| News Briefs - July-August - Page 2 |
Movement Begun to
Eliminate Human Race
A concept called the Voluntary
Human Extinction Movement
(VHEMT) has been established to
prevent the extinction of millions
of plant and animal species by
encouraging people not to bear
children. Founder Les U. Knight
says he is not advocating abortion
or other methods of terminating
life, but he also said his ultimate
goal is “that there are no humans
on the planet”, a goal he never
expects to see. Since VHEMT is
not a group one can join, there
are no figures on how many
people subscribe to the concept.—
www.worldnetdaily.com (5/11/08)
Creationism Taught in
Many Public Schools
One in eight public high school
biology teachers presents
creationism as a scientifically valid
alternative to Darwinian evolution,
according to a Penn State U. poll.
The poll also showed one in six
believe God created humans in
their present form within the last
10,000 years. Those who favored
creationism or intelligent design
spent considerably less time
teaching Darwinism than other
biology teachers, and less than
1/3 of the teachers believe God
had no part in evolution.—www.
answersin genesis (5/23/08)
Many Young Gamblers
There are an estimated 750,000
problem gamblers among the
nation’s youth, ages 14 to 21,
according to a U. of Buffalo study.
Problem gambling is described as
gambling with three or more
negative consequences such as
gambling more than what was
intended or stealing money to
gamble. Sixty-eight percent of
youth interviewed said they
gambled at least once in the past
year. Youth were more likely to
gamble if they were white, had a
fulltime job, or lived independently.
—www.sciencedaily. com (5/7/08)
Weight Gain Bad
For Blood Vessels
A weight gain of about 9 pounds
in normal-weight healthy young
adults may interfere with normal
blood vessel function and lead to
a disorder called endothelial
dysfunction. This discovery was
by Mayo Clinic researchers who
say the disorder is a predictor of
heart attack and stroke. On the
other hand, getting rid of the extra
weight will restore proper blood
vessel function.—Mayo Clinic
Health Letter (April, 2008)
Saying No to Thinness
France is sending a message that
glamorizing ultra-thinness in that
country is not acceptable. A new
bill passed by the lower house in
Parliament cracks down on Web
sites that inform anorexics on how
to starve themselves. Offenders
could face fines of up to $71,000
and 3 years in jail. It could also be
used against the fashion industry.
Doctors and psychologists
welcomed the bill, but it still must
be approved by the Senate.—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(4/16/08)
There are an estimated 750,000
problem gamblers among the
nation’s youth, ages 14 to 21,
according to a U. of Buffalo study.
Problem gambling is described as
gambling with three or more
negative consequences such as
gambling more than what was
intended or stealing money to
gamble. Sixty-eight percent of
youth interviewed said they
gambled at least once in the past
year. Youth were more likely to
gamble if they were white, had a
fulltime job, or lived independently.
—www.sciencedaily. com (5/7/08)
Weight Gain Bad
For Blood Vessels
A weight gain of about 9 pounds
in normal-weight healthy young
adults may interfere with normal
blood vessel function and lead to
a disorder called endothelial
dysfunction. This discovery was
by Mayo Clinic researchers who
say the disorder is a predictor of
heart attack and stroke. On the
other hand, getting rid of the extra
weight will restore proper blood
vessel function.—Mayo Clinic
Health Letter (April, 2008)
Saying No to Thinness
France is sending a message that
glamorizing ultra-thinness in that
country is not acceptable. A new
bill passed by the lower house in
Parliament cracks down on Web
sites that inform anorexics on how
to starve themselves. Offenders
could face fines of up to $71,000
and 3 years in jail. It could also be
used against the fashion industry.
Doctors and psychologists
welcomed the bill, but it still must
be approved by the Senate.—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(4/16/08)
Laughter-Best Medicine
Laughter may be the best
medicine, research is beginning to
prove. Researchers at Loma
Linda U. in California reported
that in a study three stress
chemicals dropped before, during,
and after subjects watched a
funny video. Cortisol decreased
67%, adrenaline 35%, and
DOPAC 69%. Scientists were
shocked that the stress chemicals
dropped significantly even before
the video was viewed, indicating
that just anticipating a good laugh
can have benefits.—www.nature.
com (4/7/08)
Bionic Eye Could Help the
Blind
People blinded by a hereditary
disease have new hope—the
invention of a “bionic eye.”
Scientists at London’s Moorfields
Eye Hospital are testing the
artificial eye, which is connected
to a camera on a pair of glasses,
on two men in their fifties. Any
success would likely only be in the
form of light and dark outlines.
The trial is aimed at people who
have been blinded by retinitis
pigmentosa, a group of inherited
diseases that affect the retina.—
bbc.co.uk (4/21/08)
Life Expectancy Falls
For American Women
Many American women
statistically are now facing a
falling life expectancy, the first
time since 1918 this has
happened. A study released in
April uncovered this trend in
almost 1,000 counties. Diabetes,
lung cancer, emphysema, and
kidney failure rates are increasing
in women. An increase in women
smoking and obesity could mean
this trend will continue.—(Racine)
Journal Times (4/22/08)
Laughter may be the best
medicine, research is beginning to
prove. Researchers at Loma
Linda U. in California reported
that in a study three stress
chemicals dropped before, during,
and after subjects watched a
funny video. Cortisol decreased
67%, adrenaline 35%, and
DOPAC 69%. Scientists were
shocked that the stress chemicals
dropped significantly even before
the video was viewed, indicating
that just anticipating a good laugh
can have benefits.—www.nature.
com (4/7/08)
Bionic Eye Could Help the
Blind
People blinded by a hereditary
disease have new hope—the
invention of a “bionic eye.”
Scientists at London’s Moorfields
Eye Hospital are testing the
artificial eye, which is connected
to a camera on a pair of glasses,
on two men in their fifties. Any
success would likely only be in the
form of light and dark outlines.
The trial is aimed at people who
have been blinded by retinitis
pigmentosa, a group of inherited
diseases that affect the retina.—
bbc.co.uk (4/21/08)
Life Expectancy Falls
For American Women
Many American women
statistically are now facing a
falling life expectancy, the first
time since 1918 this has
happened. A study released in
April uncovered this trend in
almost 1,000 counties. Diabetes,
lung cancer, emphysema, and
kidney failure rates are increasing
in women. An increase in women
smoking and obesity could mean
this trend will continue.—(Racine)
Journal Times (4/22/08)
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