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Canadian Blood Services Promotes Pseudoscience 219

Posted by samzenpus from the type-A-negative-personality dept.
trianglecat writes "The not-for-profit agency Canadian Blood Services has a section of their website based on the Japanese cultural belief of ketsueki-gata, which claims that a person's blood group determines or predicts their personality type. Disappointing for a self-proclaimed 'science-based' organization. The Ottawa Skeptics, based in the nation's capital, appear to be taking some action."
Image

Scientists Say a Dirty Child Is a Healthy Child 331

Posted by samzenpus from the snack-is-going-to-be-on-the-floor-today dept.
Researchers from the School of Medicine at the University of California have shown that the more germs a child is exposed to, the better their immune system in later life. Their study found that keeping a child's skin too clean impaired the skin's ability to heal itself. From the article: "'These germs are actually good for us,' said Professor Richard Gallo, who led the research. Common bacterial species, known as staphylococci, which can cause inflammation when under the skin, are 'good bacteria' when on the surface, where they can reduce inflammation."

Comment Re:More competition needed (Score 1) 340

by loganljb (#30212990) Attached to: Telcos Want Big Subsidies, Not Line-Sharing

Just out of curiosity, how much would you, or those who inherit your property, have to pay to replace this septic system in 30 years compared to the cost of connecting to the government run system then as opposed to now?

While I'm almost definitely not in the same area as the OP, I do have direct, relevant, recent experience with this. This year, on our property, we had a complete leach field failure. Not exactly unexpected -- this particular field has been in continuous use for 40 years, and the tank has been pumped ONCE during that time (keep in mind, you are supposed to have your tank pumped out every 5-7 years). The total cost, including a new distribution box (the old one was cracked) for putting in an entirely new set of lines under a different part of the property -- $1700. That included excavation, having the tank pumped, materials, everything. While not cheap by any means, this will probably last us for another 40 years -- at which point the original field will almost definitely have returned back to usable condition, and we can have the distribution box switched back over to the original field.
Transportation

Synthetic Sebum Makes Slippery Sailboats 128

Posted by timothy from the so-say-we-all dept.
sonnejw0 writes "Sea-faring vessels are a major contributor of greenhouse gas production due to a deficit in international laws and inherent inefficiencies at sea, such as barnacle build-up on hulls. Many marine animals avoid the build-up of drag-inducing barnacles through secreting oily residues from their pores or through the nano-molecular arrangement of their skin. Sailors regularly defoul their hulls, removing the barnacles at dry-dock, which requires them to reduce the amount of time they have at sea. Some synthetic chemicals in paints have been used to prevent barnacle build-up but have been found to be toxic to marine animals and thus outlawed by several nations. Now, engineers are trying to replicate the skin of marine animals to produce a slippery hull to which marine bacteria cannot attach, saving fuel costs and improving speeds."

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