My picks from ScienceDaily

New Evidence That Humans Make Aspirin's Active Principle -- Salicylic Acid:

Scientists in the United Kingdom are reporting new evidence that humans can make their own salicylic acid (SA) -- the material formed when aspirin breaks down in the body. SA, which is responsible for aspirin's renowned effects in relieving pain and inflammation, may be the first in a new class of bioregulators, according to a new study.

Warmer Temperatures Could Lead To A Boom In Corn Pests:

Climate change could provide the warmer weather pests prefer, leading to an increase in populations that feed on corn and other crops, according to a new study.

Fears Of Promiscuity Pose Barrier To Cervical Cancer Vaccinations:

The public's concerns about costs and increased promiscuity among teenagers appear to be hindering use of a vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV) to prevent life-threatening diseases, according to a study by researchers at Yale School of Public Health.

Researchers Revisit Male Bisexuality:

The landmark "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" report revealed major insights into bisexual behavior and orientation -- without even using the word "bisexual" -- when it was published 60 years ago by pioneering sex researcher Alfred Kinsey and his research team at Indiana University. The iconic "Kinsey Report" unveiled the seven-point Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale, commonly known as the Kinsey Scale, as a tool to gauge a person's sexual orientation or experiences with both sexes.

While the Kinsey Scale has become a fixture in sexuality textbooks and even popular culture, the rating system and Kinsey's findings regarding male bisexuality, and cultural influences on male sexuality in general, have largely been overlooked by today's sex researchers, according to an article in the December issue of the "Journal of Bisexuality."

Breathing Problems During Sleep Associated With Calories Burned At Rest:

Individuals with sleep-related breathing disorders appear to burn more calories when resting as their conditions become more severe, according to a new report .

Ecosystem Changes In Temperate Lakes Linked To Climate Warming:

Unparalleled warming over the last few decades has triggered widespread ecosystem changes in many temperate North American and Western European lakes, say researchers at Queen's University and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

Humans And Chimps Register Faces By Using Similar Brain Regions:

Chimpanzees recognize their pals by using some of the same brain regions that switch on when humans register a familiar face, according to a report published online on December 18th in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. The study--the first to examine brain activity in chimpanzees after they attempt to match fellow chimps' faces--offers new insight into the origin of face recognition in humans, the researchers said.

Real-time Gene Monitoring Developed:

Imagine having GeneVision: the uncanny ability to view the activity of any chosen gene in real time through a specially modified camera. With GeneVision, military commanders could compare gene expression in victorious and defeated troops. Retailers could track genes related to craving as shoppers moved about a store. "The Bachelor" would enjoy yet one more secret advantage over his love-struck dates.

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