Feedback is聽麻豆传媒鈥檚聽popular sideways look at the latest science and technology news. You can submit items you believe may amuse readers to Feedback by emailing聽feedback@newscientist.com
Imagining things
Late last year, between one news event and another (honestly, who can remember?), Feedback was delighted to discover the . This is an online magazine publishing 鈥渟hort works of fiction鈥�, but only if they take the form of 鈥渋maginary research abstracts鈥�. In other words, it鈥檚 a collection of summaries of (entirely fictional) research studies, each of which is a little short story in disguise.
It鈥檚 the creation of two academics in the UK: at the University of Glasgow and at the University of Derby. It grew out of a workshop intended 鈥渢o introduce creative writing concepts to researchers鈥�, especially those 鈥渨ho felt tense, anxious, about writing, or had fallen into a negative relationship with their writing鈥� 鈥� in other words, an aid for professionals with writer鈥檚 block. But, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it has grown beyond all expectations and is now a venue for rather lateral short stories.
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The came out in late June. Reader Alex Gough alerted us to it, having published in it himself 鈥渁fter strenuous peer review鈥�. Alex鈥檚 piece is titled 鈥淪even new examples of adaptive radiation and insular dwarfism in etapods鈥�. He begins by explaining that 鈥淚nsular dwarfism is a process in which species isolated on islands evolve to become smaller than their mainland counterparts, eg Lemerle鈥檚 hippopotamus.鈥� From there he goes on to describe seven miniature species from a fictional archipelago, each of which has 鈥渄eveloped behavioural traits suited to [its] unique environment鈥�.
For instance, 鈥淓tapodus malevolus is notably belligerent鈥�, in response to 鈥渢he high prevalence of predators on its island鈥�. In contrast, 鈥淓tapodus somnolentus undergoes prolonged periods of hibernation to cope with its irregular food supply.鈥�
However, not all the species could be explained in this kind of adaptive evolutionary language. 鈥淓tapodus jucundus is habitually carefree and contented, for reasons we have not yet discovered.鈥�
We assume readers have got the joke by now. If not, go sweep the floor and whistle while you work, maybe it鈥檒l become clear.
Elsewhere in the issue, we find 鈥淢ove fast and break everything: Deflecting anxiety in a tech-forward world鈥�. It explains: 鈥淔or unclear reasons, the rapid-fire continuous release of life-altering and world-transforming technological developments in artificial intelligence, without oversight of any kind, has caused an increase in anxiety, with some people even proving inexplicably resistant to emerging technologies.鈥�
Fortunately, a solution is at hand. 鈥淭he use of AI technologies reduces prefrontal cortex activity and critical thinking鈥�, which may lead to 鈥渂rain atrophy, and therefore a reduction in distracting ethical questions鈥�. The problem solves itself!
Etymological issues
Feedback is on a mission to get the word 鈥渘onomatopoeia鈥� added to the dictionary. Attentive readers will recall that the neologism was proposed by Neil McKay and means the opposite of onomatopoeia, i.e. it is a word that doesn鈥檛 sound at all like the thing it describes.
Several readers have submitted additional examples of nonomatopoeia, bolstering the evidence that the word would be a valuable addition to the language because it describes a widespread phenomenon. Elaine Coates says she has always struggled with 鈥減edagogy鈥�. It refers to the method and practice of teaching, but, she says, 鈥渋t sounds like some sort of foot fetish鈥�.
Likewise, Bob Munro nominates 鈥渧aletudinarian鈥�. It sounds like a religious order, but actually refers to 鈥渁 person who is chronically sick, or believes themselves to be鈥�. These two alternative meanings, incidentally, are so radically distinct they render the word effectively useless.
In a nicely meta twist, Sue Tudor says that 鈥渙nomatopoeia鈥� is itself an example of nonomatopoeia. She describes 鈥渙nomatopoeia鈥� as 鈥渟urely one of the most non-onomaterwhatsit words in existence鈥�, because the sequence of syllables suggests 鈥渟tanding or sitting on a mat on a pier鈥�.
There is, we should say, a question about the etymology of nonomatopoeia, which computer scientist has flagged. 鈥淢ay I be the 94th reader to point out that onomatopoeia is Greek, so its negation is anonomatopoeia, not nonomatopoeia,鈥� he writes. 鈥淭he opposite, rather than the negation, is antonomatopoeia.鈥�
We regret to inform Julian that he is so far the only reader to point this out, but if another 93 would care to write in making this same argument, we will place all this correspondence in one of our special folders.
Rats on parade
Our quest for the most niche scientific tourist attractions continues, with museums of grain and gas setting the pace.
Simon Goodman reports having found 鈥渁 lovely example鈥� in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is the jumping-off point to visit the Angkor temple complex. There he found a for the charity APOPO, which uses trained African giant pouched rats to detect landmines. 鈥淭his is a must-see place,鈥� says Simon. 鈥淭he highlight is seeing how the rats are trained and search out mines, which the carers show you live.鈥�
If that weren鈥檛 enough, if you agree to remove potentially toxic substances like sun cream from your skin, 鈥淵ou are even allowed to cuddle the rats.鈥� They are cat-sized and 鈥渄elightful鈥�, Simon reports.
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