Month: April 2017

Slon and her colleagues were the first to capture mitochondrial DNA using a particularly clever extraction method.

Slon and her colleagues were the first to capture mitochondrial DNA using a particularly clever extraction method. DNA works a bit like a zipper combined with a jigsaw puzzle, where each tooth on the zipper can only fit together with another tooth of a particular kind. Because we already have data on a number of different ancient species, it’s possible to make a kind of genetic bait for DNA sequences by synthesizing one half of the zip. Once the bait is put in the solution, the other half of the zip attaches to it and can be extracted.

Originally shared by Able Lawrence

No bones needed: ancient DNA in soil can tell if humans were around

Even though no Neanderthal bones have been found with the tools, the paper’s authors are the first to be able to detect the presence of humans based on DNA found in the soil. This allows them to paint a much more detailed picture of the past, in …

No bones needed: ancient DNA in soil can tell if humans were around

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/04/no-bones-needed-ancient-dna-in-soil-can-tell-if-humans-were-around/

Somehow I didn’t know that you can use bind as a built in way to do partial function application in JavaScript.

Somehow I didn’t know that you can use bind as a built in way to do partial function application in JavaScript.

var add = function (a, b) {

return a + b;

};

var add5 = add.bind(null, 5);

add5(10) === 15;

The first arg is commonly used to bind the function “this” variable. What I didn’t realise was that subsequent args get prepended as arguments to the bound function.

Never assume that just because a regime is brutal and a dictatorship it is not also a political actor which acts…

Never assume that just because a regime is brutal and a dictatorship it is not also a political actor which acts with rational self-interest.

Originally shared by Karin Curran

Complicated situations are complicated. And there’s always at least more than one perspective.

Via Greg A. Woods​

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/04/26/kim-jong-un-is-a-survivor-not-a-madman/

A very interesting analysis by the Piping Shrike of the current disconnected state of political discourse.

A very interesting analysis by the Piping Shrike of the current disconnected state of political discourse.

Originally shared by Jeff Zahari

“Political institutions that are now unfettered by any direct social relationships inevitably develop an outlook that is unfettered by social reality. Political debates become marked by phoney polarisations that are as intense as they are transient, and just as little reflect the compromises of everyday society. Political outlook becomes trapped in the realm of ideas, and exaggerates their importance, rather than responding to what is happening in society.”

https://meanjin.com.au/essays/unpopular-populism/

Because it’s unseemly and it’s corrupt.

Because it’s unseemly and it’s corrupt. The fact that it’s indirect does not stop it being so. Every politician knows that they will be rewarded this way* if they act in the interests of wealth. Hence it should be seen a what it is: an incentive for “good” behaviour.

* Other means of payment types: executive job offers, board memberships etc.

Originally shared by Cindy Brown

Rare case where I disagree with Warren:

Warren said Thursday on SiriusXM’s “Alter Family Politics” program that she is concerned about the overall influence of money in politics.

Sure. But Obama is no longer a politician. He is not a president, he is not a senator, he is done.

What I do see is that when women or black men dare to do this…

Anyway, I don’t have a problem with this, or at least not from this direction. The fact that we as a country allow bribery and corruption on this scale in the first place from companies like Goldman Sachs. Shut down K-street, lobbying, bribery first.

Then we can discuss this if need be.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/warren-troubled-by-report-of-wall-street-paid-obama-speech/2017/04/28/61c14aa2-2c17-11e7-9081-f5405f56d3e4_story.html?utm_term=.e61efa34329c