Archive for June 11th, 2012
Paranormal Circumstances: One Influential Scientist’s Quixotic Mission to Prove ESP Exists
June 11th, 2012 | 
Author: 
[Psychologist Daryl Bem] made his mark as a psychologist four decades ago by proposing the then radical idea that people adjust their emotions after observing their own behavior–that we sometimes develop our attitudes about our actions only after the fact. The proposition challenged the prevailing wisdom of the 1960s that things worked the other way around, that attitude was the engine from which behavior emerged. Though counterintuitive, Bem’s theory has held up to scientific scrutiny in dozens of studies and is now enshrined in psychology textbooks.
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Robotic probe to seek Martian life with new focus
[On August 6] a robotic geologist arrives on Mars to try out a new strategy for searching for life beyond Earth.
On Choosing a Sugar Substitute
Saccharin, aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame potassium are all molecules that sidle up to certain proteins on the surface of the tongues, tickling neurons that then send a signal that exclaims to the brain: “Sweet!”
The concerns arise over what happens to the artificial sweeteners after they are swallowed.
Self-injury among children may occur as early as age 7
Even children as young as 7 sometimes cut themselves on purpose, according to a small study [with 665 children] believed to be the first to examine self-injury at such early ages.
So, what will our society do?
If history is any guide, tax the heck out of razor blades so 7 year old kids can't afford them.
…of course, we’ll need a different plan for teens:
Attempted suicides increase among teens
The rate of attempted suicides among U.S. high school students increased from 6.3% in 2009 to 7.8% in 2011, CDC researchers wrote in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. They also noted that girls were more likely to report having made a suicide attempt than boys.
More U.S. children develop type 1 & type 2 diabetes
The number of U.S. children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes grew 23% and 21%, respectively, between 2001 and 2009, according to a study presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting. More children with type 2 diabetes had protein in their urine than those with type 1 diabetes, indicating that they could be at higher risk of kidney damage, researchers noted.
China revises patent law for better access to cheaper treatments
China's State Intellectual Property Office revised parts of its Measures for the Compulsory Licensing for Patent Implementation that would allow drugmakers to produce cheaper versions of treatments under patent protection. The move is expected to alarm major drugmakers because the country is a key growth market amid weaker sales in Western countries. The amended law allows China to issue mandatory licenses to qualified firms to make generics in the interests of the public or during state emergencies.
Junk food tastier to those sleep deprived
The sight of junk food in sleep-deprived people activates reward centers in their brains, but not in those who are well-rested, U.S. researchers say.
Too Little Sleep Tied to Stroke Risk
Getting fewer than six hours a night may affect cardiovascular system, study says.