Morning News Fix
Facts: But, But…They’re Just So Dang Right!
The Lancet issues a sobering editorial criticizing the White House’s politically-motivated control of scientists and doctors. The CDC’s credibility is now under threat thanks to heavy censorship of scientific evidence regarding issues like tobacco use, abstinence-only sex education, AIDs, and more. (Note: you have to register to read the piece. It’s free and easy.)
Another Reason to Love Your Commute
Sitting in traffic is bad for the heart. A new study reported by BBC News explains how being exposed to diesel pollution increases the risk of heart disease. Now, what’s muy interesante about this is that a bad commute alone doesn’t do the damage. It’s the combination of the exposure and a diet high in bad fats that triggers an increased risk. In other words, if people were sitting in traffic chowing on burgers and fries, this would be a great explanation for why one-third of us die of heart disease. So I guess we can chalk that risk up to theoretical. Whew.
Obesity Is Contagious
The most successful viral marketing case study in the history of the world is not Lonely Girl. It is obesity. Obesity is contagious, not because it’s transmitted via pathogen, but because we tend to become like the people we spend time with. Psychological influence from peers is the most powerful force on earth.
Using Human Skin to Determine If It’s Safe for…Human Skin?
This is pretty cool. The EU has created a daunting challenge for companies: some 10,000 chemicals will require extensive safety testing by 2019, but testing these chemicals on animals will be illegal by 2009. No sweat: scientists have successfully developed human skin in the lab by way of leftover collagen from breast surgeries. This is great news for the bunnies, of course, but it’s also great for humans because safety results will be more accurate.
- Chrystelle Fontaine Photo via ScienceRoll
I always hated commuting. Even when I lived in SoCal I picked where to live by how close to the office it was — no more than 5 min.
I’m with Brian–I try to live where I can walk to things. It’s nice to be able to go “whew, not me” when studies like that commute one tell us how bad it is for you. Plus, its such a freakin’ waste of time.
And hooray for using human skin instead of bunny skin. Don’t suppose the US has any of these testing requirements that the EU does?
Great comments guys. Thanks for stopping by!
(Crabby, the US – unfortunately – is still fairly lenient. In fact there are companies that produce rats, mice, rabbits, etc. purely for testing. The sad thing is that the same chemicals are tested over, and over, and over again…for giggles, or something. But plenty of personal care brands refuse to do animal testing or include animal products.)