Peculiar Periodicals
It turns out there are even more unlikely publications than The Journal of Unlikely Science. Every Thursday, our very own Dr Steer turns his attention to another improbable periodical.
This week: ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY
| Name – A good initial snigger factor is sadly let down by the further implications of the name. Just sit there are think about it for a minute... oral biology. If you haven't grossed yourself out yet you have no imagination. |  |
) "click to enlarge") Front cover – Understated, elegant and thankfully lacking any gory visions of oral ecological systems. Not a bad effort really, a little unimaginative perhaps but at the end of the day this is a science journal and not an art prize. |
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| Off-the-wallness – That you can make a career out of studying the biology of someone's mouth is impressive in itself. However, the main research seems to be about the insides of teeth, not herds of oral ungulates. Which is disappointing. |  |
| Usefulness – If you want to know about how lasers affect cats' caries (sadly more gold tooth than Goldfinger) then this is the place for you. But which of us is lucky enough to have both a laser and next door's cat at the same time? |  |
| Impressiveness – Spot on! With fantastically named authors such as Noppakun Vongsavan and Panta Charoenlarp leading the way who can fail to be impressed? It's like reading the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy. |  |
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| Overall – Schoolboy sniggering aside, I would only be paying lip service if I said it lived up to my expectations. Once you get your teeth into it you'll find yourself a bit gummed down. |  |
Impact factor: Slow and insidious - like the dentist's drill boring into your conscience.
Previously in Peculiar Periodicals:
The European Journal of Pain (34)
The Journal of Peanut Science (31)
The Journal of Happiness Studies (30)
See all the journals
More journal jocularity to come next Thursday. Until then why not find a phunny phobia?
Image: Miles Pfefferle
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