The Fount of Useless Information
Your place for useless information that just might possibly be interesting.
Why Placebos Work Wonders
From Weight Loss To Fertility, New Legitimacy For ‘Fake’ Treatments
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204720204577128873886471982.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
More and more evidence is mounting that the placebo effect is ‘real’ in the sense that it has actual, measurable physiological effects. However, as mentioned …
Study: Vitamins, Omega-3s may keep brain from shrinking
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-12-29/Study-Vitamins-Omega-3s-may-keep-brain-from-shrinking/52264894/1
Of course, we don’t want to encourage any young people to follow this advice 😉 We oldsters need whatever advantage we can get!
This part sucks a bit though:
……the study
Why health care competition won’t work
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/27/opinion/etzioni-health-care-competition/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9
I was quite skeptical when I read the title, but decided to read it anyway since it is a subject I follow fairly closely. It is quite interesting in looking at the psychology …
The Bioterrorist Next Door
Man-made killer bird flu is here. Can — should — governments try to stop it?
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/14/the_bioterrorist_next_door
It is a long article by most people’s standards (7 pages, my goodness!) but I encourage anyone interested in bio-terrorism/bio-warfare …
Too much alcohol linked to unsafe sex, study confirms
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-12-13/Too-much-alcohol-linked-to-unsafe-sex-study-confirms/51880212/1
In yet another case of spending money to confirm the blindingly obvious, researchers have once again confirmed that beer goggles lead to unsafe sex. I, personally, am at a loss …
Cancer Vaccine Significantly Reduces Tumor Size
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/239115.php
Yes, it is working with animal models, so yes, it is well away from any chance of being useful to humans at this point, but it is quite interesting to see their success. …
Americans Have Put On 20 Pounds In 20 Years
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/238386.php
This is horrifying in a different way. Not only are we turning into a nation of lard-asses, but it seems we are convincing ourselves that it is OK for us …
‘I’ve never seen anything like it’: Scientists halt ageing in mice by purging old cells
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2057113/Ive-seen-like-Purging-old-cells-stops-aging-mice.html
One of the reasons I initially studied biochemistry was to be able to understand how longevity works. As I learned more about the details …
Solving America’s teen sex problem
The Dutch have dramatically reduced adolescent pregnancies, abortions and STDs. What do they know that we don’t?
http://www.salon.com/2011/10/30/solving_americas_teen_sex_problem/singleton/
A very interesting article to me, though I suspect to the average American it would find it …
A very plausible way to cut health care costs by close to 50%, yet wind up with a healthier, happier, longer-lived population:
Asking the right questions about health care
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/18/asking-the-right-questions-about-health-care/?hpt=hp_bn6
Of course, it requires people to do something more than …