Today's headlines from science and tech.

Below is today's selection of the most interesting science, health, and tech news reports. For analysis and commentary from around the Web, check out the  hot topics page. For Human Nature's takes on some of these stories, visit the blog. (I generally post the link first and write the blog entry later, so check back.) To add your own take, open or join a discussion thread in the Fray—and please link to the original story so others can participate intelligently in the conversation.

May 9

Australian state bans nipple and genital piercings for minors
(Agence France Presse)

Courts order thousands of defendants to wear alcohol-monitoring anklets
(Howard Markel, New York Times)

Austrian daughter-rapist hints at mental-illness defense
(Mark Landler, New York Times)

"Beautiful people are healthier and live longer"
(Anthony Little et al, PLoS One / Roger Highfield, Telegraph)

Brew your own ethanol at home
(Timothy Gardner, Reuters)

The emerging robotic-surgeon industry
(Barnaby Feder, New York Times)

Scans suggest moral dilemma is a struggle between brain regions
(Ming Hsu et al, Science / Greg Miller, ScienceNOW)