We may be able to resurrect a species of butterfly from extinction within this decade. Scientists are trying to bring back the Xerces Blue, an iridescent butterfly that once roamed the dunes of San Francisco’s Sunset district. They’re approaching its de-extinction from two directions: through genetic engineering, and through relocation of a seemingly closely related species called the Silvery Blue. The hope is that they will be able to artificially ‘evolve’ the Silvery Blue to become the Xerces Blue.
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Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here
Merv
March 29, 2023
