TOP 100 SCIENCE SITES
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| Experts to probe stinger treatments Far north Queensland researchers will use a $40,000 grant to investigate just how lethal irukandji and box jellyfish venom is and to look for treatments. abc.net.au |
How a barnacle became toxic to repel its predators One species of barnacle has extraordinarily high levels of bromine in its body, becoming toxic in a bid to repel predators. news.bbc.co.uk |
A Conversation With Frank A. Wilczek: Discovering the Mathematical Laws of Nature The Nobel Prize-winning physicist, whose work confirmed some of Einstein’s ideas, is now writing a mystery novel. feeds.nytimes.com |
This column will change your life: Short cuts for taking everyday decisions Everyday decisions are often the ones that we find most problematical. So why not have a few short cuts to help you reach the right ones?I feel slightly sorry for Suzy Welch, the self-help guru behind the book 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea. Welch's "10-10-10" method for taking decisions (not to be confused with the 10:10 climate campaign or, for that matter, 1010, the year Beowulf was probably Âwritten) is genuinely wise. When faced with any dilemma, she advises, ask yourself: what will the consequences be in 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years? This process "surfaces our unconscious agendas", Welch claims, though what it most Âobviously does is properly balance short- and long-term perspectives, avoiding both hedonistic impulsiveness and a grim-faced fixation with the future. "Sound simple? Not quite," warns the book's publicity material. ÂActually, though, it is simple. That's its strength – but it also means that, unsportingly, I've now told you Âeverything important in the book. That I can do this so briefly is surely, sales-wise, a problem.Yet decision-making tricks such as 10-10-10 ought to be ridiculously simple, because we need them most when it comes to addressing the countless minor dilemmas that crowd our days. Momentous life-choices, by contrast, can be dwelt on and discussed with friends. But it's a curious fact that many people seem to find the insignificant choices at least as paralysing as the big ones – a truth I've had many Âopportunities to ponder while Âwaiting for my Âfather, not an indecisive man on the macro level, to agonise over Âtoppings at PizzaExpress. Here are three more short cuts for taking Âeveryday decisions:1) 5-3-1: A dependable tactic for two people choosing a restaurant or movie: one person picks five options, the other narrows the field to three, then the first person selects one. This "has saved me and my girlfriend from starving to death on more than one occasion", writes one commenter at ask.metafilter.com. Hint: couples should agree in advance to use this rule, so that "whether or not to use 5-3-1" doesn't become a Âdilemma itself.2) Be a satisficer, not a maximiser: "Satisficing", coined by the economist Herbert Simon, means not Âletting the best be the enemy of the good. But it's more rigorous than that. Rather than trying to pick the best bed-and-breakfast, for example, decide first on the criteria that Âmatter most – "near woodland", "serves a great breakfast" and "in Wales", perhaps – then select the first one you encounter that ticks all the boxes. This is far less exhausting, and may actually bring you closer to the "best", by focusing your mind on what matters, rather than alluring advertising or other distractions.3) The 37% Rule. This is for Âsequential choices, where each Âoption must be accepted or rejected in turn – as in flat-hunting, where an option may vanish if you hesitate, or, say, choosing where to picnic while hiking (assuming you don't want to retrace your steps). Provided you can estimate the total number of options – the number of flats you're prepared to look at, the number of potential picnic spots – it's a weird mathematical truth that your best bet is to reject the first 37% of them, then pick the first one that's better than any of those first 37%. (If none is, pick the final one instead.) According to an article in Lecture Notes In ÂEconomics And Mathematical ÂSystems, this can be applied to choosing a mate, too. But maybe that journal's not the greatest place to look for dating tips.oliver.burkeman@guardian.co.ukHealth & wellbeingPsychologyOliver Burkemanguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Massive Mayan head found in jungle Archaeologists have discovered a huge Mayan sculptured head in Guatemala, suggesting a little-known site in the jungle-covered Peten region may once have been a significant city. abc.net.au |