MONTY PYTHON might have made spam funny in 1970, but by the time the word acquired its new meaning it was no laughing matter. Spam is less of a nuisance today, thanks to better filters. In some ways it is even funny again. The statistics reveal some Pythonesque absurdities – spam selling anti-spam software, for instance. Don’t be tempted to buy it, though, even if spam drives you mad: it takes just a handful of purchases for the spammers to turn a profit (see “Spam, spam, and more spam”). The best defence is to laugh in its face.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Life
Himalayan wolf-dog hybrids emerge as a threat to wolves and people
News
Environment
First test of CO2 removal with green sand finds no harm to marine life
News
Space
SpaceX is about to launch tallest and most powerful rocket in history
News
Environment
Cleaning up air pollution could weaken vital AMOC ocean current
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Why autism pioneer Uta Frith wants to dismantle the spectrum
2
Where did the laws of physics come from? I think I've found the answer
3
Rebooting stem cells builds aged muscles and assists injury recovery
4
A new tectonic plate boundary could be forming in southern Africa
5
Neanderthals treated a dental cavity by drilling into the tooth
6
CAR T-cell therapy bolstered by stiffening up cancer cells first
7
Himalayan wolf-dog hybrids emerge as a threat to wolves and people
8
First test of CO2 removal with green sand finds no harm to marine life
9
SpaceX is about to launch tallest and most powerful rocket in history
10
PCOS has been officially renamed PMOS, and it’s a momentous move
