Dearest hags, harpies and harridans,
Like a mysterious monolith appearing in the Utah desert, Issue 7 of Hex Science has magically appeared in your inbox (no, we’re not aliens… although we may be witches).
But seriously, WTF are those monoliths? While Area 51-ites were OMGing over them being from outer space, an art group and designer(s) have taken credit for some of the mysterious structures. Scientists have predicted that it’s “extremely unlikely” that intelligent life is out there, anyway, so you can rest easy at night (until we join the Galactic Federation). However, the notion that some of our species are the most intelligent lifeforms in the universe is, quite frankly, out of this world (you need only look at some prominent male politicians).
Earth has some wonderful geniuses and brilliant boffins, but as a species we could be doing better. We’re trashing the planet, and women are often still treated as second-class citizens.
But not on our watch! We are still on a mission to spotlight brilliant women in STEM boldly going where no woman has gone before, including kick-arse kid scientists (see below). We hope you enjoy this week’s curation of all things science and feminism, including concussion confusions, sexist sleepwear, and the good, bad and ugly of festive films. All while hexing the patriarchy and calling out misogynistic BS, ofc.
(YOUNG) WOMAN OF THE WEEK: Gitanjali Rao
Yes, she’s absolutely everywhere, and with good reason – 15yo inventor Gitanjali Rao has been named Kid of the Year by Time Magazine for her inventions and knockout scientific work on opioid addiction and cyberbullying, amongst many other things. Our very own Rorschach Tess wrote about Gitanjali 3 years ago, when at 11 years old, she had already devised a method for testing contaminated water. Meanwhile, here’s us, in our 30s, just proud of ourselves if we manage to get to bed before 11pm.
Considering the constant battle against the ‘male, pale and stale’ vibe in scientific fields, her achievements are all the more impressive. Here’s her take on diversity and representation in science.
“I don’t look like your typical scientist. Everything I see on TV is that it’s an older, usually white man as a scientist. It’s weird to me that it was almost like people had assigned roles, regarding their gender, their age, the color of their skin. My goal has really shifted not only from creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems, but inspiring others to do the same as well. Because, from personal experience, it’s not easy when you don’t see anyone else like you. So I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it.”
Gitanjali, PREACH.
TIT BITS
Keeping abreast of the latest news, views, and research
The scent of a man
A recent study has suggested a link between male body odour and unexplained repeated pregnancy loss – but is the link between nose and womb causal or correlational? Check out this commentary for reasons why the results should be taken with a big whiff of caution.
A for authorship
Finally some good vibes for women in academic publishing! Female authorship and editorship in medical education publications has significantly increased over the last 49 years (wow, so quick 🙄). The authors say the findings showed greater gender parity than many other fields of science and medicine – looks like they could be schooled by the medical education crew…
Put the self-help stick DOWN
We’re all about a bit of self-development, but at what point does it become yet another stick to beat yourself with? We’ve already got enough boxes to tick – including squeezing in self care, at the moment – and frankly, it’s knackering. This article says it’s ok to stop trying to be ‘peak you’. Consider yourself unshackled, remind yourself you are enough, and go do something totally pointless like stare out the window or listen to a Post Malone album.
TO THE KRAKEN 🦑
Time for women’s pyjamas to sleep the big sleep
So you’re in the market for a pair of pyjamas. You don’t ask much. You want them warm, you want them to maintain crotch integrity, you want a pattern that doesn’t hurt your eyes or offend your soul.
WELL TOUGH SHIT, BECAUSE WOMEN’S NIGHTWEAR IS THE WORST.
Yep, it’s almost impossible to find a decent set of PJs for women. By the time you’ve rejected the cutesy Disney nightshirts, the terrifyingly flammable velour and the twee slogans, you’ll be lucky if you find something for under £50. Been tempted to buy the lovely flannel ones with the shirt top? Good luck, pal. Said top will go all wrinkly in the dryer, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself shouting, “Who irons pyjamas? Only people who have lampshades made of skin, that’s who!” and leaving them to rot in the bottom of your laundry basket. Even more annoying, a quick survey of our male pals’ drawers revealed that men’s PJ bottoms are thicker AND have pockets – which as every woman knows, are harder to find than reproductive rights in a Trump administration.
So here you go, Lady K. Have every flimsy, cheesily sloganed, pastel-splattered, easily creased, destined-to-go-up-your-bum-in-the-night piece of nightwear we can find. We’re off to dig out that band t-shirt we bought from a street vendor in 1999.
HEX EDUCATION
Get your head in the game
Research suggests that female athletes are almost twice as likely to suffer from concussion, often with more severe effects and a longer recovery time. Despite this – wait for it – existing research focuses mainly on men (shocker, we know).
This fascinating article takes a deep dive into the concussion gender divide, and explores the various theories which may explain why men and women experience concussion differently. These range from the extremely interesting (did you know women have a neck girth roughly 30% smaller than men?) to the extremely outdated (perhaps women are just more cautious about their health while men play through the pain – fucking spare us).
More research is needed to fully explain the differences observed between men and women when it comes to blows to the head. It would be great if someone could, you know, actually do that. Ty.
FEMINISTS RUIN EVERYTHING
The coven discuss what we’re reading, watching, loving, and loathing
This week, the HEX team watched some truly terrible holiday-themed films so you don’t have to. Get your ugliest jumper on, brew some cocoa, and snuggle up for our highs and lows in this season of enforced festive cheer.
The good:
The Muppets Christmas Carol. Big love for this and it *just* passes the Bechdel test too (although Miss Piggy and daughters planning to karate chop Scrooge in the crotch would be WAY better than talking about domestic tasks. But a pass is a pass, right?!).
Krampus (2015). If you’re truly sick of 2020 at this point and can’t face Zoom-based festivities, why not send a Christmas letter to the Krampus instead? This year can’t get any worse.
Scrooged: We'd like to raise a glass of Amaretto-spiked mulled wine to the genius who combined a sardonically hateful Bill Murray, sunshine-in-human-form Karen Allen and mice narrowly avoiding having antlers stapled to their heads. And in the grand parade of Christmas Carol ghosts, surely Carol Kane’s toaster-wielding fairy is top of the tree?
Which films did we think are the bad and the ugly? Carry on reading to find out…
More things frothing our eggnog this week:
The Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic | Blending science into makeup | Wonderfully weird nativity scenes | Ivorian artist Joana Choumali's uplifting embroidered photographs | The Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special | 8 more Christmas films that pass the Bechdel test
The HEX Science team
🧬Jean Splicer | ☢ Marie Fury | 🧠 Rorschach Tess | 🔬 Rosalind Frankly