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Some Science News

By gregladen on December 7, 2008.

Genetic Tests of Athletic Prowess -- For Babies

A new genetic test offers to predict the sports at which a baby will someday excel. But even if the science were sound -- it's not -- this might not be a good idea.

The $150 test, offered by Colorado-based Atlas Sports Genetics, looks at ACTN3, a gene that codes for fast-twitch muscle fiber.

Details here, and a related commentary here.

Horrifying parasitic illness reaches all-time low from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Cases of Guinea worm disease - a horrifying infection that culminates in worms coming out of a victim's skin - have reached an all-time low worldwide, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced Friday.

[...]

CNN Guts Its Science Coverage ... this may not be as bad as it sounds. They will still cover science, but some of that coverage is outsourced and other coverage moved to a different part of the agency. I, myself, couldn't care less because CNN's coverage already totally sucked. As science news becomes increasingly important to people over the next few years, CNN will simply be left behind.

Lots of details on the Large Hadron Collider here, at SciAm/

Hacking Salmon's Mental Compass to Save Endangered Fish

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wait wait, I think I've got it.

But of course, I can't send it to you. That would be a violation of terms and copyright. So forget it.