My Virtual Reading Room

Anthropological trivia from Sapiens

Did he want a cat scan? Mountain lion makes surprise visit to Arizona hospital, from USA Today

What are red sprites, blue jets, and other Transient Luminous events?, from Paul M. Smith Photography

(check out their FB page btw--amazing photos)


and three from Medium:

How to Become the Best in the World at Something

With skill stacking, you don’t need to be at the top to be extraordinary

(an interesting perspective)

We live to compete. What I learned by winning the Duolingo diamond league

Common side effects of not drinking

By rejecting alcohol, you reject something very human, an extra limb that we have collectively grown to deal with reality and with each other. Getting around without it is not painless.

(I was a bit puzzled by this one actually, but I suppose, as with many things, it depends on one's experience and social circle...)

Three from Dr. Andrea Love on Substack:

The word "toxic" is meaningless without context

People who don't understand biology weaponize this word to scare you

Measles: Is it Immune or Human Amnesia?

People have really forgotten the impact of preventable illness

The appeal to nature fallacy is the false belief that "natural" is better

Plenty of natural things can be extremely harmful at tiny exposures

From the NYT (gift link):

Mildred Thornton Stahlman, Pioneer in Neonatal Care, Dies at 101

She developed one of the first modern intensive care units for premature babies, helping newborns to breathe with lifesaving new treatments.

(fascinating story, do take a look)

Her hearing implant was preapproved. But she still received multiple $139,000 bills, from NPR

(crazy story, and great advice at the end of the article)