Feedback is New Scientist’s popular sideways look at the latest science and technology news. You can submit items you believe may amuse readers to Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com
New kind of microscope?
Science constantly introduces new terminology, adding layers of complexity to discussions. Recently, a peculiar term, “vegetative electron microscope”, has surfaced in scientific literature. Contrary to its whimsical implications of scanning broccoli, this term is actually a result of text processing artefacts.
An investigation traced the origins of this term to a 1959 article in Bacteriological Reviews, where the words “vegetative” and “electron microscopy” appeared adjacently due to formatting issues. Another theory suggests a Farsi to English translation error, where “scanning electron microscope” and “vegetative electron microscope” sound alike in Farsi but differ only by a diacritic.
While these explanations shed light on the genesis of this curious term, it raises concerns about the rigor of peer review in scientific publications. The persistence of such erroneous phrases underscores the need for enhanced scrutiny to maintain the integrity of scientific literature.
A nun too far
A humorous anecdote from the Science Museum in London unveils a mishap involving a computer expert inadvertently revealing a list of blocked profanities on a large screen, much to the surprise of convent school children and nuns. While the story’s veracity is uncertain, it exemplifies the challenges of censoring offensive content in public settings.
Yodel-eh-oh
Research highlighting monkeys’ exceptional yodelling abilities due to specialized vocal membranes promises an intriguing discovery. However, the audio recording of a tufted capuchin monkey’s yodelling falls short of expectations, eliciting amusement rather than melodic Alpine echoes. The study’s inclusion of howler monkeys hints at untapped comedic potential.
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