A MORE unusual paper title than most: âMolecular phylogenetic analyses indicate extensive morphological convergence between the âyetiâ and primatesâ (Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, vol 31, p 1). The authors had been supplied with âyetiâ hair for DNA analysis, but we can skip further details and leap directly to their conclusion: âAll our analyses clearly indicate that the yeti is nested several nodes within a specific ungulate group (ie, the perissodactyls [the group including horses, rhinos and tapirs])âŠThese results demonstrate that extensive morphological convergences have occurred between the yeti and primates.â
All the more remarkable, therefore, that one Georges Remi wrote 44 years ago of an explorer who identified the correct phylogenetic position of the yeti when he yelled at it âYou odd-toed ungulate!â, despite having seen only footprints in the snow. And who might this prescient Remi be? Heâs better known as HergĂ©, author of Tintin in Tibet.
Oh, and as youâve probably guessed â the Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution paper was published on 1 April 2004.
Advertisement
MARC ABRAHAMS, organiser of the IgNobel prizes, writes to draw our attention to an important but under-reported result in the recent elections in India. Lal Bihari, founder of the Association of Dead People, and thus winner of the IgNobel peace prize in 2003, won 3400 votes, coming in second from last.
READERS continue to beaver away finding âPubMed-whacksâ. These are search strings such as âhedgehog automationâ that produce precisely one paper (Feedback, 6 March). We will report soon. But first Feedback is going to crow. We have discovered the âgooglewhackblatt!â â a single word that produces exactly one web page when entered into the search engine. Our first was âpatoisationâ â the process by which a language or dialect moves toward being a patois. The second comes from our colleague who edits this magazineâs letters page: he discovered âamazonogenyâ, which means giving birth after the manner of Amazons (see Letters, p 31).
Of course, neither of these will remain true if this item gets indexed, but in consolation âgooglewhackblatt!â will then be its own (poor) example. If you come across a further example, note that Feedbackâs judgement on whether your find is a plausible word despite its uniqueness â and was not made up solely for this purpose â will be final.
HEREâS one US company where âfreedom friesâ surely never appeared on the staff restaurant menu, even when Francophobia was at its height. One of its products is a laptop bag which bears a label in English and French. The English version reads simply and sensibly âWash with warm water; use mild soap; dry flat; do not use bleach; do not dry in the dryer; do not ironâ. The French version, only, continues (in translation): âWe are sorry that our president is an idiot. We didnât vote for him.â
AS THE Olympics approach, athletes the world over prepare in mind and body â and, it is alleged, in more ethereal ways. âLess than 75 years ago,â intones the advert at , ââŠour bodies were in balance with the earthâs natural frequencies. Electronic pollution has increased multifold as we have increased our usage of television, radio and other electronic gadgets.â Thus far, radio astronomers may be nodding in agreement.
But they are less likely to be impressed by the proposed remedy, which is to spend $500 on the Teslar watch, ânamed for Nikola Tesla, a prolific inventor who worked with Thomas Edisonâ. And what does it do? âIt emits a special signal which interacts with the body to screen out electronic pollution,â of course. âUS athletes training for the 2004 Olympics are using the Teslar to speed recovery times and allow for maximum performance.â
It may be unfair to expect athletes to follow a discussion of the electromagnetic spectrum, interference and standing waves. But havenât they even considered that if it is ever proved that this thing works, it will presumably be banned by the athletics authorities?
AS COMPUTER buffs might know, MDI stands for Medium Dependent Interface and describes cables for connecting to the internet. MDIX is similar but refers to the bothersome âcrossoverâ cable.
Not knowing any of that, and having come across MDI/MDIX in a datasheet, Mike Fouhy typed it into Google and hit enter. The answer, according to Google, was 0.994698476.
FINALLY, we were given an explanation of this story when we ran it a few years ago, but we didnât understand it, so hereâs the story again. As Jonathan Cameron and many other readers have reminded us, the label on a Pepperami sausage declares: âIngredients: Pork (108%)â, followed by a list of other constituents pushing the percentage even higher. Once again we ask: why?
More from the department of the blindingly obvious. The scooter that Rik Clayâs niece was given for her birthday warned: âCaution â this product moves when in useâ
