• Centauri Dreams looks at signs of advanced technologies detectable by SETI searches.
• D-Brief notes evidence of the domestication of turkeys in eth and 5th century Mexico.
• Dangerous Minds discusses a legendary 1985 concert by Einstürzende Neubauten.
• Joe. My. God. notes the banning of Tila Tequila from Twitter.
• Language Log looks about a Hebrew ( Read more... )

• blogTO notes that Stollery's at Yonge and Bloor could be demolished soon.
• Centauri Dreams notes that gyrochronology--using a star's spin rate to calculate its age--works.
• The Dragon's Gaze looks at the spacing of planets in exosystems.
• The Dragon's Tales notes that dogs crossed into the Americas only ten thousand years ago.
• Joe. My. God. notes how ( Read more... )

I saw the Margo McDiarmid news story last night on the CBC that inspired this article. The idea of using the fluff of milkweed to deal with oil spills, in the process producing a plant vital for butterflies, feels to me like the work of a quiet genius. Well done, indeed!

Franç​ois Simard, creator of Protec-Style, has a contract with Parks Canada ( Read more... )

The Great Canadian Soap Company in the North Shore community of Brackley Beach has its own on-site herd of goats, whose milk is used for said company's soaps. They're an amusing attraction in themselves.


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I quite like this cheerful plush octopus, distinguishable from other cephalopods for its eight pairs of arms. The cheerful pink makes this one work ( Read more... )

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Via The Loom I found an interesting essay by science writer Carl Zimmer suggesting that introduced species--animals and plants transplanted via human action from their native environment to one where they've traditionally been lacking--may not be as damaging to the natural environment as some suggest.

The tale of the honeybee is a sadly familiar ( Read more... )

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I had passed by Earth Echoesn (975 Dovercourt Road) before as I wound my way northwards to home and noted the elaborately carved walking sticks in the windows. It wasn't until last Thursday that I stopped, and looked, and aaw a neatly written paper list advertising the precises of reptiles, and next to that list caged lizards ( Read more... )