This is an interesting art project but as a scientific experiments - there's no control sample. ie: as #2 said, you might find the same number of mutant bugs anywhere.

Oops! I take it all back - I just found one of her scientific publications:

Chem Biodivers. 2008 Apr;5(4):499-539.
Malformation of true bug (heteroptera): a phenotype field study on the possible
influence of artificial low-level radioactivity.
Hesse-Honegger C, Wallimann P.
The results of extensive field studies on the malformation of Western European
true bugs (Heteroptera) are reviewed. More than 16,000 individuals were collected over two decades, and subjected to detailed visual inspection. Various types of disturbances were found and illustrated in detail. Depending on country, region, as well as local influences, severe disturbances and high degrees of malformation were noticed, especially in the sphere of nuclear-power installations in Switzerland (Aargau), France (La Hague), and Germany (Gundremmingen). Malformation reached values as high as 22 and 30% for morphological (MD) and total disturbance (TD), respectively. This is far above the values expected for natural populations (ca. 1%) or those determined for true bugs living in biotopes considered as relatively 'intact' (1-3%). A detailed chi-square test of the malformation data obtained for 650 true bugs from 13 collection sites near the nuclear-reprocessing plant La Hague showed a highly significant correlation (p=0.003) between malformation and wind exposure/local topography. Similar observations were made for other study sites. Currently, our data are best rationalized by assuming a direct influence between the release of anthropogenic radionuclides such as tritium ((3)H), carbon-14 ((14)C), or iodine-131 ((131)I),
constantly emitted by nuclear-power and nuclear-reprocessing plants, as well as by Chernobyl and bomb-testing fallout, which is rich in caesium-137 ((137)Cs) and other long-lived noxious isotopes that have entered the food chain. The present work supports the growing evidence that low-level radiation, especially in the form of randomly scattered 'hot' alpha- and beta-particles, mainly transported via aerosols, puts a heavy burden on the biosphere in general, and on true bugs in particular. These insects could, thus, serve as sensitive 'bio-indicators' for future studies.

Hmm.. I'm highly sceptical.

In their paper they say when they analyze the flight patterns that they find a fractal order, resembling Levy flights, which are a type of a random walk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9vy_flight).
Other examples include earthquakes... so, earthquakes have free will too???

As someone said above, it seems more likely they've evolved the most efficient system for getting where they're going without getting swatted - ie a directed random walk.

Now as to how they work out where they want to go, THAT's another question.

Manson is a scapegoat for the psycho-sexual anxieties of the collective American psyche. And I'm referring to both Charles and Marilyn.

Wow! Great link #20 - there's also info in there about an Elephant Orchestra, with all instruments played by elephants! Well, nearly all... I think the violin is not being played by an elephant.

Follow the link above or go find mp3s on http://www.mulatta.org/elephonic.html

Well I rode a bike for years and I NEVER saw a bear.
I guess that proves their point?

Hasn't anyone thought to tell this poor guy about the existence of _multi-vitamins_?? Or better yet... fresh fruit and vegetables?

Frogs can count too. As eloquently explained by Terry Pratchett in Wings:

"They stared at the branch. There wasn't just one flower out there, there were dozens, although the frogs weren't able to think like this because frogs can't count beyond one. They saw lots of ones."

The story of Henry Marsh and his travels to the Ukraine to perform brain surgery for free with little to no equipment has recently been made into an incredible documentary called the English Surgeon. http://www.theenglishsurgeon.com/
Article in the Times: http://tiny.cc/d6RmF
For those in London it's screening at the ICA on Thursday.

DNA samples should also be taken from the parents of the disobedient children, since they are also, by definition, bad people. Also any of their friends who may have learned that behaviour; their teachers and who failed to correct their behaviour, and last but not least, all the police from the local constabulary to Scotland yard, since they are evidently not doing their job properly and must therefore be corrupt.
OK with you, Doctor Pugh???

ComplaintRemover? What a ridiculous idea!

