Valley fever is a respiratory disease that can cause flu-like symptoms, rashes, and (sometimes) chronic lung problems. It's caused by a fungus that lives in dry soil, essentially hibernating for years until it's reinvigorated by moisture. Valley fever is best known for infecting prisoners in the American southwest, but it's also an occupational hazard of archaeologists … who spend most of their lives sifting through the soils where the fungus lives.
A real graveyard curse: Archaeologists susceptible to fungal disease
Bogdanoff twins dead of Covid
Grichka and Igor Bogdanoff, twin "scientists" whose reputations shrank as their faces grew, are dead of Covid. The brothers later tried their hands at academic work, writing doctoral theses in mathematics and theoretical physics which were both panned by their peers. Ridiculed by sections of French media, they won a 2014 court case for defamation… READ THE REST
These are the best optical illusions of 2021
These are the top three winners in the 2021 Best Illusion of the Year contest, orchestrated by the Neural Correlate Society—a nonprofit that "promotes scientific research into the neural correlates of perception and cognition." "How we see the outside world―our perception―is generated indirectly by brain mechanisms, and so all perception is illusory to some extent,"… READ THE REST
Richard Leakey, fossil hunter and anthropologist, RIP
Richard Leakey, the Kenyan paleoanthropologist who discovered key evidence that Africa was the birthplace of humankind, has died at age 77. An esteemed fossil hunter and conservationist, Leakey was the son of paleontology legends Louis and Mary Leakey. From the New York Times: One of his most celebrated finds came in 1984 when he helped… READ THE REST
Set up the creative space you've always wanted with this sewing table for $199
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Once the holidays are over, organizing, renovating, and refreshing our home spaces is always a great way to kick off the new year. Why not treat yourself to that little crafting… READ THE REST
This multi-functional laser measurer is a toolbox must-have, and it's 20% off
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. What do shopping for furniture, hanging photos on the wall, and doing large-scale art projects all have in common? Aside from making you want to momentarily tear your hair out, these… READ THE REST
These two best-selling drones will change your photography game, and they're over half-off
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Life is full of extraordinary moments, from weddings and graduations to the everyday beauty of fresh snowfall. And while your phone may have some top-notch picture-taking abilities, capturing these snapshots from a new… READ THE REST
