... and the envelope please ...

The Research Blogging Editor's Selectionies are out! Hosted by Krystal D'Costa, this award is roughly similar to the Academy Awards, but for blog posts about peer reviewed research. And I won one!!!

My post "A word or two about tobacco, and some neat and new research." It was said of this post "At Greg Laden's blog, readers are treated to a bit of botany related to tobacco and we learn that physical evidence has been found linking the Maya to tobacco use."

I am truly humbled.

Four other posts won the same award. From Krystal's post:

• Is there a relationship between language density and habitat diversity? Tim DeChant explores this question at Per Square Mile with respect to Italian dialects.
• A post at EvoAnth reports that four genes for skin tones have been discovered, shedding further light on this variable physical trait.
• Navajos don’t eat fish, according to teofilo at Gambler’s House--and the taboo may apparently be traced linguistically.
• At Body Horrors, Rebecca Kreston discusses the dangers of unsanitary shaving practices linked to an important Hajj ritual that may be leaving devotees susceptible to a blood-borne disease.

Thank you, thank you very much, oh, I see the music is playing I must get off the stage now.

But seriously, if you don't happen to be familiar with Research Blogging Dot Org you should check it out. It is a kind of central link clearing house for science bloggers (who are legit science bloggers, not fake ones) blogging about current (but sometimes I sneak in an older one) peer reviewed research papers. I always recommend it to teachers as a great way to get a quick handle on current research in your area.

OK, back in my seat now. They are announcing the next Selectionie.

Holy crap I won another one! Sarah Kendrew has selected three wonderful posts, one by me (thank you very much) for the January 10th awards. One appears to be on time travelling, and one on supermassive black holes.

Mine is on Russian Rivers and Arctic Salinity: Climate Variation Better Understood.