Every Episode of David Attenborough’s Life Series, Ranked

This is probably the most fun I've ever had working on a project. To celebrate David Attenborough's 90th birthday (on Sunday), I re-watched all 79 episodes of his Life Collection, from Life on Earth in 1979 to Life in Cold Blood in 2008. And then I ranked them. Here's the result: a 14,000 word love listicle to the creator of the world’s greatest nature documentaries and the man who inspired my love of the natural world. Happy Birthday, Sir David. (Image: Me)
 

Can You Tell What Animal David Attenborough Is Talking About?

And if that's not enough, try your hand at this really hard David Attenborough quiz. If you get more than 5/10, you're doing better than most. (Image: Mikedixson) 
 

Humans Paid for Bigger Brains With Gas-Guzzling Bodies

"Some scientists have suggested that we paid for our large brains by reducing the size of another costly organ—the gut. Others have said that we freed up some energy by evolving to walk more efficiently. These explanations all assume that humans work to the same energy budget as other apes. “It’s all framed as a zero-sum game,” says Herman Pontzer. And that, he thinks, isn’t right. By finally measuring the daily energy expenditures of humans and other apes, Pontzer has found that we actually burn hundreds more calories every day. Even when we’re all at rest, our metabolic rates are higher. So, we didn’t balance our energy sheets by making cuts. We just raised the total budget. We are the gas-guzzling primate." (Image: Lefteris Pitarakis)
 

The Sketch That Revolutionized DNA Sequencing

"Last week, I wrote a piece about nanopore sequencing, a revolutionary technique that could one day allow anyone to sequence DNA anywhere, bringing the world of genetics into classrooms, living rooms, and space stations. In the piece, I noted that David Deamer reputedly came up with the idea for the technique while driving down California’s Interstate 5, and was so struck by it that he had to pull over to jot it down. Deamer got in touch to say that he liked the piece, and sent a scan of the very notebook entry in which he sketched out his idea." (Image: David Deamer) 

Talks

I'll be using this newsletter to list talks and signings for my book once it's out. As a starter, I'll be speaking at the University of Michigan at 7pm on Monday 16th May. The evening session is open to call so come along if you're in the area. 

More good reads

• Stem-cell plan aims to bring the Northern white rhino back from brink of extinction. Ewen Callaway reports.
• Really fascinating read from Amos Zeeberg about all the colours that we're missing from our screens
• Everything You Need to Know About the Theranos Saga So Far. By Nick Stockton
• How to Get Rid of a Dead, Rotting Whale on Your Beach (Hint: Don’t Blow It Up). By Sarah Zhang
• The tough sell of $1-million gene therapy cures, by Antonio Regalado.
• What if we had universal translators? Rose Eveleth considers another possible future.
• A new Biggest Loser study shows the perils of turning weight loss into a spectator sport. By Julia Belluz
• A Mine vs. a Million Monarchs – Dan Fagin on another challenge facing the iconic butterfly
• Found: A Mesmerizing Jellyfish With Bright Yellow Gonads. By Sarah Laskow.
• Swimmer mistakes sea urchins for mines, calls the Navy. By Sarah Keartes
• How a weasel took down the world's biggest particle smasher. By Geoff Brumfiel 

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And that's it! Thanks for reading.

-Ed