Great news! Cases of these horrifying, 31-inch parasites are dropping sharply.

Carter Center. Countdown to Zero: A Case Study in South Sudan Small crustaceans called copepods transmit the infection; they’re infected with immature Guinea worms. When people drink unfiltered water, digestion kills the copepods and releases the larval worms. The worms promptly burrow into the human’s abdominal cavity, become adults, and have sex. A year after drinking contaminated water, an excruciating sore forms on the skin. Inside, the female worm waits. Once the infected human enters water, either to soak the painful blister or to do chores, the worm dumps her eggs and begins the cycle again. (The Carter Center/Al Granberg) Local village volunteers are key to treating and reporting infections. Local control of the program is what makes it succeed; it’s not a system imposed by outsiders. Case reports are fascinating; a 54-year-old woman with an emerging worm was reported in September. Her 5-year-old granddaughter told her brother, who informed the village volunteer, and their Grandmother of Dragons received treatment. [Watch doctors lure a worm out of a boy’s eye with … basil?] Just as eradication efforts seem to be nearing an endgame, there’s an unexpected twist. Dogs can also be infected with Guinea worms, and they now must also be added to the control equation. Molecular tests confirmed that the worms found infecting dogs are the same species that infect humans — so the parasite won't truly be under control until canines are safe from it, too. So far in Chad, 400 dogs have been confirmed with Guinea worm infections this year. It’s thought that dogs get infected by eating raw fish entrails discarded at fish markets, but more research is needed to confirm this. Sharon Roy, Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Eradication of Dracunculiasis at the CDC, explained dogs serve as a paratenic host, or an incidental host for the worms. “That’s the working theory in Chad. We haven't been able to find a smoking gun, or in this case a smoking fish,” she said. Cash rewards encourage reporting of infected dogs, and tethering to keep them out of fresh water sources. Locals are also being encouraged to fully cook fish, and to dispose of fish entrails securely. The eradication campaign is close to completion, but it will take another year to know if 2015’s efforts are successful. “It’s not over til’ it’s over,” said Hopkins. Gwen Pearson has a PhD in Entomology and is Outreach


Baby panda scoots around, gets teeth and is taken out of den sooner than siblings

Baby panda Bei Bei at the National Zoo. (Courtesy of the National Zoo) Bei Bei, the 1½-month-old baby panda at the National Zoo, is on the move, scooting and getting teeth. Plus, his mother — Mei Xiang — is moving him out of the den area where he was born sooner than she did with her two other cubs when they were small, zoo officials said. Bei Bei’s older siblings were taken out of the den by their mother at later points — Bao Bao, now 2 years old, was taken out of the den at about 2½ months, and Tai Shan, the other cub, was taken out of the den at 3½ months old. [National Zoo’s giant panda cub is officially named Bei Bei] The mother takes the cub out of the den area and into an enclosed, indoor area where there are rocks. “She’s just choosing to help her cub reach milestones earlier than the first two cubs,” said Devin Murphy, a spokeswoman for the zoo, explaining why Mei Xiang is taking Bei Bei out of the den area. “It just tells us she’s proven that she’s a good mom with all of her cubs.” “She’s just pushing milestones earlier as she feels comfortable.” Bei Bei weighs 8.79 pounds, and “he’s starting to get his teeth,” the zoo said in a message on Twitter. Officials said he is also “scooting around the den, but no walking yet.” #BeiBei weighed 7.74 lbs. Mon. Today he's 8.3 lbs. He scooting around the den, but no walking yet. #PandaStory https://t.co/xPTTVehRqb Zoo officials said Bei Bei is “working hard to crawl but his back legs aren’t quite strong enough yet, so he’s been scooting around in circles, which is normal for a cub his age.” Mei Xiang, the zoo said, is “taking him out of the den regularly and setting him down while she eats.” Mei Xiang usually goes to her outdoor area twice a day for about 30 minutes, but the zoo said she “always moves Bei Bei back into the den beforehand.” Happy hump day from the new & improved Big Boy. 8.79 lbs...with teethies. https://t.co/IQSDz9n46o Bei Bei was born Aug. 22. His name means “precious treasure.” The other panda cub Mei Xiang gave birth to in August died after it inhaled a food product, which led to pneumonia. During an early October visit to the vet, Bei Bei got


The devastating potential of an extreme solar storm and what the White House is doing about it

cited research which suggests that there is a 12 percent chance of something like this happening in the next decade. The most severe documented solar storm to impact Earth, known as the Carrington Event, occurred in September 1859, well before today’s power grid and network of satellites existed. During the Carrington event, the northern lights were seen as far south as Cuba and Hawaii, according to historical accounts. The solar eruption “caused global telegraph lines to spark, setting fire to some telegraph offices,” NASA noted. A National Academy of Sciences study in 2008 said a similar event happening today could produce a devastating economic impact exceeding $2 trillion, 20 times the cost of Hurricane Katrina. A key component of the White House plan is to establish benchmarks for space weather events. “They provide a point of reference from which to improve the understanding of space weather effects, develop more effective mitigation procedures, enhance response and recovery planning and understand risk,” the plan says. Some recent studies have shown that there is historical evidence of the sun producing “superflares,” or flares 1,000 times larger than what has been observed in modern times. [Scientists spot evidence for ‘superflares,’ blowing away anything we’ve ever seen] “We have to understand how big these storms can be,” Murtagh said. “We have to define those numbers and present them to industry and those trying to protect assets so they know what to protect against.” The plan also calls for an assessment of the vulnerability of our nation’s systems to these storms. A critical question, which is not well understood, is how severely would an extreme solar storm impact the power grid? The 2008 National Academy of Sciences report said power outages after an extreme solar storm could last months or longer, since transformers take a long time to replace. A report from North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) from 2012, on behalf of the industry, was not as dire, noting that geomagnetic storms are more likely to cause blackouts and short-term power loss rather than such sustained damage. Murtagh explained that this kind of assessment is a “huge undertaking” since so many factors affect the vulnerability at different points in the grid network, including physical location, underlying geology and the age of the equipment. Parts of the southern U.S. have no recent experience with a significant solar storm, so the impacts on power systems there are


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‘Jihad is a lot of fun,’ Deso Dogg, a German rapper turned Islamic State pitchman said. Now he’s reportedly dead from U.S. air strike.

