Aug 6, 2005

stygobiology, monoterpenes, and instantons

Stygobiology: study of the crazy ecosystems that evolve in caves. Also known as "biospeleology." A hot field in evolutionary studies.

Monoterpenes: naturally occurring cancer fighters. One, d-limonene, is found in lemon rinds. Mmm.

Instantons: four-dimensional gluon knots. They exist only in formulas and computer simulations, but there are new, tantalizing clues that they may be observable.

All of which is just to say, you should read this week's New Scientist.

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