Science In The News

"Men can detect a woman's natural scent at an unconscious level. In an experimental study, testosterone levels were higher in men who smelled an ovulating woman's T-shirt." Our knowledge of the amount of unconscious processing of physiological 'information' will continue to grow. - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"this so-called G-spot has never been precisely identified as a concrete biological entity. Scientists are still arguing over what it is and whether it exists at all." Here's a news report about an interesting article from the J of Sexual Med. All the inferences are without a gynecological exam. - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"As most every parent knows, hooking up for casual sex is bad for young people because it causes emotional or psychological damage. Right? Well, actually, no. At least not for young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, according to a new study by University of Minnesota researchers." Do you agree with this? Make sure to read some of the key details of the study. - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"The combination of alcohol and caffeine produces a potentially lethal mix that just makes it harder to realize you are actually drunk in the first place. And the study published in Behavioural Neuroscience suggests popular caffeinated energy drinks could also raise risks from intoxication rather than lessen them." What does this say about the popular cocktails that directly mix energy drinks and various types of hard liquor? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"The findings back up research earlier this year that showed men preferred the shape of ordinary women, equivalent to dress size 14, than fashion models and Playboy centrefolds." Now this gives me hope about society. How about you? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Women tend to choose husbands who look like their fathers, a study shows. And it works both ways - the women in the Proceedings B study also resembled their partner's mother." Soo, does that explain certain patterns of behavior among young people who have dysfunctional relationships with the parent of the opposite gender? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Telling someone you fancy 'I really like you' could make him or her find you more attractive, research suggests. Making eye contact and smiling have a similar effect,..." What does this mean to the nerve wracking statement 'I love you?' - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"High testosterone in women makes them more attracted to masculine actors such as Daniel Craig, with men favouring the femininity typified by Natalie Portman." Would this be driven by circulating testosterone levels? Remember how testosterone is modified in the brain. - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Giving women more of the male hormone testosterone can turn them into fairer and more amiable game players, according to tests." "Fairer and more amiable" like men? What's your opinion on this? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Research in animals has indicated that soy might increase the chances of breast cancer recurrence because it can act like the hormone estrogen, which promotes tumor growth." Would you eat tofu or soymilk after reading these research results? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"The fertility watchdog is to discuss more generous compensation to egg and sperm donors as a means of tackling the severe shortage of supplies for those desperate for a baby. But some are uneasy about the prospect of handing over significant amounts of cash for spare human parts, warning it may be a step too far towards the commodification of the body." An interesting approach. Why is there more concern about paying women than men as gamete donors? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Now a report reveals that female giant pandas use chirp calls to inform male pandas exactly how fertile they are." What an interesting mating behavior! What do you think? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"The presence of an anxious male partner in the labour room makes the woman tense and slows her production of the hormone oxytocin..." Do you agree with this? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"The research found that women were better than men at processing facial expressions and completing assessments, something that had always been suggested but never conclusively proved." Does this have implications for reproductive and mating behavior? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Researchers found that mice fed meals similar to those of the original Atkin's Diet had brains five per cent lighter than all the others. They also found that the hippocampus part of the brain, which is responsible for memory, were less developed in those rodents on the high protein diet. Scientists say the findings, published in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration, suggest the ravages of dementia "might be slowed or avoided through healthy eating"." Any other plausible explanation or interpretation? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Using the internet for just a few days alters our brains – and may help improve cognitive function in the elderly, according to new research." This report attracts an 'old geezer' like me, of course, but what could lead to such results? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

""We've found homologous enzymes in barnacles and humans, which serve the same function of clotting proteins underwater, despite roughly a billion years of evolutionary separation," says Dr Dickinson." The homology of the enzymes suggest conservation of the DNA sequences for the whole mechanism. Why is this important in reproduction? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"US researchers have found a way to dramatically increase the harvest of stem cells from adult tissue." Why is this so important? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"They discovered that when the pheromone was removed, it created a "sexual tsunami" where the bugs proved attractive to one another, regardless of sex. The research found that male fruit flies with no history of homosexuality attempted to mate with their pheromone-free males, according to the research published in journal Nature." What implications are there for humans with this research? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Researchers in Holland measured the sexual performance of nearly 500 men from five countries against the clock. They found that British men had sex for 10 minutes on average before reaching an orgasm." What a way to promote nationalism! - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Scientists have proved that it is possible for a mother's cancer cells to be passed to her unborn child." Is there something unique about the human placenta that allows this? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Scientists have created part of the jaw joint in the lab using human adult stem cells. They say it is the first time a complex, anatomically-sized bone has been accurately created in this way." These stem cells are going to be amazing tools in the future. - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Researchers have found that the pill changes the perception of what women find attractive – and therefore could alter their taste in men." This research was from an Animal Science department in the UK. Do you agree with it? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Researchers have discovered that the way rhesus macaque mothers bond with their babies strikes a remarkable resemblance to human behaviour." Maybe this is linked with oxytocin? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"A new study by scientists at Graz University found that spermidine, a compound that is found in sperm, slows ageing processes and increases longevity in yeast, flies, worms and mice, as well as human blood cells, by protecting cells from damage." Now this ves sperm a whole new visability in the world of popular culture. - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"X-rays have revealed the structure of a protein that shows how insects smell." This article says the most important application would be insect repellents. Do you agree? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

Now why didn't I start my career in science in this field? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

A breakthrough study on prions, which causes bSE (Mad-Cow Disease), CJD in humans, and chronic wasting disease in deer. This shows not only how the prion spread and exposure works in deer, but also how it's different in cattle and humans. Has link to Nature article published first on-line - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

These scientists use a very interesting computational approach that tracks the gene for the ability to digest lactose by humans. According to them, consumption of milk by adults started about 7,500 years ago in Balkans ares of Central Europe. - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet

"Many scientists hailed the research as a technically impressive feat that could help many families rid themselves of a variety of terrible disorders caused by defects in genetic material known as mitochondrial DNA." How can a monkey live without mitochondrial DNA? - Mark Varner from Bookmarklet