Category Archives: science and technology

At Cross-Purposes

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For one segment of society, the
live birth of a baby at 26 weeks is cause for celebration. For another, abortion
after 26 weeks is exercising the “right to choose”. When and how will
our society resolve this conflict?

World’s smallest baby ready to go home

CHICAGO (AP) — A baby who weighed less than a can of soda when she was born by Caesarean section three months ago is nearly ready to be released from the hospital. She is believed to be the smallest baby in the world ever to survive.

How to stop the attack on abortion rights

THE BUSH administration thinks it has political “capital.” And it plans on spending some to destroy women’s right to choose abortion.

Tucked away in the omnibus spending bill approved by Congress last month was a provision that would allow physicians, hospitals, HMOs and insurance plans to opt out of giving abortion referrals, as they currently are required to. This provision will especially affect poor women, who rely on federally funded health care.

Do I Get Cool Mutant Powers?

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The $100 billion a year mobile phone industry asserts that there is no conclusive evidence of harmful effects as a result of electromagnetic radiation.

The multi-billion dollar tobacco industry asserts that there is no conclusive evidence of harmful effects as a result of cigarette smoking. Since I’ve been a frequent cell phone user since 1998, I’ll be keeping my eye on this issue.

Study: Cell phones scramble DNA

Radio waves from mobile phones harm body cells and damage DNA in laboratory conditions, according to a new study majority-funded by the European Union, researchers said on Monday.

Hell With the Lid Off

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Pittsburgh used to be called “Hell with the lid off”. Since most of the
steel mills closed, the air quality has dramatically improved. It seem, though,
that it still has a long way to go. The
EPA has announced a list of the 50 cities with the worst air quality. Actually, it’s a list of counties that failed to attain the conditions set out in the PM 2.5 Standard. Allegheny County failed. Environmental Defense published a similar study in September that highlighted cities in which summer air conditions affected children the worst. Pittsburgh was 18th, with first being the worst. *Sigh* Oh well, at least I don’t leave around Philthadelphia any more. Then I’d really be sucking in scummy air. 😉

Dude, Check Out This Research!

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Since this research was performed in Pittsburgh and I frequently use the word “dude”
myself, I couldn’t resist posting this.

Linguist Deciphers Uses of Word ‘Dude’

PITTSBURGH – Dude, you’ve got to read this. A linguist from the University of Pittsburgh has published a scholarly paper deconstructing and deciphering the word “dude,” contending it is much more than a catchall for lazy, inarticulate surfers, skaters, slackers and teenagers.