The Scientist - USA (2020-11)

11.2020 | THE SCIENTIST 5

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Department Contents

JOHN MCCORD, UNC COASTA L

STUDIES INSTITUTE; MARK STONE, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON; ©

ISTOCK.COM, ERHUI

9 FROM THE EDITOR

Looming Change

As the world comes to grips with the new reality wrought by COVID-19,

the risk of catastrophe from a warming planet persists.

BY BOB GRANT

12 CRITIC AT LARGE

I Published a Paper Claiming Pokémon Caused Coronavirus

In the midst of an infectious disease pandemic, a science publishing experiment

exposes the danger of predatory publishers.

BY M ATA N SHELOMI

14 NOTEBOOK

Researchers dissect the microbial communities on and around shipwrecks;

high-speed cameras capture tiny spiders using silk catapults to launch themselves

at prey

48 THE LITERATURE

Herbivore body size influences grazing behavior and poop quality; why centipede

venom kills prey but only stuns rivals; birds that go barren during drought have

improved survival

51 SCIENTIST TO WATC H

Chelsea Wood: Parasite Hunter

BY AMANDA HEIDT

52 CAREERS

Show Me the Money

Should peer reviewers be paid for their work?

BY SHAWNA WILLIAMS

57 READING FRAMES

The Fire Beneath Evolution

The idea that proteins can self-assemble into molecular

machines may shift our view of life’s origin.

BY JEREMY ENGLAND

60 FOUNDATIONS

The Paper Nautilus, 300 BC–present

BY JEF AKST

IN EVERY ISSUE

8 CONTRIBUTORS

10 SPEAKING OF SCIENCE

58 THE GUIDE

NOVEMBER 2020

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PUZZLE ON PAGE 11

ANSWER

S N I V D B

SEQUENCE WILD

X L B C A U

CO IL OUTBREED

L R O F

JOHANN RHI NAL

G V S N

ZYGOTE L UMB AR

G D I P

MUTATI ON BOHR

F D S K O A

FOUR OVERDOSE

S O N D Y E