Your science links for the week of July 19th

Howdy paleoposse! Here are this weeks sciency links for your weekend reading pleasure.  This weeks links cover gold producing neutron stars, the boredom of travelling to Mars, some words of inspiration from Richard Feynman, and Comic-Con 2013.

Things that are science:

• The Giant Impact Model has long been the go to hypothesis for how the moon formed. But this National Geographic article shows that the debate is far from settled. 
• It’s long been understood that any element heavier than iron was likely produced in a super nova. Now scientists are seeing evidence that gold may have its origins in the collision of neutron stars.
• Of all the risks we take sending people to Mars- Microwaved by solar radiation, malfunctioning equipment- none may be as deadly as human boredom
• Ed Yong has a really cool article about the ongoing debate of whether or not the pachycephalysaurus used its dome for headbutting or more ornamental purposes.  

Things that are sort of science:

• Darren Naish over at the Scientific American blog network discusses and debunks the various photos used to validate the supposed existence of the Loch Ness monster. 
• Gizmodo has an interesting look at how a metal essential to our electronics- copper- makes it from ore to smart phone/tablet/computer/what have you.
• If you’ve yet to have the good fortune of reading or listening to something by Richard Feynman, start with this blog post on Brain Pickings. He was a noted physicist and lecturer who taught not only about physics, but the role of science in society and what makes it such a compelling way of life.

And things that wish they were science (but just as equally fun):

• Finally, someone puts together a love song that will make the nerd kingdom swoon. And there’s a kitten involved. I think the internet has finally fulfilled its calling. 
• Speaking of nerds, this week marks the annual pilgrimage of my people to their holiest shrine: San Diego Comic-Con 2013.  Boing Boing and io9 cover the convention in all its Mountain Dew fueled glory.