The Chelyabinsk Meteor: Separating Fact from Fiction
2013-02-20
Thanks to the Object Report for this excellent and sensible article.
The Pope is Poured Out
2013-02-20
On:
JFK once said, "An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it."
Pope Benedict is the first pope in 600 years to resign, and while he cited bad health as the reason for this, many of us suspect there are deeper realizations behind it.
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What Made You Vote the Way You Did?
2013-02-19
On:
A team of political scientists and neuroscientists has shown that liberals and conservatives use different parts of the brain when they make risky decisions, and these regions can be used to predict which political party a person prefers. The new study suggests that while genetics or parental influence may play a significant role, being a Republican or Democrat changes how the brain functions.
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Your Very Own Avatar
2013-02-19
On:
Sometimes we hate mice, but sometimes we love them.
You can now own a mouse with an immune system that’s identical to yours. Why would you want to do that? So that drugs and medical therapies can be tested on the mouse first, before they’re used on you. Some researchers call them "avatars, like the virtual characters in movies and video games.
While these "mouse models" are mostly used for general research, companies are beginning to personalize them to help with an individual patient’s medical treatment.
One problem: This avatar can cost tens of thousands of dollars and it won’t be covered by insurance.
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