countries,” the State Department release said. He often appeared in, and sometimes sang for, the group’s slickly produced videos. In one, he splashes water at some unidentified stream, smiling like a man on a camping trip. In another, he clutches a severed head. The evolution of “Deso Dogg,” the hip-hop star with a chip on his shoulder, into “Abu Talha Al-Almani,” a militant with blood on his hands and an airstrike’s terrorist target is less unlikely than it sounds. Like so many of Islamic State’s western recruits, Cuspert was simultaneously disaffected and indignant, the survivor of a troubled upbringing and a tumultuous adulthood who saw something in jihad — faith, fulfillment, the promise of redemption — he lacked at home. Home, for Cuspert, was Berlin, where he was raised by a German mother and an American stepfather, a U.S. army veteran. His father, who was Ghanaian, left when Cuspert was a baby, the German newspaper Der Spiegel reported. After clashing with his stepfather, Cuspert was sent to a home for difficult children for five years. He also spent time at a farm in Namibia set up to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents. Cuspert often felt alienated in Germany, even as a child. “I grew up with racism,” he told the New York Times in 2011. “Though my mother is German, some teachers back then would call me ‘Negro’ and treat all Muslim kids bad.” In search of an identity, he joined youth gangs with other children of immigrants. Politics also gave him purpose — during the run-up to the Gulf War in the 1990s and again before the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, Cuspert’s was a frequent face at Berlin demonstrations. His outrage over American foreign policy didn’t help Cuspert’s relationship with his stepfather. Rap gave him another outlet. Cuspert released his first album in 1995 and he took the name “Deso Dogg” a few years later — “Deso” was short for “Devil’s son.” By the late 2000s he was touring with the rapper DMX and his music was being featured on German TV. And then Cuspert found God. It’s not clear whether Cuspert had been born Muslim — roughly 15 percent of Islamic State’s European recruits are converts. But regardless of his previous exposure to the faith, it’s clear that his interest in Islam took a sudden, extreme turn around 2010, just after he was reportedly in a life threatening


D.C. area forecast: Cool and quite sunny today, clouds increase on Saturday as rain threatens by Sunday

TODAY’S DAILY DIGIT 8/10: EXPRESS FORECAST Today: FORECAST IN DETAIL Sunshine today may go missing by late tomorrow and then stay hidden into Sunday. We’re briefly transitioning toward cooler autumnal air today and tomorrow before warmer air comes back next week. Moderate northwesterly breezes today become lighter southerly breezes over the weekend, and rain may threaten on Sunday—albeit in a moderate manner. Get ready for mid-70s (or higher?) next week! Today (Friday): Mostly sunny but with a few scattered clouds at times. Given northwesterly winds around 10-15 mph and autumnal high temperatures in the upper 50s to to low 60s, the sun’s infrared should feel welcome. It’s cool in the shade with those breezes! Confidence: High Tonight: For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast into next week… Tomorrow (Saturday): Tomorrow night: Sunday: Sunset at the Masonic Temple, Alexandria VA on 10/25/15 (by Todd Megill via our CWG Facebook page) A LOOK AHEAD Sunday night: We could be in for increasingly warmer air Monday into Tuesday. On Monday, we’re still watching that little low passing off to the south. It could linger, if it impacts the area at all. It’s possible we’ll see some rain, especially south of the area. By Tuesday, it’s out of here for sure. Temperatures are still rising — near 70 on Monday and mid-70s on Tuesday. Confidence: Medium


Congress probing how massive surveillance blimp went rogue

A Boeing 767 operated by Dynamic Airways caught fire on the tarmac in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 29. All passengers were evacuated safely. The powerful leaders of the House Oversight Committee on Thursday fired off letters to the secretaries of Defense and Transportation seeking information about the runaway blimp that wreaked havoc when it became untethered and floated north for about 140 miles. Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said the rogue blimp, part of a $2.7 billion Pentagon system designed to detect missiles and other airborne threats, raised concerns about the program, known as JLENS. "This event raises questions about the value and reliability of JLENS, which also failed to detect a gyrocopter as it approached, and eventually landed, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol," they wrote. Shortly after noon on Wednesday, the massive, unmanned blimp, nearly the length of a football field, broke lose from its tether at the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground, setting off mayhem and ridicule as it gently floated north into Pennsylvania. The Air National Guard scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to track it. Social media exploded with stunning images of modern intelligence technology floating over Amish farm country. And cable news broadcast its slow parade as if it were a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade float on the lam. The dangling tether from the runaway blimp tore through power lines, knocking out electricity to thousands, before the ballon crashed into rural Moreland Township, Pa. Officials said it most likely lost helium, which caused it to come back to Earth after a more than four-hour odyssey. [The military lost control of a giant, unmanned surveillance blimp] The event even made it into the Republican presidential debate Wednesday evening, when candidate Mike Huckabee called the blimp, known as an aerostat, a "bag of gas" and said it symbolized the failures of government. "They couldn’t get rid of it because we had too much money invested in it," he said. "So we had to keep it.” The system, manufactured by Raytheon, is on a three-year test run to see whether it can help detect cruise missiles or enemy aircraft from 10,000 feet above ground. Like many highly technical defense programs, JLENS has suffered “cost increases and schedule delays due to setbacks in development,” according to the Government Accountability Office. After facing problems, defense officials reviewed the program to “verify that design risks have been


Pluto continues to amaze in dazzling new photo

does not disappoint. Look at that crescent! Look at that haze! Look at that world! These images are magnificent, even compared to the the pictures we saw right after the July 14 flyby, when New Horizons zipped past the Pluto system for humanity's first encounter with our favorite dwarf planet. It's taking months and months for the NASA team to downlink all the data acquired during the brief flyby, so we had to wait a little while to see the best of the best photos. [Pluto has brilliant blue skies and frozen water] What can we see here? As the distant sun casts a glow over Pluto's surface, it illuminates the Sputnik Planum, a vast plain of smooth ice on the lower right side of the photo. Above that, we see rising mountains. These are made of water ice, and they rise about 11,000 feet above the surface. On Pluto, it's so cold that water ice acts more like rock -- so it's tough enough to tower into the sky. Pro-tip -- click here for a super-high-resolution version of the pic, then zoom in at will to find nuggets like this: Look at that smooth, reflective ice. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute) And this: Mountains made of water ice. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute) And these: It's full of stars. (NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute) Those streaks? Those are stars, blurred out as New Horizons moved its camera to keep a close eye on Pluto during the flyby. I'm sure there are even more beautiful images yet to come, but this one will be hard to beat. Meanwhile, New Horizons has started homing in on its secondary target. On Wednesday, the spacecraft made the third of four maneuvers meant to steer it towards a target known as MU69, a Kuiper Belt Object discovered in 2014. If the redirect is successful -- and if NASA approves the extended mission -- we'll have an encounter with a world even more mysterious than Pluto on January 1, 2019. Read More: 13 spooky science stories to get you in the Halloween spirit Why NASA’s top scientist is sure that we’ll find signs of alien life in the next decade Why did NASA spend 9 years getting to Pluto only to fly right past it? Is there a Planet X, a ‘massive perturber,’ hidden beyond Pluto?


Should the post office also be a bank?

