14:00 EST WEDNESDAY, 7 JUNE 2000
NEWS THIS WEEK:
HALF FISH, HALF ROBOT
One day your brain could live on in a mechanical shell. A team from America and Italy has created a strange hybrid creature with a sea lamprey supplying brainpower to a robot. Page 5
THE EYES HAVE IT
Michelangelo's sculpture David has always been regarded as the ultimate in male physical beauty, but a new laser scan of his face reveals the truth: he squints. A scientist in California revealed David's squint when examining a full-frontal view of his face-as Michelangelo never intended us to see. Page 9
GLOBAL INJECTION
BSE is a lot more widespread than some countries are admitting, according to a new risk assessment carried out by independent scientists and experts over the last 2 years. The report concludes that Germany, Italy and Spain, which have declared themselves BSE-free, are "likely to be infected". Page 4
READ MY HIPS
Goalkeepers who focus on the penalty shooter's hips stand a much better chance of making that all important save. British researchers who were investigating saving strategies say that the orientation of the kicker's hips betrays the direction the ball will travel. Page 18
A REAL LIFESAVER
A strong cup of coffee may help relieve hay fever, and might even stop potentially fatal reactions triggered by nuts and insect stings. Researchers in South Korea have found that in rats caffeine can block acute allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock. Page 12
THAT'S TORN IT
Fears that a super-strong toilet tissue might clog up Britain's sewage system have been averted, thanks to the introduction of a new testing protocol. The test is able to check the "flushability" of new tissues. Page 18
GENTLY DOES IT
New sensitive implants can help paralyzed people adjust their grip more effectively, when it comes to simple tasks such as gripping a cup. The device developed by Danish scientists makes sure that the right amount of force is used when objects are grasped. Page 15
CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK
Thanks to a solar flare, astronomers were able to make the first ever measurements of the composition of a small portion of Eros. Their findings link the asteroid to the very first stage of Solar System formation. Page 6
NEVER A CROSSED WORD
NETROPOLITAN this week looks at the Internet company that has begun to release 3D crosswords, in the form of cubes that you rotate in 3D space as you solve each line. Page 17
FEATURES:
NO MORE KICKS
Treatments are being developed that promise to vaccinate people against addictive drugs such as cocaine or even nicotine. Should these vaccines be made available just for drug abusers wanting to kick the habit, or should parents be allowed to vaccinate their children? It may be years before the first anti-vice vaccine goes on the market, but the ethical debate has begun. Pages 23-26
CHUCK IT OUT
Your cells need a good clean-out every now and then to get rid of nasty proteins which make our cells go bad. Biologists are beginning to identify the clean-up crews that destroy proteins past their sell-by date, and it seems as if there are a lot more of them than anyone thought. Pages 28-31
OUT IN THE COLD
The Universe is the way it is because if it weren't we wouldn't be here to see it. This is the "anthropic principle" which has been embraced by many scientists over the years but left many others feeling troubled. Pages 32-35
IT'S IN THE BAG
How do you find a bomb at an airport? Explode a bomb. A team of researchers is blowing up a few molecules of TNT at a time with the hope of developing the world's smallest bomb detector. Pages 36-39
THE WOMAN WHO DARED TO ASK
How do you study sex? Stick electrodes on penises and vulvas? Place hidden cameras in peoples' bedrooms. Or what about face-to-face interviews with embarrassed subjects? Who else to ask but Shere Hite. Pages 40-43
TRUST ME I'M A DOCTOR
Raj Persaud wonders why patients are happy to accept the word of their herbalist and yet are so skeptical of conventional medical treatment. Page 43
ONLY A GAME?
Do violent video games really make people aggressive? Psychologist Guy Cumberbach looks beyond the hype and finds the evidence less than convincing. Pages 44-45
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ISSUE DATE: 10 JUNE 2000
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