Links of the Day
1. Pigs could grow human organs in stem cell breakthrough. Scientists have been able to use stem cells created from adult rats and then make mouse embryos grow organs that would be compatible with that adult rat. It is hoped that this accomplishment is the first step to being able to grow new human organs in pigs, so that there would never be organ shortages again.
2. The heritability of feminism. New research indicates that political beliefs are heritable — some of the variation between people’s political beliefs (an average of 32%), appears to be caused by genetic factors. Does this mean that political beliefs which tend to reduce fertility will decrease over time in a population?
3. How Power Corrupts. “The very traits that helped leaders accumulate control in the first place all but disappear once they rise to power. Instead of being polite, honest and outgoing, they become impulsive, reckless and rude. According to psychologists, one of the main problems with authority is that it makes us less sympathetic to the concerns and emotions of others.”
Agricultural geneticists have long argued that the area around the railroad route — the Brazil-Bolivia border — was the development ground for peanuts, Brazilian broad beans…, and two species of chili pepper… But in recent years evidence has accumulated that the area was also the domestication site for tobacco, chocolate, peach palm (Bactris gasipaes, a major Amazonian tree crop), and most important, the worldwide staple manioc (Manihot esculenta, also known as cassava or yuca).
5. The OECD Better Life Index. Trying to figure out which OECD country is right for you? Use this handy tool to rank the importance and relative weight of different characteristics and see which country would be the best match for you.
6. Where to live to avoid a natural disaster. Looks like the Pacific Northwest is the place to be.
7. The “law school scam” media bubble. A summary of some of the recent stories in the press about how law schools game the rankings and do other underhanded things to attract students.