After college, Sally Frank, of Dallas, fell on hard financial times. To help meet her hefty student loan payments and other bills, she cut costs by sharing a two-bedroom apartment with three people and picked up extra work whenever she could. Neon signs illuminate a payday loan business in Phoenix on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, one of 650 operating in the state with some open 24-hours a day. A growing backlash against payday lending practices have prompted legislatures around the country to crack down on the businesses. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) “But it still wasn’t enough,” she said. “Eventually there came a time when I was so far behind that I didn’t have money for rent… I took out a payday loan to cover the rent and then I was really in deep water. I ended up having to take out two more loans over the next two months to cover that first loan….The loan was $150. I ended up paying over $2,000 to the payday lending industry over the next 4 months.” Gordon Martinez in Richardson, Texas also turned to payday loans after some admittedly irresponsible financial behavior left him in the red. A musician, he used his prize possession, a tuba worth $8,000, as collateral to borrow $500 from a payday lender. Over two years, he said he paid back $3,700. But he still lost the tuba. “Never would I consider using (financial) products like this again,” he said. Frank and Martinez might be through with payday loans, but plenty of other people aren’t. If there were more alternatives in neighborhoods lacking banks, payday customers might not be driven to lenders with a reputation for exploiting borrowers with high-interest loans that roll over and over and over. Cue postal banking. Postal unions and civil rights groups are among other advocacy organizations, along with the U.S. Postal Service inspector general, pushing USPS to expand into banking. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a Democratic presidential hopeful, agrees. But USPS, which could use the business, has no interest. [Bernie Sanders has a pretty revolutionary idea to change America’s post offices] Providing financial services in post offices “could benefit the 68 million underserved Americans who either do not have a bank account or rely on expensive services like payday lending and check cashing,” says an inspector general report issued in May. “The products also could help the Postal Service generate new revenue to


The inequality in retirement savings between top 100 CEOs and U.S. workers

(iStock) Burdened by stagnant wages and shrinking employer benefits, average Americans are struggling to put aside enough for retirement. The typical worker between the ages of 55 and 64 had $111,000 in retirement savings in 2013, according to Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research. In addition, the government says just 18 percent of all private-sector workers participate in pension plans that upon retirement promise to pay them a defined monthly benefit for life. That is down from 35 percent in the early 1990s. Taken together, that adds up to a looming retirement security crisis that a growing number of activists are worried about. But rest assured, there is one group that has no such worries — America’s top executives. In fact, they enjoy lavish pensions that would otherwise support millions of ordinary workers, according to a new report released this week by the Center for Effective Government and the Institute for Policy Studies. Combined, the 100 largest chief executive retirement funds are worth $4.9 billion, which is about equal to the entire retirement account savings of 41 percent of American families. On average, these CEOs have enough assets salted away to each generate a monthly retirement check of over $277,000, according to the report. If that’s not enough, many Fortune 500 chief executives further pad their platinum-lined nest eggs through prudent use of the nation’s tax laws, which many activists say contribute to inequality in retirement savings. The report said these executives managed to stash $3.2 billion in special tax-deferred accounts that circumvent the annual contribution limits that govern ordinary 401(k)s. By doing that, the report said, the Fortune 500 chief executives saved $78 million in taxes. Top executives can look forward to opulent retirements, even while many workers, particularly minorities, will struggle to make ends meet. The report said 62 percent of working-age African Americans and 69 percent of Latinos have no retirement savings. Meanwhile, 37 percent of whites also have nothing set aside for retirement, leaving them heavily reliant on Social Security. Overall, nearly half of all workers have no access to any retirement plan at work, and 29 percent of workers between ages 50 and 64 have neither pensions nor retirement savings. The report says policy makers should look at ways to close the imbalance. Among the ideas: • End unlimited tax-deferred compensation for executives. • Cap tax-deferred corporate-sponsored retirement accounts at $3 million. • Eliminate tax


A data genius has figured out the ultimate beer-drinking road trip

So much beer, so little time. If you're a beer lover who lives in the U.S., you might be familiar with this problem. The U.S. has tons of fantastic breweries -- 3,464 in total in 2014, about 1,800 of which were microbreweries, according to the Brewer's Association. So Nathan Yau, who runs the blog Flowing Data, has performed a great public service -- finding the top-rated breweries in the continental U.S., and then creating a map for a road trip route that will take you to all of them in the fewest miles possible. Yau's map uses the same technique as a road trip map that I wrote about previously: Randy Olson's amazing data-driven guide to visiting a top-rated historical landmark in each of the lower 48 states. Olson's route took the traveler to the Grand Canyon, the Alamo, Mount Vernon, Graceland, the White House, the Statue of Liberty, and much more. To create this route, Olson used a technique called "genetic algorithms" to determine the most efficient route between all of these sites. Calculating the fastest way to drive between all 50 landmarks – 2,500 individual routes – could theoretically take forever by hand, so Olson used something called a "genetic algorithm." This algorithm basically starts with a handful of solutions, takes the best one, and then compares that to other solutions until it can’t find a better one. Here's a snapshot of how that algorithm works, from one of Olson's projects, finding the optimal search pattern for perusing "Where’s Waldo" books. Yau used this same approach. He referenced a list of the 100 top breweries in the world for from RateBeer, a beer and brewery review sites, and found 72 were in the U.S. He ended up eliminating two from the list for methodological reasons, leaving him with 70 breweries to map. Using Olson's method above, he came up with this route (you can click on the map to enlarge it): Nathan Yau, Flowing Data As the map shows, the East Coast is a great place to be for beer drinkers. The Pacific Northwest, Colorado, California and the area around Chicago and Michigan also look like pretty fertile spots. (Since this article was first published, readers have sent in a few words of caution. According to the local experts, Almanac Brewery and Pipeworks are not open to the public for tastings, and Rogue's location in San Francisco is


DC Coast is closing, while its former sibling Ten Penh is poised for a revival

After almost two decades as a dining stalwart at 14th and K streets NW, DC Coast will close its doors at the end of the year. The seafood-centric restaurant opened in 1998 as the foundation for Passion Food Hospitality, owned by partners David Wizenberg, Gus DiMillo and chef Jeff Tunks. Over the years, the group has expanded to include Acadiana, PassionFish, District Commons, Fuego Cocina y Tequileria, Penn Commons and Burger, Tap & Shake. DC Coast will close at the end of this year. (Courtesy DC Coast) "We feel like it's been a great experience and a ton of fun," Wizenberg said. When his team and their landlord couldn't come to an agreement about the size of the two-story restaurant -- the building's owners wanted an expansion, Wizenberg said -- "we just sort of agreed to let the deal go." He said it's also become more expensive to do business in the city, and added that the central business district where DC Coast is located is a tougher sell in the evening. DC Coast was groundbreaking in location and concept (seafood amid a lot of steak) when it opened, predating downtown's revitalization, but even more of the action these days is occurring farther north along 14th Street and in other burgeoning neighborhoods such as Shaw and NoMa. Plus, Wizenberg said he thinks some diners are more inclined to spend time closer to their homes in the suburbs. When DC Coast opened in 1998, Phyllis Richman, The Post's food critic at the time, wrote, "Tunks has been welcomed with open arms and waving credit cards. The attuned and the well-heeled among D.C. diners seem to have been waiting for this one to open." Times have changed since then. "We used to have two bottles of wine on every table," Wizenberg said. DC Coast's last day of service will be Dec. 31. Wizenberg said that the group will work to place employees at Passion Food's other properties, which will soon be joined by a resurrected TenPenh. The Asian fusion restaurant closed in 2011 after an 11-year run. The second TenPenh will be rather far removed from the intersection that inspired its name -- 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (That space is now home to San Francisco import Tadich Grill.) Pending final paperwork, Wizenberg declined to give the exact address but said TenPenh will be opening in spring or summer 2016 along


