Friday Fun: Scientists’ Luxuriant Flowing Hair and California Sound Walk

  Did you know that “the public loves to see and applaud scientists who have luxuriant flowing hair”? Well, according to the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS), this is true.  (This contribution to the world’s knowledge base comes to us from the Annals of Improbable Research. Have a look at the Special Anatomy Issue.)

From the site:

The project was first announced in mini-AIR 2002-02-04 (LFH Survey). The initial list, assembled by a subcommittee comprised of seven members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science,  was meant as a nucleating seed, from which a larger list could grow. The first member, chosen by acclamation, was psychologist Steven Pinker, whose hair has long been the object of admiration, and envy, and intense study. From that lone, Pinkerian seed, there has grown a spreading chestnut, black, blond, and red-haired membership tree, which you can see below and on the other LFHCfS web pages.

On this Web site you can nominate yourself and your hair, and submit photographs and bios of scientists with luxuriant flowing hair. (I tried to find a photo of Paul M. with his pony tail untied, but couldn’t locate one.)

Listening to Nature: A Sound Walk Across California

I love this site. You can choose a section of California and listen to the sounds of the birds, or sea lions, or toads … lovely.  From the California Library of Natural Sounds.