cordyceps fungus

It is time, once again, to get your mental corn popping (i.e., make weird mental connections that give you all kinds of great ideas for creative works)!

Erin Blakemore explains the origins of African American studies. National Geographic

Daryle Williams and Kristina E. Poznan are using data to discover and explore the stories of enslaved people. JSTOR Daily

Ashawnta Jackson is keeping scores: unearthing the works of Black women composers. JSTOR Daily

Anne Trafton: ingestible sensor could help doctors pinpoint gastrointestinal issues. MIT News

Christina Szalinski says the antibodies from camels and sharks could change medicine. Knowable Magazine

The dark room where science was invented. Be Smart

Ivan Semeniuk reports that the meeting of Venus and Jupiter under spectacular view of the moon offer reminder of space missions to come. The Globe and Mail

Ryan Jackson embarks on a scientific investigation of “The Last of Us” fungal pandemic. CNet

Beth Betkowski wonders, do trees really “talk” to each other through underground fungal networks? The “wood-wide web” contested. The University of Alberta

Dyani Lewis reports that sea life bounced back fast after “the mother of mass extinctions.” Nature

Krisztina Feyno: Hungarian research explores why your dog is prone to howling. Reuters

Sean Wetselaar says we own more dogs than ever before. We didn’t think it through. The Walrus

Thanks for spending some time with me. I hope you took away something to inspire an future creative project.

Until my next chapter weekly update, be well and stay safe; be kind and stay strong. The world needs your stories!

A fascinating article from The Smithsonian Magazine on the microscopic structure of dried human tears.

This article on and video of the fungus cordyceps in action creeped me out. I fucking love science.

Discovery presents the top ten species of 2014.

Part of me cringed at the wanton destruction. The other part drooled a little. Book art by Brian Dettmer.

Web Urbanist presents 15 of the world’s most magical lodgings. Bucket list!

I love dogs. LOVE. So, of course, I could resist sharing these pups with gorgeous coats.

Here are two videos from a crazy Finnish magician, who figured it would be fun to make dogs’ treats disappear. It’s funny. Also a little mean. Dogs NEED their treats. Mind you, the dogs take it well. A testament to their species and a confusing commentary on ours. (I’m including myself in this indictment – I laughed.)