Mark Bittman finally reveals how he plans to shake up one of the biggest trends in food

In September, Mark Bittman, the well-known food writer, authored his last column for the the New York Times. After five years covering food issues as a columnist for the paper, he was leaving to embark on a new and undisclosed adventure. "I see it as putting philosophy into action," he wrote, sharing only that he was joining a start-up that encourages people to eat more plants, and that more information would follow. Now the details have emerged. (Photo: Eric Tanner) On Monday, Purple Carrot, a vegan meal kit delivery service, which ships pre-measured ingredients and recipes, announced that Bittman has joined full-time as partner and chief innovation officer. The company's mission — centered around the value of a plant-based diet — is closely related to what Bittman has advocated for for years. "There was never a grand plan to be a cookbook writer, and then a food writer, and then a columnist, and then an entrepreneur," Bittman said in an interview. "But this really allows me to do things in a different way, to advocate for what I have been writing about in a new way." "This is about getting more plant-based foods into the hands of people," he added. Bittman's role will include creating the recipes Purple Carrot offers each week — thus far, he said, he has spent a lot of time in the kitchen, developing menus and working with other cooks. It will also entail writing for the company's new Web site, which he helped develop, and other less-well-defined responsibilities, such as advocating for plant-based eating and pushing the food industry toward more sustainable packaging and sourcing. "I think we'll pretty quickly figure out where my strengths lie," Bittman said. "Presumably, though, this will all at least mean better food." Bittman is not a vegetarian or a vegan, but he has been a longtime advocate of plant-based diets, which he argues are better for both the health of people and of the world. His 2013 book Eat Vegan Before 6 makes the case for adopting a predominantly vegetable- and fruit-dominated diet, and he has a corresponding cookbook with recipes to try. Still, some have criticized Bittman for touting veganism without adhering to it, saying that he doesn't go far enough. The meal kit delivery industry has capitalized on the public's For Purple Carrot, partnering with Bittman means a boost to the brand's visibility, an important asset given


America’s reinvention is helping it leap further ahead of the world

The United States is leading a technology revolution that will help it maintain its place in the world. (Mel Evans/AP) Pessimists believe that the United States has peaked as a superpower and is falling behind in education, research and development, and economic growth. They say the country’s best days are behind it. Fortunately, they are wrong. Not only is the United States leading a technology revolution that will help solve the grand challenges of humanity — problems such as disease, hunger and shortages of energy and clean water — it is increasing its lead on the rest of the world. By combining its entrepreneurial strengths with its creativity, it is A new report from the Council on Foreign Relations, –Of the top 20 universities in the world that produce the highest-impact scientific research, 16 are in the United States. –Total U.S. research development spending — most of it by companies — is higher as a share of the economy than at any other time since the early 1960s when the space program was starting. In absolute terms, no other country invests nearly as much in R as the United States, and in relative terms only Japan is close. And in a recent survey, the average U.S. corporation said it planned to boost research spending this year by nearly twice the rate of its international competitors. –The share of the U.S. economy that comes from knowledge-intensive industries has risen sharply over the past decade, reaching nearly 40 percent; no other large economy has even hit 30 percent. Most of this is a private-sector story. The United States has an entrepreneurial culture that rewards risk; a highly developed venture-capital industry; and a large market of consumers eager to embrace new commercial innovations. But one of the more interesting findings of the report is that — unlike on so many other policies, from immigration to tax reform — the U.S. government has mostly got it right on innovation. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was established by Congress in 1982, during the Reagan administration, and has been reauthorized multiple times with little controversy. The SBIR requires that all federal agencies with big R programs set aside 3 percent of their research budgets for small businesses. The result is a $2.5 billion fund that helps to bridge the so-called “valley of death” that new start-ups face between good ideas and commercial products that


a recent survey, the average U.S. corporation said it planned to boost research spending this year by nearly twice the rate of its international competitors. –The share of the U.S. economy that comes from knowledge-intensive industries has risen sharply over the past decade, reaching nearly 40 percent; no other large economy has even hit 30 percent. Most of this is a private-sector story. The United States has an entrepreneurial culture that rewards risk; a highly developed venture-capital industry; and a large market of consumers eager to embrace new commercial innovations. But one of the more interesting findings of the report is that — unlike on so many other policies, from immigration to tax reform — the U.S. government has mostly got it right on innovation. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was established by Congress in 1982, during the Reagan administration, and has been reauthorized multiple times with little controversy. The SBIR requires that all federal agencies with big R programs set aside 3 percent of their research budgets for small businesses. The result is a $2.5 billion fund that helps to bridge the so-called “valley of death” that new start-ups face between good ideas and commercial products that are attractive to investors. Apple, Compaq, and Intel all received SBIR funds in the 1980s; today, some 6,500 small companies are beneficiaries. In surveys, 97 percent of those companies said that the grants had been vital to their later successes. Other countries have taken note, with Germany, the U.K., Israel and China all launching similar schemes. U.S. policy in support of innovation has gotten some other things right as well. Washington relies mostly on direct subsidies, which generally favor new and smaller companies, rather than R tax breaks that primarily help established firms. The government has sponsored cheap but galvanizing competitions, such as the Defense Department’s 2004 “ The U.S. university system, with its mixture of public and private support, autonomous administrations, and competition-based funding for research, is also uniquely successful at generating commercially relevant research breakthroughs. The system can be The report does highlight some red flags. Funding for public universities, such as the vaunted University of California system, for example, is under enormous pressure. So too is funding for basic scientific research. Massive research undertakings, such as the quarter-century-long Human Genome Project, which has paved the way for Innovation also arises from the talents and ingenuity of those


Plane tragedy: accident or terrorism? Plus an AUMF for the Islamic State, and kicking things up a notch in Korea

Russian investigators stand near debris, luggage and personal effects of passengers a day after a jet bound for St. Petersburg in Russia crashed in Hassana, Egypt, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) PLANE TRAGEDY: ACCIDENT OR TERRORISM? [Russia airline official rules out technical error as cause of crash] Russia hasn’t ruled out terrorism as a cause of the crash, and a Sinai group linked to the Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the attack — though there is widespread doubt they have the missile capacity to bring down a jetliner. But there are few answers — and experts maintain it is difficult for a modern plane to break apart in mid-flight absent some outside provocation. AUMF FOR THE ISLAMIC STATE. [Boots on the ground in Syria have lawmakers calling for a new AUMF] The Washington Post reports that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which passed an Islamic State-related AUMF last year, is planning to tackle the topic in a hearing again this week. Meanwhile, leading voices across Congress, on both sides of the aisle, are saying it is high time that lawmakers insist on exercising their oversight functions over an expanding campaign in Iraq and Syria, by passing an authorization that is newer than the 2001 AUMF the administration is currently using as justification for military action. KICKING THINGS UP A NOTCH IN KOREA.


