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Beware the March dagger
In the world of entomology, the naming conventions of moth species often reflect a fascinating interplay between scientific and vernacular language. While some moth species boast evocative common names like Angle Shades or Setaceous Hebrew Character, others, particularly those belonging to the category of micro moths, are identified solely by their scientific nomenclature, lacking universally recognized common names. This situation draws a curious parallel to the realm of dinosaurs, where species like Tyrannosaurus rex are known exclusively by their scientific designations. Diurnea fagella moth However, amidst this taxonom...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 26, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Lepidoptera Source Type: blogs

How many songs is too many songs?
As with guitars, you can never have too many songs, surely? My modern period of writing and recording began around April 2012, although I’d done a lot of noodling guitar instrumentals with beats and synths for many years before that going way back into my teens. But, this modern period which started in my 40s when I co-established an Arts Night happening got me writing and recording on a more regular and frequent basis. Some of the early stuff is lost to my old SoundCloud page. That said, I could probably resurrect those files if there was a demand. There were also dozens of cover versions, some of which are still o...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 21, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Music Source Type: blogs

An analysis of History Written on the Water
My most recent song is out now for streaming and download via BandCamp. I’ve already talked about how it came to be and alluded to the origins of the title in the engraving on young English poet John Keats’ headstone – Here Lies One Whose Name was writ in Water With this song History Written on the Water I tried to weave a tapestry of imagery and metaphor, exploring themes of secrets, betrayal, faithlessness, loss, and the relentless passage of time. Secrets and Betrayal: My lyrics refer to secrets, suggesting that there are hidden truths that have been concealed or obscured. Lines like “The secret...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 21, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Music Source Type: blogs

History Written on the Water – A song
TL:DR – I’ve written a new song. It’s not finished. I’ve written about it here, but will release the song on BandCamp once I’ve finished mixing it and created some artwork. I came across the phrase his history was written on the water, something like that, I didn’t note it down, but the idea stuck in my head, history as ephemeral information easily lost, never really solid in the first place. As is my wont, I wrote a few words around it, trying to make a new song. I had a little chord progression that involved two-finger open chords up and down the neck, but fundamentally Em-C-Am-B. I r...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 17, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Music Source Type: blogs

Local White Stork – Ciconia ciconia
I’ve mentioned seeing unringed White Storks, Ciconia ciconia, in our neighbourhood previously. They are probably collection escapees, perhaps from Old Hurst Farm, although I think their specimens are ringed, so maybe not. My first sighting was around the marina in a village not far from here called Earith. Possibly the same individual has been hanging around some flooded farmland (Smithy Fen) and was today reported by a friend as being on a different flooded field right next to the main road north out of our village. It is unlikely that this bird is a vagrant from continental Europe, but you never know. Some cynical ...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 10, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Birds Source Type: blogs

What ’ s a link shortener, anyway?
I posted a survey about the likelihood of users clicking a charity or fundraising link that had been shortened with a tool like tinyURL, bit.ly or j.mp, or buff.ly. To my surprise, there was a comment from one follower telling me that he didn’t know what a link shortener was. Well, link shorteners are online tools that convert long website addresses, (URLs) into shorter, more manageable links. These shortened URLs redirect users to the original, longer URL when clicked. Many sites, like Amazon, Twitter, Wikipedia, and Youtube, have link shorteners to allow you to copy and share a shortened version of an internal link...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 6, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Social Media Source Type: blogs

Reimagining the Seedballs
I’ve mentioned Seedball a few times previously. The team has very generously sent me samples of their product, which offers a novel way to rewild your garden, or indeed, any outdoor space, without the need to handle thousands of tiny seeds. The balls themselves act as a growth medium within which the seeds for any of dozens wildflowers can be held. You simply scatter the seed balls on your patch and water in. Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on Red Valerian In time, the seeds germinate and your patch is converted into a wonderland of wildflowers and almost immediately starts benefiting the local invertebrate community...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 5, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: AllotmentLife Invertebrates Lepidoptera PondLife Source Type: blogs