I think I'm going to have to ask ComplaintRemover to remove them.

err... sorry, but that was complete and utter shite.
For inspirational (and factually correct) videos on culture, science and design you should try somewhere like http://www.ted.com/
Not only that but some of them are well presented.
...and Metalosis Maligna? oh please... give me a break... you actually believed that???
Sheesh...

disposable

@ #80 For the record, I haven't met anyone in four countries who drinks Fosters

you're telling me you haven't met any Aussies in any of those four countries??? You should hang out in hostels more.

AUSSIE cheese fries??? WTF?
Chuck us the bloody dead 'orse, mate...

But can it go up stairs?

They weren't grown in his stomach - that'd be really weird not to say impossible considering that's where fud gets et. It was in his abdomen - that's the big empty bit outside the stomach and other organs, otherwise known as "tummy".

Boing Boing is getting sloppy.

Seven Sisters?
Er.. I live near there, and judging by the area, I'd hazard a guess that the misusers weren't "playing". "using" perhaps...

Interesting links, thanks people.
Neuroscientist VS VS Ramachandran has done interesting work on body perception and phantom limbs. He came up with a similar trick to the hand one described by #3 whereby you feel as if your nose is a foot long!

So as part of their "pact of cooperation" is Lyon going to return the favour and exploit poor immigrant workers to construct a massive, environmentally destructive playground for the rich and breathtakingly selfish?

and this is just a 5 year old white kid.
Imagine what it'd be like if you were an innocent 30 year old Arab-looking guy, who happened to have the same name as someone on the no-fly list... I'm sure there's many of them.

Citizen Maurik, your attitude has been noted.

I've seen him performing live, and he goes to incredible pains to demonstrate that he is not "lying" or using stooges. He is also the first to admit that they're all (mind)tricks, and nothing supernatural. He explains some of his tricks, which often involve the trick of "suggestion" - implanting an idea in your mind - and then "reading" that idea. However he always goes on to extend the trick in ways that are completely baffling.

Of course, some people will never be convinced that the tricks aren't set-ups, which in my opinion is just as close-minded as assuming he must use supernatural powers.

Why my piggy!? I loveded you, piggy! I loveded yooou!

Not prions. As #36 said, they takes 10s of years to develop (eg mad cow disease).

More likely bacterial or viral. Pigs are very similar immunologically to humans which is why:
1) they are excellent incubators for flu virus etc.
2) they are used for xenotransplantation (that's Xeno-, not Xeni-) which means transplantation of organs from other species to humans).
3) xenotransplantation is a stupid idea and will probably aid in the appearance of a new virus which will wipe out most of humanity.
4) pigs will take over the world and wreak their revenge.
5) four legs good. two legs bad.

The cool thing is that it's not admiring itself - it's looking at the photographer through the mirror (otherwise we wouldn't be able to see its face).

I'll be more impressed though when it learns to use the mirror for shaving.

Brian -
Yes, statins reduce cholesterol. Yes, they protect the heart. Still doesn't prove that reducing cholesterol level is the mechanism by which they protect. The article I linked to goes into this in more detail - for example, pointing out that statins are also cardioprotective in people with "normal" cholesterol levels. Even an acute administration of statins can be cardioprotective in animal models - way before cholesterol is decreased. This non-lipid effect of statins is referred to in the scientific literature as a "pleiotropic effect" - and I know it's a real effect cos I work on it.

re: "cholesterol is bad."

Brian, while it's true there is some data suggesting a correlation between cholesterol and heart disease, it's just that - a correlation. This is not the same as cause and effect. The fact that there is a huge medical industry based on maintaining this belief is significant.

There is an excellent article by cholesterol-sceptic Dr. Malcolm Kendrick here:
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/548/
and a page by Dr. Uffe Ravnskov, here:
http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm

It seems a convenient way for the "American sponsors" to test out their LRAD devices in real crowd control situations.

Coming soon to a place near you...

I was at the show in Amsterdam, and despite the insane machines capable of blasting flames 20m and practically deafening us from 100 paces, SRL are obviously very careful not to endanger themselves or the audience in any way. What a terrible way for their night to end though, after such an awesome performance - finale and highlight of an incredible festival. Best wishes to Todd and his family and friends.