The Gut and the Immune System, Radio Bursts, and Martin Gardner: Lux Recommends #254
Welcome to Lux Recommends #254, this week’s edition of what we at Lux are reading and thinking about (want to receive this by email? Sign up here).
Articles
The gut trains the immune system to protect the brain: “These data provide more compelling evidence that the brain is protected by immune cells that are educated in the gut.” — Adam G
A Pinnacle of Coral Is Discovered in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef: “The underwater skyscraper teems with sea life and had been overlooked in past surveys of the reef system.” — Zack
AI Camera Mistakenly Tracks Referee’s Bald Head Instead of Soccer Ball — Adam K
Neurons that ‘talk’ to the gut help the female body to prepare for reproduction — Adam G
Astronomers Pinpoint Source of Mysterious Radio Burst Signal: “It released an incredible amount of energy in just milliseconds — and we still don’t know why.” — Adam K
To Boldly Go Where No Internet Protocol Has Gone Before: “Vinton Cerf helped create the internet 40 years ago, and he’s still working to connect people around the world — and off it.” — Deena
Will a small, long-shot U.S. company end up producing the best coronavirus vaccine? — Brandon
Ancient Remains in Peru Reveal Young, Female Big-Game Hunter: “Scientists are divided on broader implications of the find for ancient gender roles.”— Deena
He Invented the Rubik’s Cube. He’s Still Learning From It: ‘Erno Rubik, who devised one of the world’s most popular and enduring puzzles, opens up about his creation in his new book, “Cubed.”’ — friend of Lux Mike Granoff
The Xenobot Future Is Coming — Start Planning Now: “We’re on the cusp of being able to program biological systems like we program computers. That raises some thorny questions.” — Deena
The Science That Spans #MeToo, Memes, and Covid-19: “The theory underlying network science predates the internet. But in 2020, it became essential to understanding our interconnected world.” — Deena
An Oral History of ‘Marge vs The Monorail’, the Episode That Changed ‘The Simpsons’ — Sam
Mario Molina (1943–2020): “Ozone-hole Nobel winner, Montreal Protocol advocate, presidents’ adviser.” — Bilal
Books
Undiluted Hocus-Pocus: The Autobiography of Martin Gardner: “The autobiography of the beloved writer who inspired a generation to study math and science” — Sam
Videos
Exploding Whale 50th Anniversary, Remastered! — Peter
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