http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2012-04/who-blame-when-robotic-car-crashes
The article discusses the implications of removing drivers from cars and replacing them with automatic driving robots. It starts by mentioning the mechanical improvements to cars such as anti-lock brakes and traction control and how those computerized elements have drastically lowered accident rates. It goes on to state that a majority of car accidents are caused by human error and by removing the driver, a majority of accidents would not have occurred. But the issue is the matter of insurance. Manufacturers would the most likely to blame if an malfunctioning car were to cause an accident. The article goes on to mention that if manufacturers are to be put on the spot, they would be more reluctant to build autonomous cars. It finally mentions that the government could step in to regulate such matters by protecting the small amount of people who theoretically would be involved in accidents while still promoting the production of autonomous driving cars.
Should the government encourage autonomous driving vehicles as a matter of safety? Is a car's autopilot a sign of humanity's growing fragility in piloting vehicles?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
New Case of Mad Cow Disease in California
Link : http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/04/24/us/politics/ap-us-mad-cow.html?_r=1&ref=health
Summary : Earlier this morning, the first case of mad cow disease happened in the U.S since 2006 in California. About 40,000 cows a year are tested for fatal brain disease and the department chief veterinary officer said there is no such possible thing that cows can't cause a fatal human brain disease. The test shows that humans cannot be infected by drinking milk from infected animals.
Question : Would you still drink milk even though they said cows can't cause a fatal human brain disease?
Summary : Earlier this morning, the first case of mad cow disease happened in the U.S since 2006 in California. About 40,000 cows a year are tested for fatal brain disease and the department chief veterinary officer said there is no such possible thing that cows can't cause a fatal human brain disease. The test shows that humans cannot be infected by drinking milk from infected animals.
Question : Would you still drink milk even though they said cows can't cause a fatal human brain disease?
Priscilla De La Rosa- Vermont Vaccines (April)
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/vermont-lawmakers-parents-at-loggerheads-over-philosophical-exemption-for-kids-vaccines/2012/04/22/gIQArrhCaT_story.html
Summary: Basically, this article states how in Vermont many vaccinations have gone wrong for the kids receiving them. They have had an outbreak of many diseases that the vaccines target such as, pertussis amd whopping cough. However, now a question of informed consent has arisen from this. A mother agreed to vaccinations for both of her two children however, her boy suffered a seizure after a child vaccination and her daughter suffered from head to toe eczema bteakout. This mother then says its a matter of researching the risks and benefits of the immunizations. However, another mom says, "It's a matter of trusting the experts. There’s not really any way that as an individual I can do more scientific study and research than the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Centers for Disease Control."
Question: Now this brings up the question, do you agree with the mother that we should just trusting the experts because it is their job to keep us healthy? Or do you agree with the first mother and reseraching the risks and benefits of the vaccines?
Summary: Basically, this article states how in Vermont many vaccinations have gone wrong for the kids receiving them. They have had an outbreak of many diseases that the vaccines target such as, pertussis amd whopping cough. However, now a question of informed consent has arisen from this. A mother agreed to vaccinations for both of her two children however, her boy suffered a seizure after a child vaccination and her daughter suffered from head to toe eczema bteakout. This mother then says its a matter of researching the risks and benefits of the immunizations. However, another mom says, "It's a matter of trusting the experts. There’s not really any way that as an individual I can do more scientific study and research than the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Centers for Disease Control."
Question: Now this brings up the question, do you agree with the mother that we should just trusting the experts because it is their job to keep us healthy? Or do you agree with the first mother and reseraching the risks and benefits of the vaccines?
http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=10368
This article is about how scientist are learning how to make the HIV/AIDs virus not infectious to other cells. In a sense, they are sugarcoating the virus. The problem with this is that the HIV/AIDs virus mutates making it hard to fully cure and make the disease non lethal.
Is it right to try this new "vaccine" on people without AIDs, but posssibly give them AIDs in the process?
This article is about how scientist are learning how to make the HIV/AIDs virus not infectious to other cells. In a sense, they are sugarcoating the virus. The problem with this is that the HIV/AIDs virus mutates making it hard to fully cure and make the disease non lethal.
Is it right to try this new "vaccine" on people without AIDs, but posssibly give them AIDs in the process?
Can Brain Freeze Solve the Mystery of Migraines?
This article focuses on the effect of rapid blood flow to the brain, what we call a brain freeze. The brain is supper sensitive to temperature so this rapid change swells the brain’s anterior cerebral artery. While brain freeze may not be a way to cure migraines and other dysfunctions to the brain it may be linked to them in some way.
http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/23/can-brain-freeze-solve-the-mystery-of-migraines/
If a brain freeze causes your brain to hurt or gain a small amount of discomfort, does eating something hot cause the same effect or a different one?
http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/23/can-brain-freeze-solve-the-mystery-of-migraines/
If a brain freeze causes your brain to hurt or gain a small amount of discomfort, does eating something hot cause the same effect or a different one?
Sunday, April 22, 2012
IVF linked to risk of birth defects and heart disease
Summary:
This article is about how studies are beginning to show that there are more birth defects when women receive IVFs. Before the use of IVFs, birth defects only happened 3 out of 100 children. Now with more and more females getting IVFs, they found that 4 out of 100 children are having birth defects. No one doesn't know for sure what's causing the up rise in the birth defects, but scientist have came up with three possible reasons: "people who have trouble conceiving also tend to have babies with birth defects. The IVF drugs, culture media and techniques themselves could cause the defects. Or finally, there seem to be more defects simply because the children are more closely observed".
Question:
Do you think that women seeking IVFs should be warned about the rise of birth defects before continuing on with treatment? What do you think if the rise of birth defect in IVF continues to go on?
Link: http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/10027
This article is about how studies are beginning to show that there are more birth defects when women receive IVFs. Before the use of IVFs, birth defects only happened 3 out of 100 children. Now with more and more females getting IVFs, they found that 4 out of 100 children are having birth defects. No one doesn't know for sure what's causing the up rise in the birth defects, but scientist have came up with three possible reasons: "people who have trouble conceiving also tend to have babies with birth defects. The IVF drugs, culture media and techniques themselves could cause the defects. Or finally, there seem to be more defects simply because the children are more closely observed".
Question:
Do you think that women seeking IVFs should be warned about the rise of birth defects before continuing on with treatment? What do you think if the rise of birth defect in IVF continues to go on?
Link: http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/10027
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Antonio Reybol - Medical Tattoo Looks to Replace Bulky Devices
Link:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/04/12/medical-tattoo-looks-to-replace-bulky-devices/
Summary: This article is about how doctors want to place a "biostamp" in our skin to detect warnings of our medical health. It can also keep us updated and inform other doctors of our medical history, just through this one one device. It is to replace bulky metal pacemakers and other electronics given to us to monitor our health. It is still in the process of making, but it will be so convenient that it may even be able to sync to our smart phones to notify us of a medical issue happening at that moment!
Question: If you were someone who had a pacemaker, would you prefer this "biostamp"? Why or why not? Would you be scared to know at a specific moment that something wrong is going on in your body by getting a notification on your phone?
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