What life with pot looks like in a country where it’s been basically legal for 40 years

(John Minchillo/AP) If anyone in the world has experience with marijuana legalization, it's the Dutch. For nearly 40 years, the limited sale and use of the plant has been effectively legalized — so-called "coffee shops" are allowed to stock and sell small quantities of cannabis to adult buyers. With four decades of experience to draw from you might assume that the Dutch have some opinions on marijuana legalization that we might learn from. And as it turns out, they do: A survey conducted this past summer found that 70 percent of Netherlands residents support broadening the country's marijuana laws to loosen restrictions on the cultivation of marijuana. This comports with other surveys in the past few years showing: - 65 percent of Dutch residents favor completely legalizing the production, sale and consumption of cannabis. - 61 percent of the Dutch say that limiting "coffee shop" marijuana sales to Netherlands residents only would be a bad idea. - 57 percent of the Dutch think that allowing the cultivation of up to five cannabis plants for personal use would not be a problem. These responses were recently compiled and translated by the Transnational Institute, an international nongovernmental organization working on various policy issues. And they're useful to have, because the Netherlands so frequently becomes a political football in ongoing debates over legalization in this country. Legalization opponents, for instance, point out that in recent years some Dutch municipalities have begun tightening their restrictions on marijuana sales, citing the nuisances brought by tourists seeking legal weed. Proponents of legalization, meanwhile, point to decades of data on marijuana use in the Netherlands showing that the Dutch use pot less often than some of their neighbors, that they're less likely to use marijuana heavily, and that there don't appear to be any indications that legal marijuana is a "gateway" to harder drugs. The Dutch, of course, have been practicing this sort of drug policy for decades now. Their approach to marijuana falls somewhere between the strict prohibition enforced in most U.S. states, and the full-scale commercial legalization now under consideration in some others. So there are limits to how much you can extrapolate from the Dutch marijuana experience to the American one. Still, the surveys of Netherlands residents provide a useful barometer of how the public there perceives the success of their marijuana regime. And the data appear to indicate that the public is not


Surprising study finds that solar energy can also cause climate change (a little)

the Earth. This leads to a cooling effect in the region surrounding the array. In fact, the first two simulations in this study, which assumed solar panel installations throughout the world’s desert and urban areas, produced a 2-degree Celsius regional cooling in the desert regions. This cooling was also associated with a 20 percent decrease in precipitation in the deserts. Other, slightly broader changes in precipitation and wind patterns occurred as a result in the regions surrounding the deserts. In urban areas, the effects were a little different. In the first simulation, the model predicted a very small amount of cooling, with temperature falling approximately 0.26 degrees Celsius. In the second simulation, the one in which global thermostat regulation is significantly increased, the large amount of power consumed actually produced an urban heat island effect, in which human energy use releases heat into the environment and causes the regional temperature to warm up. In this scenario, the warming from the heat island effect essentially compensated for the cooling caused by the solar panels. When considered on a global scale, these effects become much smaller. In the first simulation, the average change in global temperature is an average decline of about 0.34 degrees Celsius, relative to the temperature that would be expected under the same low-carbon climate scenario with no solar parks. In the second simulation, where the heat island effect is taken into account, there would be an average increase in global temperature of about 0.09 degrees Celsius. However, the authors acknowledge that it’s unrealistic to assume such widespread solar panel installations in the future. So they looked to the third simulation for a more realistic view of what’s to come. In the third simulation, which included fewer solar panel arrays, the climate effects are scaled down accordingly. The average global cooling observed in this simulation is only a decline of about 0.04 degree Celsius. The study shows that, while large solar arrays can cause some significant regional changes in climate, “globally it will not affect the global climate much,” said Hu. “This is a big contrast with the fossil fuels.” According to most climate projections, human-caused global warming — the result of releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere — could lead to anywhere from 1 to nearly 3 degrees of global temperature increases under even moderate climate scenarios. That said, the study does also provide some insight into how


A terrible way to legalize marijuana

for Issue 2 is here.) Issue 2, by its terms, bars the adoption of monopoly or oligopoly measures in the Ohio Constitution. So it would seem that Issue 2 would prevent Issue 3 from creating a constitutional marijuana monopoly. Yet it is not entirely clear that this is what would happen if both Issue 2 and Issue 3 pass. According to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted I would like to see marijuana legalized in Ohio, but I would also like to see it done the right way — and it is hard for me to think of a worse way to legalize marijuana in Ohio than to create a constitutionalized drug cartel. UPDATE: Ilya offers a contrary view above. (See also Nick Gillespie’s Daily Beast article.) Both argue that the harms of marijuana prohibition outweigh the downsides of Issue 3. Were this simple legislation, I would be inclined to agree. After all, a cartelized alcohol industry is preferable to alcohol prohibition . Why, then, is Issue 3 different. The reason I find Issue 3 objectionable is not merely that it restricts entry into the newly legalized market. The problem is Issue 3 grants the exclusive rights for commercial production to a handful of firms, and inscribes those exclusive rights into the state constitution, thereby entrenching the cartel’s legal privilege. This means that they only way to eliminate the newly formed drug cartel is to amend the state constitution again; it cannot be done legislatively. This makes the marijuana cartelization of Issue 3 radically different than the state’s anti-competitive alcohol laws. The debate over Issue 3 has normalized the idea of marijuana legalization in Ohio. This, and the generally positive experiences of legalizing states like Colorado and Washington, means that support for marijuana legalization is likely to continue growing. As a consequence, the failure of Issue 3 will not preclude marijuana legalization in the future, or make it less likely. To the contrary, I expect that should Issue 3 fail, a less-harmful legalization initiative would end up on the ballot within a few years, and that it would pass. (Indeed, if Ohio Democrats are smart, they’d support such a ballot initiative for the 2016 election so as to boost turnout among younger voters in an election year.) In any event, I still believe that marijuana prohibition is wrong, but so is enshrining a state-sanctioned drug cartel into the state constitution.


Ohio could legalize marijuana on Tuesday. It could also change the entire legalization game.

are joining forces with the usual cast of opponents like law enforcement officers. Ohio's constitution could soon basically enshrine these people's rights to make money, explains The Washington Post's Jessica Contrera. The idea is so controversial that, in July, state lawmakers threw their own ballot initiative out there to counter this one. Known as the "anti-monopoly amendment," it would ban anyone from creating a constitutional amendment exclusively for financial gain. If both pass -- a possibility -- this whole drama could go to the courts. It's splitting the marijuana industry A few places where cannabis is farmed for medical or recreational use. Supporters say the private-sector-driven initiative is the only way they could get a conservative-leaning state to even consider legalizing pot. The brainchild of the initiative is veteran Ohio political operative Ian James, who has 30 years of experience in Ohio politics but little track record in the way of drug legalization. James has zeroed in on the traditional arguments for legalizing pot -- civil liberties, social justice, tax benefits -- and stayed away from the controversial layout of Ohio's potential pot industry. "Let's stop pretending either that Ohioans don't consume marijuana or that only bad people do," he wrote in one of several op-eds during the spring. [Marijuana could improve my teen son's life. But we won't know until it's legal] Opponents, unsurprisingly, are calling to attention to the unique set-up. "They are creating a constitutionally mandated oligopoly,” argues Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. Despite Nadelmann's statement, the New York Times reports that the Marijuana Policy Project and Drug Policy Alliance are officially neutral on the initiative, while the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws "gave it an uneasy endorsement." The public is also split on what to do These guys are fans. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Ohioans appear as undecided as the pros. A recent Bowling Green University poll shows 44 percent were for it and 43 percent were against it -- well within the three-and-a-half-point margin of error -- and a relatively high 13 percent undecided. Other polls also show [Ohio voters support and oppose legalizing marijuana. Wait, what?] Ohio has arguably already changed the legalization game (Theo Stroomer/Getty Images) Ohioans aren't just voting on a new model for financing and regulating legal pot. They're potentially reforming marijuana from a libertarian/hippie activity relegated to states out West into a socially acceptable


