What is the real, mathematical dog-year calculation?

Ok, so we all knew dog-years can’t be a linear translation to human years. So what is the real translation between human and dog age? There’s an “epigenetic clock” discovered by Steve Horvath. Basically, DNA gets little chemical modifications that help turn genes on and off. It turns out that some of those modifications accumulate with age. And this biochemical signature tracks age better than just about anything else. So is it the same in dogs? And can we use it to correlate dog-years to human-years? Yes. Tina Wang et al. figured it out (bioRxiv).

Personalized predictions of blood sugar based on poop bacteria

This 2019 paper, “Personalized Approach to Predicting Postprandial Glycemic Responses,” showed a predictive model for blood sugar spikes after meals. The composition of the food (carbohydrate content and calorie content) did not predict blood sugar spikes very well. On the other hand, food information PLUS information about a specific person’s gut microbiome did a very good job. So if you knew your gut microbiome, you could make better food choices.

Failure Found to be an “Essential Prerequisite” For Success

These folks used the NIH database of applications for grants to see what differentiates people who eventually succeeded from those who didn’t. The average was two failures before a successful grant application. I wish I could convey how incredibly hard it is to put together a proposal that gets rejected.

Philip Pullman on Children’s Literature and the Critics Who Disdain It

I read this essay a few days ago and loved it. It came up in conversation, too. The premise is that good literature is not accessible literature. That a book is something children enjoy just means that it is clear and accessible, not that it is simplistic. Generally, children don’t like simplistic. And if a book is enjoyable for children and has depth, it will be equally enjoyable for adults.

Atomic Force Microscope was used to look at single molecules and resolve details

The article, “Revisiting Kekulene: Synthesis and Single-Molecule Imaging,” is amazing. First, what a crazy molecule. Second, what an amazing technique to look at its structure and properties.

Little Things:

Can snakes use doorknobs? Wait for it to find out. 

express your tiredness with this print https://t.co/oNOTkxMDjP pic.twitter.com/8wG7Rytrfq

— poorly drawn lines (@PDLComics) June 13, 2017

A hilarious thing happened about 2 weeks ago and now again today.

I wanted to build an instrument for making emulsions. Commercial equipment for generating emulsions can cost up to $10,000. I want to build something for more like $200. My ad hoc homogenizer could also be used to lyse cells or break up tissue. I want to use it to make polyacrylamide microspheres. I have some worries that the resulting microspheres will not be sufficiently uniform so it would be a shame to pay a huge amount of money for the equipment which might subsequently turn out to be useless.

Anyway, I need a reciprocating saw and some method to attach a micro-tube to the end of said reciprocating saw. Reciprocating saws run about $100. The adapter runs about $15. I can then 3-D print a micro-tube holder that will attach to the adapter. This all is looking fine.

Here’s the hilarious part. In addition to attaching scrub brushes and metal files to the end of the reciprocating saw, this little adapter has (evidently) been used “frequently” to build makeshift sex toys. 

Thank you, Amazon, for that fascinating view into the lives of my fellow customers. I did end up buying the speed controller, though. That was pretty insightful.

It happened again today.

I wanted to order a “platform rocker” not “rocker platforms.” Keep making science sexy, Amazon.

I guess this is a common phenomenon: Amazon has been accidentally making starter kits for drug dealers, too. I noticed something along these lines when I purchased a little milligram balance. “Did you want rolling papers with that?” No, Amazon, I don’t. I don’t want rolling papers or spiky high heel boots. But it’s nice to know that you are so non-judgmental.