Decoding digestive discomfort: the science behind FODMAPs
FODMAPs are Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. Digestive discomfort – excessive flatulence, “bloating”, loose stool, or constipation – is a prevalent issue for many, and it often finds its roots in a group of fermentable carbohydrates collectively known as FODMAPs. Understanding the science behind FODMAPs could help in establishing a more comfortable and gratifying relationship with food. In the realm of our digestive system, envision a system akin to an intricate ecosystem, teeming with activity. Various nutrients act as its constituents, powering this intern...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 5, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Food Health and Medicine Source Type: blogs

Not New Year 2024 in Titchwell and Holkham
We didn’t make it to the north Norfolk coast for our usual new year yomp through the area, but we did make it to Titchwell for a couple of nights a month later. We had packed and departed for the coast by mid-afternoon. As we approached our lodgings, it was almost dark, a shadowy Tawny Owl flew across our path. By the time we arrived, it was fully dark and the last of the day’s Brent and Pink-footed Geese were noisily heading to roost. Shore Lark, one of 14 in a flock at Holkham Gap We ate well that evening at Briarfields and the next day we were up reasonably early to see Marsh Harriers quartering the eastern...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 4, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Birds Source Type: blogs

In time, we discover ourselves
I was discussing, with my photographer friend, Andy, the endless and inevitably futile task of chasing likes and shares for one’s creative output online. He’s a relative newbie to social media and this quest for some kind of validation having only taken up photography and joined social media several years ago. Me? I’ve probably wasted decades chasing something that doesn’t exist, posting endless photos to some, but ultimately insufficient acclaim, sharing songs and instrumentals on all kinds of platforms and reaping scant reward in terms of listens and that zero-probability chance of being discovere...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - January 31, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Mental Health Social Media Writing Source Type: blogs

The James Bond chord – Em/M9
John Barry famously wrote the classic James Bond movie scores. But, the “James Bond Theme”, the guitar-led main signature, which has featured in every Bond film since Dr. No in 1962 was composed by Monty Norman. Barry, of course, utilised his own arrangements of this piece as a kind of 007 fanfare and for the seminal gun barrel sequence in many of the Bond films. The guitar motif in the original was recorded by guitarist Vic Flick on a Clifford Essex Paragon Deluxe through a Fender Vibrolux amplifier. Apparently, Flick was paid £6 for the session, about 100 quid in today’s money. At the end of the tune...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - January 30, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Classic Chords Source Type: blogs

Never thought that I would be affeinted – Wuh?
We’ve recently added Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush’s song Don’t Give Up from PG’s So album to our choir repertoire. Bizarrely, aside from the tempo of the scored arrangement being weirdly high and the syncopation of the Gabriel parts as written not being quite right rhythmically, there’s also a very odd word printed on the score…affeinted…it’s in the line “never thought that I would be…”. It should say “affected” but it says “affeinted”. https://www.sciencebase.com/images/peter-gabriel-edt.mp4 The word on the original vinyl album lyric...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - January 30, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Music Source Type: blogs

Tongue and eye coordination in Hummingbird Hawk-moths
You will know by now just how fascinated I have been these last 5+ years by the the section of the Lepidoptera we know here as moths…and also the moths we call butterflies. One of the most wonderful of creatures in this group is the Hummingbird Hawk-moth (not to be confused with the rather different US species known as hummingbird moths). This moth, Macroglossum stellatarum, is present across Europe and Asia. It’s a day-flying species that nectars on lots of different types of flower. It does look like a tiny hummingbird, but of course those birds are only found in the Americas so don’t overlap with airsp...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - January 29, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Lepidoptera Source Type: blogs

Nocturnes – the forest moths of the Himalayas
Looking forward to seeing this Sundance documentary: Nocturnes (India, USA) directed and produced by Anirban Dutta and co-directed by Anupama Srinivasan. From the Sundance Festival website: “In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe.” (Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science)
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - January 26, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Lepidoptera Source Type: blogs

Filling the frame – some tips on wildlife photography
I see a lot of wildlife photography from both amateurs and professionals. At the highest level in both domains, there are perfectly composed, pin-sharp, exquisitely exposed photos of the natural world, and then there are those that aren’t quite up to snuff. Capturing the beauty of nature can be an exhilarating experience, but even the most enthusiastic amateur photographers can run into common pitfalls that hinder the impact of their shots. Here a few key challenges faced by us all at different stages in our photography: Put Nature First: The most important point to make is that your photography should not have a neg...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - January 23, 2024 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Photography Source Type: blogs