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Comment Re:Wrong (Score 1) 249

doctors will prescribe the latest (expensive) drug to a patient when a generic does the job just as well

If the solution even requires a generic... I went in for bronchitis, and I came out with a prescription for a generic antibiotic, and a prescription for Prilosec. When I looked it up later, it turned out to be a medication for heartburn! I also noticed that the logo was the same as the big, purple button on the lapel of the doctor's labcoat. :/

Comment Re:me two. (Score 1) 458

Is lithium still popular as an anti-depressant, or has it fallen out of favor now that the patents have expired?

It used to be the treatment for depression and bipolar disorder, but IIRC, the long-term health effects from regular consumption are devastating. It's still possible to get a prescription, but not with ease.

Comment Re:What are the implications of this discovery? (Score 1) 127

The Hydrogen atom is fairly well explored, and has a nucleic charge of +e, while the electron orbiting it has a charge of -e. As the electron becomes excited, it moves farther away from the nucleus until it is finally ionized.

In more complex atom, such as Rubidium, you have a nucleic charge of +37e, and 37 electrons with a charge of -e surrounding it. When observed from a distance, these add to a net charge of 0, making it neutral.

If you are able to excite the outermost electron of an atom, the electron will move very far away from the nucleus, such that the nucleus and the other electrons are close together compared to the distance between the excited electron and the nucleus. From this outer electron's perspective, the other parts of the atom combine to form a net charge of +e. With a charge of -e orbiting a charge of +e, this atom will behave like a Hydrogen atom. This is a Rydberg atom.

What they have done is make a molecule out of two Rydberg atoms made from Rubidium. This should be similar to two Hydrogen atoms making a H2 molecule. Very excited electron energies are unstable and have very brief lifetimes, so it's unusual that the entire molecule would have lasted for 18us.

The Courts

Submission + - Pirate Bay case ends in guilty verdict

mazarin5 writes: The owners of The Pirate Bay have been found guilty in their ongoing case:

From a guardian.co.uk article:

"A Stockholm court found the four defendants guilty of making 33 specific files accessible for illegal sharing through The Pirate Bay, which means they will have to pay compensation to 17 different music and media companies including Sony BMG, Universal, EMI, Warner, MGM and 20th Century Fox.

Kolmisoppi commented: "Stay calm — nothing will happen to TPB, us personally or filesharing what so ever. This is just a theatre for the media"

They plan to appeal the decision.

Comment Re:Obesity & Bacteria (Score 1) 397

17% is completely healthy. In fact, most health professionals recommend a target BF% of 16%. Essentially, it breaks down like this:
05%BF: Essential fats; don't go below this
10%BF: Athletic range;
20%BF: Healthy range; with a 16% optimum
25%BF: Overfat; but not considered horrible
>25%BF: Obese

(For women, the numbers are 8%,17%,25%, and 30%, with an optimum of 20%)

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