Main Street Morning: Apple launches an indoor mapping app

- America has never seen so few empty hotel rooms. The Elections - Republicans are seeking greater control over debates but Trump is breaking ranks again. - Internet trolls hijack Jeb Bush’s new campaign slogan. - Marco Rubio triples his support in New Hampshire. - According to the latest poll numbers, the Benghazi hearing was a win for Clinton. People - A grocery chain plans to give stock to its 55,000 employees. - Ten places to find ideal candidates for your company. - These are 11 companies with more innovative perks than ping-pong tables and beer kegs. - Six ways work will change in 2016. - Here’s how Disney and Universal keep a firm grip on America’s culture. - Here’s why it’s so hard to get rid of student debt. - Today’s teens spend 9 hours a day with media. Management - Two gym owners who were told they were too “fat” to run a business hit back with the classiest of responses. Entrepreneurs - Five psychological negotiation methods that allowed this entrepreneur to close a few huge deals. Retail - Kmart turns to an old trick to boost sales. - Kohl’s unveils a new growth strategy that will be emphasizing smaller stores and a bigger brand. - Some stores are offering more hours or higher pay to attract holiday workers. - Amazon is opening a brick-and-mortar bookstore. Sales Marketing - Ever wonder why makeup is so expensive? - This infographic proves that consumers know exactly how they want to be marketed to. - A content writer advises not to create your content strategy until you research these six things. Finance - A study finds that small businesses in the U.S. are borrowing more. Start-ups - How this start-up secured a partnership with Facebook. - Looks like the new start-up “must have” is an artist-in-residence. - It takes four days to officially start a business in New York – and 101 days in Sao Paulo. - A start-up that sends someone to clean homes raises $50 million and is valued at half a billion dollars. Technology - A cryotherapy business considers more safety measures after a Nevada salon worker’s death. - Comcast is offering unlimited data for an extra $35. - Snapchat is up against a wall after updating its policies. Online - Constant Contact is acquired for $1.1 billion. - Google denies a plan to “phase out” its Chrome


Marijuana could improve my teen son’s life, but we won’t know until it’s legal

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, like my son. Benjamin’s Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is caused by a rare brain malformation. We gave him his first seizure medication when he was seven and a half months old. We’ve been fighting this losing battle ever since. In the last 16 years we’ve tried at least 10 different types of medications. He is currently taking a combination of three anti-convulsants and still has seizures daily. Before Benjamin, I had a rather Hollywood image of seizures. One that assumes medications can obliterate their existence. Real life doesn’t follow this script. Specific types of seizures are treated with specific medications, each with a list of side effects ranging from drowsiness to organ failure. Medicine fails to control seizures in three out of 10 people living with epilepsy. For these people there are supplemental treatments. There are restrictive diets that in no way mirror typically balanced nutritional recommendations. Some people opt for surgical implants that deliver electrical impulses. There are even surgeries to remove parts of the brain. These treatments do not guarantee seizure control either. One out of 150 patients whose epilepsy cannot be controlled are at risk of death from Sudden, Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, SUDEP. We need better treatment options. My son, and all those like him, deserve a chance to live a day without seizing. When the government insists on keeping a myopic attitude, they discredit the scientists that are proving the legitimacy of medical marijuana. They are fighting to ensure the death of one out of 150 patients and take away what little hope families have in their war against epilepsy. Medical marijuana is not your corner dealer’s pot. I would like federal law to support the scientists who are working to deconstruct this plant and use its natural compounds to help desperate patients fight debilitating disorders like epilepsy. I would like Benjamin’s neurologist to be able to prescribe a form of cannabis that has been tested, is consistent in its formulated nature, covered by insurance, and could be administered to him by his school nurses, like all the rest of the life saving poisons he ingests daily. For now, however, we are at home waiting on the front line until the drug manufacturers, doctors, and politicians figure out exactly what war they’re fighting, or until I open Benjamin’s door to find he’s already lost the battle. Joanne De Simone lives in New Jersey, has her


Prestigious medical journals rejected stunning study on deaths among middle-aged whites

British-born economist Angus Deaton of Princeton University listens during a news conference after winning the 2015 economics Nobel Prize on Oct. 12. (Reuters/Dominick Reuter) A startling new study that shows a big spike in the death rate for a large group of middle-aged whites in the United States was rejected by two prestigious medical journals, the study’s co-author, Nobel laureate Angus Deaton, said Tuesday. Deaton and Anne Case, both Princeton economists, received international media attention for the paper published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). But before they submitted it there, they tried to get it published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Deaton said. “We got it back almost instantaneously. It was almost like the e-mail had bounced. We got it back within hours,” said Deaton, who was interviewed in Dublin, where he was attending a conference on the Ebola crisis and global public health sponsored by Princeton University. [A group of middle-aged whites in the U.S. is dying at a startling rate] Deaton and Case then tried the New England Journal of Medicine, putting their work in the form of a two-page “Perspective” that summarized the alarming trend they’d discovered in government mortality statistics. Again they were rejected. Deaton said the journal noted that their work does not explain why the historically anomalous surge in mortality occurred. He compared the response to calling the fire department to report that your house is on fire: “And they say, 'Well, what caused the fire?' and you say, 'I don’t know,' and they say, 'Well, we can’t send the fire brigade until you tell us what caused the fire.' ” Jennifer Zeis, media relations manager for the New England Journal of Medicine, said in an email that the journal could not comment on the fate of any submissions because "the publication process is confidential." Jim Michalski, a spokesman for JAMA, also cited the journal's confidentiality policy. "We can neither confirm nor deny whether an author has submitted a manuscript for review, or why a manuscript may have been rejected," he wrote in an e-mail. [Baby Boomers are killing themselves at an alarming rate. Why?] The two economists subsequently prepared their work for PNAS, and went through the laborious process of peer review and revision. “We were very concerned that we’d be scooped by someone else,” Deaton said. In the meantime, Deaton won the


Lewy body dementia, the devastating disease that Robin Williams’s widow blames for his death

