The Guild of Scientific Troubadours

The Guild of Scientific Troubadours

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Month: February 2024

Humpback sex photographed for the first time – and it’s gay.

29 February 2024 grant 0

The Guardian runs a science story about a milestone in marine biology – the first time humpback whales have ever been caught on camera in the act of mating. But it’s a story with… Read the rest “Humpback sex photographed for the first time – and it’s gay.”

Odysseus tipped over on the Moon.

28 February 2024 grant 0

Reuters reports on the first private-corp lunar lander, who successfully touched down on the Moon and sent back useful data about conditions there. That’s the good news. The not-so-good… Read the rest “Odysseus tipped over on the Moon.”

Scientific illustration of two prehistoric sea creatures, a long-necked elasmosaurus called Styxosaurus, and a long-bodied fish called Xiphactinus. Bofh species hover in the water, neutrally buoyant, dappled by sunlight, and looking distinctly predatory, just hanging there, watching.

Science Art: Styxosaurus and Xiphactinus/i>, by ABelov2014.

27 February 2024 grant 0

Styxosaurus is, or was, an elasmosaur – an undersea predator with a long neck and sharp teeth, all the better for grabbing ammonites and prehistoric fish for a quick snack. It takes… Read the rest “Science Art: Styxosaurus and Xiphactinus/i>, by ABelov2014.”

Chinese dragon fossil discovered.

24 February 2024 grant 0

NPR, among other outlets, has reported on the discovery of a real Chinese dragon in this, the Year of the Dragon. At least, it’s certainly the remarkably complete fossil of a creature… Read the rest “Chinese dragon fossil discovered.”

Gene test reveals your likelihood of getting 10 common illnesses

22 February 2024 grant 0

Health Day reports on a new DNA scan that reveals to you (and doctors, and who knows who else) just how likely you are to come down with 10 common ailments, including atrial fibrillation, obesity,… Read the rest “Gene test reveals your likelihood of getting 10 common illnesses”

SONG: Lady at the Generator

21 February 2024 grant 0

SONG: “Lady at the Generator”. (available as .ogg here)

ARTIST: grant.

SOURCE: Based on Amsterdam UMC, 4 Jan 2024, “Tiredness Experienced by Long Covid Patients Has… Read the rest “SONG: Lady at the Generator”

Scientific illustration as branding, with an owl as a decorative element arching its wings over pictures of telescopes, engineering tools, weasels and salamanders, biology, astronomy, botany and ichthyology as a low-flying bird seizes a fish by its head inside the decorative, almost art-nouveau border.

Science Art: Science-Gossip cover page, Dec. 1899.

19 February 2024 grant 0

This is the cover page of Science-Gossip magazine, “an illustrated monthly record of nature, country lore, & applied science.”

There are articles in here about Departmental… Read the rest “Science Art: Science-Gossip cover page, Dec. 1899.”

Building a telescope on the Moon.

16 February 2024 grant 0

BBC Sky at Night Magazine reports on NASA’s plan to look deeper into space than ever before by setting up a 9-lb (4-kg) radio telescope farther away than ever before – on the south… Read the rest “Building a telescope on the Moon.”

New hope for life on Mars

15 February 2024 grant 0

Space.com brings more evidence of a life-sustaining environment on primordial Mars, in the form of ancient sediments that confirm Jezero crater was once a vast lake:

As Perseverance travels

… Read the rest “New hope for life on Mars”

Say it to me deeply.

13 February 2024 grant 0

Science Daily reports on research into the psychological effects of the pitch of people’s voices. It’s fairly well known that people find men’s voices more attractive,… Read the rest “Say it to me deeply.”

Scientific illustration of Victorian plumbing, a check valve from a 19th century guide to hydraulic fixtures by J.T. Fanning.

Science Art: Check Valve, 1882.

12 February 2024 grant 0

A valve to prevent backflow… so the river doesn’t wind up in the reservoir, or the effluent in the shower pipes.

From A practical treatise on hydraulic and water-supply engineering:… Read the rest “Science Art: Check Valve, 1882.”

Ancient stash of hallucinogenic medicine discovered.

10 February 2024 grant 0

Science magazine reports on the Dutch discovery of, basically, Roman-era drugs hidden inside a hollow bone. The black henbane seeds could have been used to treat ailments (or to bring on… Read the rest “Ancient stash of hallucinogenic medicine discovered.”

How the Bigfoot candidate went extinct.

6 February 2024 grant 0

Triops Galaxy reports on paleontological research into the biggest primate ever to walk the planet, the 600-pound Gigantopithecus blackii… without mentioning Bigfoot. Instead,… Read the rest “How the Bigfoot candidate went extinct.”

Scientific illustration by Jan Pavelka showing a blue laser creating a fluorescent glow inside a cube of calcite.

Science Art: Fluorescence and birefringence of 445 nm blue laser in calcite crystal, Jan Pavelka, 2011.

4 February 2024 grant 0

Calcite refracts light in a linear way – it’s why (as previous songs have discussed) it may have been used as a navigational tool by Vikings. It tends to make light that passes… Read the rest “Science Art: Fluorescence and birefringence of 445 nm blue laser in calcite crystal, Jan Pavelka, 2011.”

“MouthPad” lets you scroll with your tongue.

4 February 2024 grant 0

NBC reports on a digital device that’s just on the tip of your tongue… where it acts like a trackpad on the roof of your mouth:

MouthPad^, a retainer-like trackpad chip that sits

… Read the rest ““MouthPad” lets you scroll with your tongue.”

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Honorary Troubadours
  • Jonathan Coulton, Contributing Troubadour for Popular Science.
  • Laura Veirs, who knows her way around a polysyllable.
  • Thomas Dolby, godfather of scientific pop.
  • Squeaky, fact-based rock about fusion containment & rocket science.
  • Cosmos II, a.k.a. Boston University astronomer Alan Marscher.
  • Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, astrophysicist who makes music from cosmic radio sources.
  • Dr. Jim Webb, astronomy professor and acoustic guitarist.
  • Artichoke, the band behind 26 Scientists, Vols. I and II.
  • They Might Be Giants, unrelenting proponents of scientific popular song.
  • Symphonies of Science, the people who make Carl Sagan and others sing.
  • Giant Squid, doom metal about the sublime horrors of marine biology.
  • Gethan Dick,6 scientists, 6 musicians, 1 great album
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