Learning! Roundup: Top science stories, sperms against cervical cancer, less cash for ladies, and more!

Space was involved in several of the top science stories of 2017.
Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Foter.com / CC BY

Two of the Top Scientific Advancements of 2017

Vice Magazine interviewed two top scientists in London, Sir John Skehel and Alex Halliday, about the top scientific advancements of 2017. They chose genome engineering and the recording of gravitational waves from two neutron stars colliding, and then discussed the impact and ethics involved.

The Top TEN Science Stories of 2017

Scientific American takes Vice's top TWO stories and multiplies it by five, just to win really hard. Top stories include the eclipse, climate change, and the health benefits or harms of marijuana.

Sperm Armies Fight Cervical Cancer

Sperm have another use! Scientists are working on using them to deliver cancer treatments to tumours in the female reproductive tract. They even fitted the sperm out with little magnetic harnesses to help draw them towards the tumours. Adorable!

Woman Artists Get Less Money

A new study shows that art by women sells for 47.6% less than art created by men. Sigh.

Weekly Review

This weekly review checklist blends Getting Things Done and Bullet Journal methods with some valuable reflections. If you're looking to get your life in order for the new year, this could be a good start!

Motivated Reasoning and White Women's Support of Roy Moore

If you, like me, were both unsurprised and horrified at the percentage of white women who voted for Roy Moore in the Alabama State Senate race (as a Canadian, I truly never expected to care about this level of specificity in American politics, but we now live in a dark timeline), here is an interesting analysis of motivated reasoning and how it played into things.

"When we become defensive and threatened, we do everything we have to mitigate that stress. We rationalize, we explain away, we avoid information, we willingly try to get away from it."

Future Superheroes

Due to a gene mutation, there is a family in Italy that doesn't feel pain. Or rather, they don't feel much pain. They had broken bones and fractures that they were completely unaware of - it hurt a bit at the time of the break, and then they moved on with their lives. While this might not be a great trait from evolution's perspective since pain is supposed to help keep us alive, it's still pretty cool and might put us on the road to superhero mutations!


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