[Caring for a mother with Lewy body dementia] The protein becomes problematic when it starts building up in clumps: Lewy bodies. No one knows what causes this — most people with LBD have no family history of the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association — and there’s no way of treating it. According to the National Institutes of Health, LBD is the third most common cause of dementia, after Alzheimer’s and vascular disease, and is responsible for 20 percent of dementia cases worldwide. But it’s rarely doctors’ initial diagnosis. Typically, doctors aren’t even aware that Lewy bodies are present until after a patient has died and they can examine his or her brain. That’s part of why LBD is so often diagnosed as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. “It’s the most common disease you’ve never heard of,” Dr. James Galvin, a neurology and psychiatry professor at Florida Atlantic University told US News and World Report in September. While doctors struggle with diagnosis, the Lewy bodies are slowly destroying the patient’s brain cells. As an area of the brain shuts down, a corresponding symptom emerges, according to the NIH: loss of function in the cerebral cortex leads to problems with information processing, thought and language; a breakdown in the limbic system messes with emotions; the degradation of the hippocampus inhibits formation of memories. It’s an “endless parade of symptoms,” Susan Williams said, “and not all of them would raise their head at once. It was like playing whack-a-mole.” Lewy bodies are also responsible for Parkinson’s disease, the progressive motor disorder that causes tremors and coordination difficulties. And although people with LBD suffer a whole array of cognitive problems, including hallucinations and rapidly-developing dementia, that don’t typically appear in Parkinson’s patients, many LBD patients are initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s. (It is possible for patients to suffer both illnesses at the same time; LBD can also co-exist with Alzheimer’s.) Misdiagnoses make LBD more difficult to endure. For one thing, the medications often prescribed for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can be ineffective for LBD symptoms, or even exacerbate them. And then there’s the uncertainty of it all — knowing that something more is wrong but not being able to name it. “We’re chasing and there’s no answers,” Susan Williams told GMA, recalling how difficult it was to understand her husband’s initial symptoms. Williams is one of several celebrities to be diagnosed with


This man’s marathon ended 44 hours later — on a subway car in Manhattan

Gianclaudio Marengo. (Courtesy of New York Police Department via AP) It was a typical Tuesday morning for New York police officer Man Yam — hop on the commuter train in Nassau County in Long Island, hop off at Penn Station, scavenge for a seat on the downtown 2 train amid the early morning traffic. He could practically navigate the whole route without lifting his eyes from his phone, on which he reads articles from the day’s New York Daily News. Yam was scanning a story about an Italian man who’d disappeared after crossing the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Then his phone lost service during the transfer to the 2 train. With nothing to read, the officer lifted his eyes from the screen and looked around at his fellow passengers. “Boom — right in front of me is the missing runner,” Yam told the Daily News. “… He had dried lips and his eyes were wandering. It was my gut feeling, ‘This is the guy.'” The runner, 30-year-old Gianclaudio Marengo, was still dressed in the clothing he’d worn at the starting line 44 hours earlier: turquoise shirt, black shorts, a paper bib with the number “23781” emblazoned in big black lettering. The only difference was the finisher’s medal and the look of utter confusion. According to the New York Times, Marengo had come to New York with a team of other Italian runners from San Patrignano, a center for recovering drug addicts. Antonio Boschini, who served as a medic for the Italians said that Marengo wasn’t registered for the race, but Boschini gave him his bib: number 23781. Marengo discovered his love of running in his three years at San Patrignano, according to the Associated Press, and trained for months to get to the marathon’s starting line at the base of the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island. At around 10:15 a.m. the starting gun went off, and Marengo and tens of thousands of other runners were on their way. During the 26.2-mile run, Marengo reached into his bag of supplies — food, subway map, key card for the group’s hotel in Queens — to grab something to eat. The card and map must have fallen out at some point, Boschini told the Times, because when Marengo finished the race they were nowhere to be found. It was 3:03 p.m. Marengo had run the grueling course


The Takata air-bag scandal can make us forget this important truth about car safety

A logo of Takata Corp is seen with its display at a showroom for vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, May 8, 2015. Japan's Takata Corp said on Friday it expects to post a return to profit this fiscal year, emerging from a massive global recall crisis surrounding its exploding air bags. REUTERS/Yuya Shino Authorities have blamed eight fatalities on what they say are defective air bags manufactured by the Japanese auto-parts maker Takata. They say Takata's flawed components are in millions of vehicles, posing serious risks to their owners. On the whole, however, cars are far safer than they've ever been. Air bags, which save the lives of thousands of drivers and passengers every year, are among several technologies that have contributed to an extraordinary reduction in the number of deaths on the road. You rarely hear about the deadly wrecks that don't happen, though. Authorities say Takata's air bags are defective and can explode in a collision, sending shrapnel toward passengers. After regulators accused Takata of misrepresenting test data and demanded a $70 million fine on Tuesday, the firm lost its most important customer, as Honda announced it would no longer use Takata's products in new models. The defective air bags are in cars sold by 10 other manufacturers besides Honda. "We deeply regret the circumstances" that brought on the fine, Takata's chairman, Shigehisa Takada, said Tuesday. [Read more: Takata fined $70 million for deadly air bags, subjected to outside overseer] Takata's air bags aren't the first to be blamed for the deaths of people they were intended to protect. In a recent report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration counted 290 fatalities due to air bags since 1990, many of them children riding in front. (The agency has required air bags in all cars since the 1998 model year.) Such deaths are now very rare. Parents are more aware of the risks of putting a child in the front seat, and some newer cars have sensors that can detect the size of the person in front of the air bag and inflate the bags with the appropriate force automatically. Federal analysts estimate that the devices have saved the lives of nearly 40,000 people who survived wrecks that would have been fatal without air bags. That's a reduction of about 12 percent in the number of traffic deaths. Air bags, seat belts, telescoping steering columns and other safety components now


Italian man got lost in New York for two days after finishing the marathon

(Associated Press) Police in New York have located a Italian man after he spent two days wandering lost in the city following Sunday’s New York City Marathon, which he finished. According to Buzzfeed When members of his fellow running group — all Italians visiting the city from the San Patrignano drug rehabilitation center on the Adriatic coast — failed to locate him after the 26.2-mile race on Sunday afternoon, they called their country’s consulate in the city, which in turn called the police. … The runners had been staying in a Queens hotel, but clinic staff said that during the race Marengo had lost a note he had been carrying detailing how to catch the subway back to their accommodation. “For this reason when he had reached the finish line he did not know where to go, deciding to remain in the area hoping to meet someone whom he knew,” rehabilitation center staff said. Marengo, who doesn’t speak English, then spent Sunday night sleeping in Central Park before traveling to Kennedy International Airport on Monday in an attempt to meet his running mates, who were scheduled to return to Italy. According to the New York Times, airport security thought he was homeless and removed him from the airport. Still dressed in his running outfit, he returned to Manhattan and spent another night sleeping on the streets. The wayward Italian was found Tuesday morning — quite luckily — while riding the subway, the Times reports: On Tuesday morning, Officer Man Yam, 43, boarded the No. 2 train, heading for work in Lower Manhattan. He was reading a Daily News article about a missing runner on his phone, when he lost reception as the train reached the 34th Street-Penn Station stop around 6:40 a.m. “I got a seat and, literally, he is sitting across from me,” Officer Yam said. “It hit me right away based on his mannerism and what he looked like.” The man, his lips dry and trembling, was “looking left, looking right, looking left, looking right,” the officer said. “He kept turning and looking to the map. He seemed like he was under duress, like he happened to be lost or not knowing where he was going.” Yam got him coffee and a doughnut and got him medical attention. Apart from some dehydration, Marengo was fine. He was scheduled to fly back to Italy on Tuesday. In a statement


