Apr 12, 2010 9:33 AM

Tracks and Traces 04.12.10

Caterpillars must walk before they can anally scrape (Not Exactly Rocket Science) Twitter taphonomy conversation reminded me of one of my favorite books, Recent Vertebrate Carcasses and Their Paleobiological Implications by Johannes Weigelt Deep-sea scavengers risk low-oxygen levels to have ham for dinner (via @mjvinas) The explosive chemistry of coal mines (by @deborahblum) Lemur species […]

Caterpillars must walk before they can anally scrape (Not Exactly Rocket Science)
Twitter taphonomy conversation reminded me of one of my favorite books, Recent Vertebrate Carcasses and Their Paleobiological Implications by Johannes Weigelt
Deep-sea scavengers risk low-oxygen levels to have ham for dinner (via @mjvinas)
The explosive chemistry of coal mines (by @deborahblum)
Lemur species rediscovered after 100 years (ht @dendroica)
Watch out for those falling blocks! - NYC gets destroyed, 8-bit style (ht @PD_Smith)
Creepy cadavers - photos of old school dissections (ht @Bonesholmes)
The Science of Kissing gets a cover (via @Sheril_)

Brian Switek is a freelance science writer and a paleontology volunteer with the Natural History Museum of Utah. He is also author of the books My Beloved Brontosaurus and Written in Stone. ... Read More

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Physicists Create a Thermometer for Measuring ‘Quantumness’

“Anomalous” heat flow, which at first appears to violate the second law of thermodynamics, gives physicists a way to detect quantum entanglement without destroying it.

How Genes Have Harnessed Physics to Grow Living Things

The same pulling force that causes “tears” in a glass of wine also shapes embryos. It’s another example of how genes exploit mechanical forces for growth and development.

Hurricane Melissa Has Meteorologists Terrified

The storm, which is set to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, has stunned meteorologists with its intensity and the speed at which it built.

Climate Change Made Hurricane Melissa 4 Times More Likely, Study Suggests

Unusually warm ocean temperatures fueled one of the worst hurricanes on record. New research finds climate change increased the storm’s likelihood.

In Orbit You Have to Slow Down to Speed Up

Driving a spacecraft around a planet isn’t anything like driving on a planet. A physicist explains orbital navigation.

How to Follow the Trajectory of Comet 3I/Atlas

The interstellar comet 3I/Atlas reached its closest point to the sun. Here's how to follow the rest of its journey away from our solar system.

An Invasive Disease-Carrying Mosquito Has Spread to the Rocky Mountains

The Aedes aegypti mosquito that can carry dengue, yellow fever, and Zika was thought to be too reliant on a hot and wet climate to survive in the Mountain West. But now, a population is thriving in Western Colorado.

The ‘10 Martini’ Proof Connects Quantum Mechanics With Infinitely Intricate Mathematical Structures

The proof, known to be so hard that a mathematician once offered 10 martinis to whoever could figure it out, uses number theory to explain quantum fractals.

Can a Hydroelectric Dam Really Make the Days Longer?

By shifting water to a higher elevation, the giant Three Gorges Dam caused the Earth to spin more slowly.

How Do Metal Detectors Work?

What sneaky invisible forces enable these instruments to locate buried treasure?

Unpicking How to Measure the Complexity of Knots

Two mathematicians have proved that a straightforward question—how hard is it to untie a knot?—has a complicated answer.

The Hidden Math of Ocean Waves

The math behind even the simplest ocean waves is notoriously uncooperative. A team of Italian mathematicians has made major advances toward understanding it.