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Here are today’s 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, visit the blog. 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.
June 20
Evaporation confirms ice on Mars
(Kenneth Chang, New York Times)
Diet and exercise alter gene expression
(Dean Ornish et al, PNAS / Will Dunham, Reuters)
New California law makes cell-phone use a factor in charging drivers with manslaughter
(Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times)
British survey finds 28 percent of body piercings caused medical complications
(Angie Bone et al, British Medical Journal / Jeremy Laurance, Independent)
Gastric bypass surgery in fat people radically reduces breast and colon cancer
Thomas Maugh and Denise Gellene, Los Angeles Times)
Eight pregnant high-school girls admit they planned to conceive babies together
(Kathleen Kingsbury, Time)
Congress threatens to regulate performance-enhancing drugs in horse racing
(Joe Drape, New York Times)
Senator says his pursuit of NFL videotaping scandal isn’t over
(Greg Bishop, New York Times)
Doctors warn that a new placebo pill for kids teaches them to rely on drugs
(Damien Francis, Guardian)
Spanish kids treated for cell-phone addiction
(BBC News)
FDA approves implant that makes paralyzed people breathe
(FDA / M.R. Kropko, AP)
Three-dimensional printing will create patient-customized titanium bone replacements
(Marc Zakian, Guardian)
Police extend use of DNA to burglary cases
(Gautam Naik, Wall Street Journal)
Australian obesity rate may have passed U.S.
(Rob Taylor, Reuters)
June 18
Gay people’s brains resembles brains of the opposite sex
(Ivanka Savic and Per Lindström, PNAS / Denise Gellene, Los Angeles Times)
Company produces four live clones of a cancer-sniffing dog
(AFP)
Breeders propose to ban steroids in horse racing
(Joe Drape, New York Times)
Study suggests the athletic benefit of growth hormone is a placebo effect
(Jennifer Hansen et al, Garvan Institute of Medical Research / Reuters)
Study finds no harm, and possible heart-disease benefit, from heavy coffee drinking
(Esther Lopez-Garcia et al, Annals of Internal Medicine / Will Dunham, Reuters)
Judge reallocates millions of dollars from Leona Helmsley’s dog to her grandkids
(Edith Honan, Reuters)
Web sites turn prostitutes into “Net walkers”
(Matt Richtel, New York Times)
Chimps use hugs and kisses to soothe and console
(Orlaith Fraser et al, PNAS / Randolph Schmid, AP)
Chimps’ discretion in mating calls shows social sophistication
(Klaus Zuberbuhler et al, PLoS One / Nicholas Wade, New York Times)
Senator drops the idea of investigating the NFL videotaping scandal
(Philadelphia Daily News)
Scientists reverse a horse vasectomy to replenish its endangered species
(Brett Zongker, AP)
Companies brace for the costs of new disabled-access regulations
(Elizabeth Williamson and Kris Maher, Wall Street Journal)
New SAT is no better at predicting students’ college performance
(Tamar Lewin, New York Times)
June 16
Prescription drugs are three times deadlier than illegal drugs, according to Florida report
(Damien Cave, New York Times)
Pro-lifers create contraceptive-free drug stores
(Rob Stein, Washington Post)
British cosmetic surgery firm says demand is up 35 percent in less than a year
(John Joseph, Reuters)
Bush plans new regulations to accommodate disabled people
(Robert Pear, New York Times)
U.K. extends moratorium on using genetic tests to reject life-insurance applicants
(Clara Ferreira-Marques, Reuters)
Widespread surveillance failed to stop knife attack in Japan
(Blaine Harden, Washington Post)
More on Washington, D.C.’s network of 4,800 surveillance cameras
(James Hohmann, Los Angeles Times)
Sexual segregation spreads in elementary schools
(Michael Chandler and Maria Glod, Washington Post)
U.S. bishops denounce embryo-destructive stem-cell research
(Barbara Liston, Reuters)
New York City police begin to embrace Tasers
(Al Baker, New York Times)
Is Obama exploiting stereotypes about McCain’s age?
(Adam Nagourney, New York Times)
Efforts to quit smoking quadruple after New York cigarette tax begins
(Valerie Bauman, AP)
Hollywood promotes hydrogen cars
(Dawn Chmielewski and Ken Bensinger, Los Angeles Times)
Why do golfers live longer?
(Bill Pennington, New York Times)
Robot surgical assistant intervenes to prevent doctors’ errors
(Denis Campbell, Observer)
U.S. again pushes biotechnology as an answer to the world food crisis
(AFP)
Will robot lovers be good for more than sex?
(Alix Rijckaert, AFP)
