sovay | Science is not for the impatient

Current Music: Carbon Leaf, "Life Less Ordinary"

Science is not for the impatient

So I spent most of my Yom Kippur afternoon at the doctor's, which was completely unnecessary. (I aten't dead.) On the bright side, I am about to leave for break-fast with

derspatchel and I still love science:

One question never far from scientists' minds is how events might unfold were a giant slime mould to emerge in the Far East and embark on global domination . . . After a series of simple experiments involving agar, a globe, a bag of oats, and an obliging slime mould, an answer, of sorts, is now at hand.

I remember when slime mold modeled Tokyo's railways. I had no idea it felt so strongly about the Silk Road.

Happy new year!

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Happy New Year!

Slime molds--the first transit planners. Planning roadways from before there were horses, let alone carts and wheels.

Slime molds--the first transit planners. Planning roadways from before there were horses, let alone carts and wheels.

They have an entire book on it!

(It is glossed on the website as "World Motorways According to Slime." I don't know where I'd scrape together the money, but I'd be even more tempted if that were the actual title.)

Why must the price tag be so hefty?? Otherwise I'd get it for the Tall One for Christmas....

Otherwise I'd get it for the Tall One for Christmas....

Maybe the paperback will be cheaper? Write to them and ask?

I might look around and see what's available!

Happy new year!

I love that the URL of that article is "slime-mould-world."

I love that the URL of that article is "slime-mould-world."

I also like International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos.

selidor's Loki probably publishes there.

What? I didn't notice that title. That is awesome, and I bet you're right.

What? I didn't notice that title.

It's where the world of slime mold paper is appearing. (If you can't see the full article, let me know and I'll send you a copy.)

lesser_celery has published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, which I will never tire of knowing is a real scientific journal having nothing to do with bad Goth poetry.

(I can download it--thanks for the link)

(I can download it--thanks for the link)

Awesome! I am always glad when academic journals are not jerks about this sort of thing.

International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos

That is marvelous!!

presumably because there's a bunch of good capitols in the way?
Anyway, glad you're not dead, and happy new year!

presumably because there's a bunch of good capitols in the way?

I just hope someone is already writing "Across the Taklamakan by Slime Mold."

Anyway, glad you're not dead, and happy new year!

Thank you! On both counts likewise!

Your science fair project sounds a lot more hazardous than mine, but probably equally as gross: my father obtained real human teeth for me (being a dentist), which I then proceeded to submerge in jars of various fluids drunk by humans (sodas, juices, water, etc.) over a period of some weeks to determine the enamel deterioration rates caused by each!

Glad the migraine didn't eat you. They do try very hard.

Your science fair project sounds a lot more hazardous than mine, but probably equally as gross

Well, the incubator full of E. coli smelled interesting. But the slime mold were beautiful. I should see if I can dig out and scan some of the photographs; I had a camera clamped on to a microscope for weeks.

my father obtained real human teeth for me (being a dentist), which I then proceeded to submerge in jars of various fluids drunk by humans (sodas, juices, water, etc.) over a period of some weeks to determine the enamel deterioration rates caused by each!

Oh, yeah? Does carbonation destroy your teeth as fast as it sounds like it should, or are you in more danger from a daily glass of grapefruit juice?

Glad the migraine didn't eat you. They do try very hard.

The doctor did not think I should worry about it unless it repeats. Apparently it presented a lot more like most people's migraines than the kind I've always gotten from caffeine.

You're in just as much trouble drinking lots of orange juice as you are drinking lots of Coke - without brushing properly, that is. I had a set that got no brushing at all, plus four or five sets that were brushed daily and then put back in their jars of fluid. What I was testing at the same time was the preventative effectiveness of various toothpastes. I believe the winner at the time was the basic Crest, although there may well be some other brand/type that outstrips it by now...

Migraines are in the air right now, as far as I'm concerned. It's making me mad.

Migraines are in the air right now, as far as I'm concerned. It's making me mad.

Ergh. Did one blow your way?

Three weeks running now, yes; before, they came maybe every two or three weeks, but I seem to be weekly at the moment. Today's hit halfway through wandering around the Big E. It reminds me of what happened at Arisia, which makes me wonder if prolonged exposure to especially big crowds is a trigger right now.

(Er, not Arisia...Readercon.)

Today's hit halfway through wandering around the Big E. It reminds me of what happened at Arisia, which makes me wonder if prolonged exposure to especially big crowds is a trigger right now.

I don't see why not. A crowd is a lot of noise. I still hope you enjoyed the Big E! I'm going on Saturday with

derspatchel,

rushthatspeaks, and

gaudior; I'm informed it's epic. I've never been.

*hugs, gently*

*hugs back*

This was my first time there. You must try the maple-flavored milk from one of the dairy stands in the Vermont exhibition hall; it is seriously the most wonderful thing I have tasted in AGES. Also, the chocolate-covered strawberries from a chocolatier near one of the entrances/exits in Connecticut are to die for. Also the on-tap root beer at Flatbread Pizza in Vermont.

I'm very glad you aten't.

Happy break-fast, and happy new year!

I suppose I'm glad to know that sime mould likes the Silk Road as much as it likes the Tokyo railway system.

I suppose I'm glad to know that sime mould likes the Silk Road as much as it likes the Tokyo railway system.

I like that someone in this world has thought to find out.

If I had it to do over again, I would have become a mycologist.

If I had it to do over again, I would have become a mycologist.

That is a career path I cannot dispute.

(You wanted to become a certified public accountant, then we'll talk . . .)

The slime mould working at the Unconventional Computing Centre is a colleague of mine, it seems! I must see if it's available for lunch.

I must see if it's available for lunch.

Please do say hello for me!

Slime mould and trains? Poem?

Happy new year! I hope breaking the fast was glorious.

Slime mould and trains? Poem?

I'll see what I can do!

(I've had something in my head since last night, but I don't believe it involves either of these elements, I'm sorry.)

Happy new year! I hope breaking the fast was glorious.

We went to Machu Picchu Grill for dinner and M3 for dessert. Probably, from a physical standpoint, I did not need to fast-break quite as enthusiastically as I did, but it was good.

Yay for further lack of headaches.
If 'Across the Taklamakan by Slime Mould' doesn't turn up within a year, someone should probably grow it.
I wonder if there's a way to get them to reproduce the Pacific trading routes. Slime moulds on little barges may not work.

I am not writing the poem where Loki reviews journal articles. "Peer review" is shaky enough as it stands...

If 'Across the Taklamakan by Slime Mould' doesn't turn up within a year, someone should probably grow it.

Agreed. I won't bet against my falling on that sword, sandy and spore-powdered as it may be.

I wonder if there's a way to get them to reproduce the Pacific trading routes. Slime moulds on little barges may not work.

Perhaps not, but it is so adorable an image that I would like to believe it can exist.

I am not writing the poem where Loki reviews journal articles.

Oh . . .

Oh . . .

*snorfle* Which probably guarantees it'll now turn up while I'm on the aircraft.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Science is not for the impatient

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International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos.

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