Off Your Knees, Boy
Oh, scientists, say it ain't so! A new study has concluded that prayer has no medical benefit. The cost to learn that entreaties to God are worthless: A total of $2.5 million. This money could have funded cancer research, food for hungry children or a full 25 minutes of the war in Iraq, but instead we've conclusively shown that patients who undergo cardiac bypass surgery and know others are praying for them fare no better than those who don't. In the study, patients in others' prayers actually suffered slightly more complications than those who didn't receive any prayers at all. The doctors involved chalked up this strange effect to the stress the patients may have felt, thinking their condition was so bad that people needed to pray for their recovery. Some researchers said the effects of uncontrolled prayers from families and friends may have altered the results. Way to hold the study to the highest scientific standards, guys.
(source: Los Angeles Times)
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In The Mood
A few cursed women have the painful pleasure of knowing what it feels like to be a 13-year-old boy. Researchers have recently put their fingers on an obscure women's condition called "persistent sexual arousal syndrome" (PSAS), where the affected women involuntarily become sexually aroused for extended periods. In the International Journal of STD & AIDS, doctors describe the condition as "usually persistent, unprovoked, and unrelieved by orgasm." And while the arousal is constant, the women don't actually experience sexual desire. Doctors encourage women to visit healthcare workers who will listen and try to help. Thus far, however, there is no treatment for PSAS.
(source: WebMD)
Celebrities Book Virgin Galactic Trip
In 2008, the hottest, most exclusive travel spot for the A-list will not be the French Riviera nor Hawaii nor a private island in the Mediterranean. No, the 2008 vacation for the stars will be cold, cramped and less than three hours long. Also, there's no toilet, and the celebrities will have to wear a diaper. Thus far, 150 wealthy people have booked tickets on the maiden voyages of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic program, which will take travelers 400,000 feet above the Earth and allow them to experience weightlessness for five minutes. The guest list already includes Alien actress Sigourney Weaver and Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro. William Shatner is reportedly considering laying out the required six figure price for a ticket, and Stephen Hawking has also expressed interest, although his health issues may prevent him from flying.
(source: Scotsman)
Fat Boy, Slim IQ
According to a new study out of Boston University, obese men tend to have lower IQs than their trim counterparts. Men with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30—a person standing 5'9" would need to weigh over 200 pounds to qualify—scored 23% lower on tests of mental acuity than their lower BMI counterparts. No similar link was found in women, and the causation of the correlation is still up in the air: The researchers suggest that an unhealthy diet might damage blood flow to the brain. Meanwhile, past research indicates that less intelligent people are more likely to have poor diets. Perhaps the best idea is to adopt a Calvinist stance and show that you are predestined for high IQ by staying fit.
(source: BBC)