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human nature: Science, technology, and life.

The Best "Human Nature" Stories of 2006The prurient, the revolutionary, and the outrageous.

By William Saletan
Updated Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006, at 2:27 PM ET

(Continued from page 1)

5. A longitudinal study suggests whiny kids grow up to be conservative. They "turned into rigid young adults who hewed closely to traditional gender roles and were uncomfortable with ambiguity. The confident kids turned out liberal and were still hanging loose, turning into bright, non-conforming adults with wide interests." The authors suspect "insecure kids look for the reassurance provided by tradition and authority," whereas "the more confident kids are eager to explore alternatives." This matches a 2003 analysis that suggested "people who are dogmatic, fearful, [and] intolerant of ambiguity ... are more likely to gravitate to conservatism." Criticisms: 1) They did the study in Berkeley. 2) The correlations aren't that strong. 3) They skewed the interpretation, calling moral confidence "rigidity." 4) They overlooked left-wing rigidity. 5) What about the recent Pew study that showed Republicans are happier than Democrats?

6. Chinese doctors performed the world's first documented penis transplant. An unexplained accident left the patient with a "small stump," unable to urinate properly or have sex. Doctors gave him the penis of a brain-dead man whose parents agreed to donate it. Good news: After 10 days, he could "urinate smoothly" and showed no signs of tissue rejection. Bad news: After two weeks, "because of the wife's psychological rejection as well as the swollen shape of the transplanted penis," the organ "regretfully had to be cut off." Upbeat conclusion: We're figuring out the human body. Skeptical conclusion: We still have no clue about the human mind.

7. The military is funding research into remote control of animals. Using brain implants, scientists have trained rats to navigate rubble and detect explosives. Now they're manipulating monkeys, fish, and sharks. Method: From your laptop, you send a radio signal to an antenna implanted in the animal. Different signals stimulate different parts of the brain, directing the animal's movement. Meanwhile, you try to read from the animal's brain what it's seeing, smelling, or hearing. Goals: 1) Learn how animals operate. 2) Learn how to help disabled people control their movements. 3) Turn sharks into remote-controlled naval spies, since they're self-powering and quieter than underwater vehicles.

8. Scientists chopped off part of a chick embryo's wing and grew it back. They did it by boosting production of proteins that spur limb growth. Frogs and salamanders can regrow limbs, but until now, we thought chickens couldn't. Theory: Evolution has turned off the ability to regrow limbs in many species, but the ability's still there, if we can figure out how to tweak the genes. Happy spin: By tweaking cells from your arm stump, we can turn them into stem cells and regrow your arm. Horror spin: There's a reason why evolution turned off these genes: Cells from some chicks in the experiment became cancerous, and other chicks "sprouted several appendages."

9. A German institute is developing spray-on condoms. Rationale: Unlike regular condoms, which may not fit you, a spray-on is a custom job. The technology consists of a "spray can into which the man inserts his penis." It "works by spraying on latex from nozzles on all sides … once round and from top to bottom. It's a bit like a car wash." Idealistic prediction: The spray can will prevent pregnancy and disease by sheathing men. Cynical prediction: It will prevent pregnancy and disease by replacing women.

10. Tall people are smarter than short people, according to an analysis of two studies. Data show that tall people make more money than short people. Previous explanations: 1) Our bias for taller people makes us pay them more. 2) Our bias for taller kids gives them more self-esteem, which helps them succeed. 3) Taller kids are healthier, which helps them succeed. New explanation: Kids who will grow up to be tall are smarter than kids who will grow up to be short. Key evidence: "As early as age 3—before schooling has had a chance to play a role—and throughout childhood, taller children perform significantly better on cognitive tests." Approving reaction: another blow against egalitarian correctness. Skeptical reaction: This is just the kind of Ayn Rand garbage you'd expect from two Princeton economists who are 4 inches above average height.