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"Genghis Khan, in fact, may have been not just the greatest warrior but the greatest eco-warrior of all time...the 13th-century Mongol leader's bloody advance, wiping out entire civilisations, may have scrubbed 700m tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere"

YOU WORK FOR A SLAVE STATE!!!!

Media critics debating whether new UK variant is 70% more transmissible, or 40% more, or 52.5% more, are missing the point. If multiple data sources point towards substantially increased transmission, it suggests we have big problem. (Below from: )

"“I only speak English,” they would declare loudly as if it were a badge of honour. Perhaps it proved that they were modern, progressive, assimilated – no longer tethered to the quaint customs of their immigrant families."

The @DeepMind protein folding result is really incredible, and incredibly important. But I know it’s pretty tricky to understand, so here’s a megathread, with a bit of Biology 101, for @holland_tom @thehistoryguy
et al.

'Close to 100% accuracy': Helsinki airport uses sniffer dogs to detect Covid This is quite extraordinary.

David Graeber, anthropologist and author of Bullshit Jobs, dies aged 59
I love his books. Each time when I read it, it feels real. Like NNT said 100% original. Very sad news today RIP David. I will make sure more people read your works

The last of the Zoroastrians this is a good long piece because author doesn't interject own views too strongly and lets the subject speak

"all-person-of-colour" drama....

What a classic Guardian way to describe a story set in India

"Modern-day visitors to the site of Merv in southern Turkmenistan can still tour its dusty, windswept remains. Like Curzon, they might struggle to imagine the true size, density and lushness of one of the world’s greatest vanished cities."

Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day.

That's a line invented by marketers to sell you cereal.

"I would like to say that the garden I have now will probably be my last. Twenty years on from digging up the lawn, I have a space that is more inspirational and restful than I could have ever imagined. I feel the garden has come of age."

wonderful read

@tapanguchi The Lancet paper was based off totally bogus data, and Lancet authors have retracted the paper. See the sordid details here -