-inch Apple MacBook Air. For a limited time, this beautifully refurbished laptop is on sale for $499.99, down… READ THE REST
Cut out the bad meals (and prepare delicious ones) with 63% off these Japanese knives
Whether you are a professional chef or just a novice making yourself dinner in your kitchen, you should always make sure that you have the best tools at your disposal. You may ensure that you have great ingredients, frying pans, and glassware, but proper preparation doesn't end there. A complete master knife set is the perfect way to step… READ THE REST