NASA found a way to track ocean currents from space. What they saw is troubling

NOAA. There has been growing concern, of late, that one predicted consequence of a changing climate — the slowing of the great “overturning” circulation in the Atlantic Ocean — is already starting to happen. Some scientists have already suggested that the odd cold “blob” pattern on the map above, featuring record cold North Atlantic temperatures on an otherwise quite hot planet, may be attributable to this development. The gigantic circulation, technically termed the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC, carries warm water northward even as it also sends cold salty water back south at depth. Thus, changes here can reverberate around the globe — one recent study even found that a full AMOC shutdown could trigger a temporary period of global cooling. Now, in a new paper in Geophysical Research Letters, researchers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin use a new and sophisticated tool — the “Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment” satellites, or GRACE — to confirm some pretty odd behavior in the circulation in 2009 and 2010 that has also been linked to a sudden and extreme 4-inch sea-level rise on the East Coast. The new satellite technique, the researchers say, holds great promise to determine if — as feared — the circulation is indeed slowing down. “A lot of the evidence that has been amassed is indirect, and what we’re trying to do is provide a way to really observe the AMOC across all latitudes,” says Felix Landerer, a researcher with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who is lead author of the study. To understand how the researchers achieved this, it’s first important to describe — and profusely praise — the GRACE satellites that made it all possible. These satellites are not only a fascinating tool but, frankly, a testament to the stunning power of science — and they’re already responsible for a huge number of new insights into the workings of our planet. The GRACE satellites are a pair of twin observing devices that orbit the Earth 137 miles from one another. The Earth’s gravitational pull on the satellites varies depending upon the mass of what is below them at a particular time — a mountain, an ocean — and so by measuring slight perturbations in the distance between the two satellites, scientists detect these mass changes. But when does the Earth’s mass change in a significant way, one that would suggest


Scientists say illegal pot farming operations are poisoning threatened weasels

A female fisher looks around her enclosure at the Northwest Trek wildlife park near Eastonville, Wash. (AP Photo/Louie Balukoff) In California, a little weasel called the “fisher” may be exposing a big environmental problem: Research shows that the species is being heavily exposed to, and even killed by, rat poison used on illicit marijuana cultivation sites. And scientists are concerned they’re not the only animals being affected. A new study, released Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE, investigated the causes behind fisher mortality in California and identified After collecting and performing necropsies on more than 150 dead fishers in three California locations between 2007 and 2014, the researchers concluded that predation by other animals, such as bobcats or coyotes, was the top cause of death, accounting for about 70 percent of all the mortalities. Natural diseases were the next most common cause, accounting for about 16 percent of the deaths. But they also concluded that 10 percent were killed by rodenticide poisoning. The researchers also found that, even if it wasn’t the ultimate cause of death, 85 percent of the animals are being exposed to rat poison, which shows up in their bodies even if they were eventually killed by something else. This is worrisome, as fishers are still recovering from severe declines in California and aren’t completely out of the woods yet. Fishers are found throughout parts of Canada, bits of the Great Lakes region, and the Pacific states. They’re mid-sized, omnivorous weasels that dwell exclusively in forest habitats. Once prized for their fur, fishers experienced widespread declines in the 1800s and early 1900s thanks to trapping. Today, although they’ve recovered to a certain extent, they still occupy a fraction of their historic range, and fishers in the western states have been a particular concern. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers In the state of California, fishers are further divided into two separate populations: the Northern California segment and the Southern Sierra Nevada segment. The latter was listed as threatened earlier this year under the California Endangered Species Act. Altogether, this population segment is believed to number only about 300 individuals, said Richard Callas, a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Statewide, there could be anywhere from 1,000 to 4,500 individuals, according to the Department. These concerns over fisher conservation were what led the scientists to initiate their research. The new study builds


In Islamic countries, Kentucky Fried Chicken isn’t always ‘finger-lickin’ good’

Policy magazine, American brands are still banned in Iran under orders from the supreme leader. But knockoff restaurant chains are common in Iran. And the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Tehran, it turns out, actually operates under the name Halal KFC, a reference to Islamic dietary rules. In an interview with the BBC, the manager of the restaurant said the Turkish-based KFC Halal brand is a “rival” to the American chain. The manager predicted the store would quickly reopen. But a spokeswoman for KFC’s parent company, Yum Brands, told several media outlets it may file “legal action” to keep the restaurant closed. "We are shocked with the news that an illegitimate KFC outlet has opened in Tehran, Iran," Yum's Laurie Schalow told Mashable. "No franchise rights have been granted to any party in Iran. We are in contact with local authorities and external advisers and will be filing a legal action against any company or individuals claiming to have rights to open KFC." Whatever the case, the controversy over the Iran store is just the latest example of how something as simple as serving chicken can get entangled into the anger and threats that some Westerners face while doing business in the Middle East or South Asia. In many of countries, customers flock to KFC stores to taste what for them is a slightly more exotic version of fried chicken than is often offered in local kitchens. But in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, KFC became a regular target of Islamist extremists. The first such attack occurred in 2003 when an al-Qaeda-linked group bombed a franchise at Indonesia’s main airport. Two years later, there were repeated attacks on KFC restaurants in Pakistan in response to Pakistan’s support for the U.S.-led war in neighboring Afghanistan. In one attack, a powerful car bomb outside a KFC restaurant in Karachi killed three people and wounded two dozen. A few weeks later, six people were killed when a mob burned down another KFC branch in that port city. Often, however, public sentiment about KFC stops well short of violence. During the Egyptian Arab Spring uprising in 2011, for example, protesters vented their frustration about U.S. policy in the region by simply chanting “No Kentucky! No Kentucky! in Tahrir Square. Yet KFC's bright red decor means it also becomes a visible target when protests turn violent. In 2012, a KFC restaurant in


Washington doesn’t work. This new book tells us why.

argue that low levels of political trust complicated two of Obama’s signature initiatives. Low trust in government eroded public support for health care reform and economic stimulus. Both started out as very popular with the public. But by the time they came to a vote, public support had dropped, which, in the case of Obamacare, required legislative chicanery from congressional Democrats to enact it and, in the case of the stimulus, led to a final package watered down with nearly as many less effective tax cuts as more effective spending increases. The stimulus is particularly interesting. When the economy is bad, trust tends to be low because people are dissatisfied with how government is performing. Unfortunately for Keynesians, trust is important if people are to support running deficits and increasing government spending during hard times. Families have to cut spending, so it takes trust to think government ought to do the opposite. Interestingly, we find that people’s trust in government is unrelated to their support for cutting taxes as stimulus. As a result, tax cuts were much more popular than spending increases in a low trust environment, which provided Republicans an advantage in crafting a final package. You argue that lower levels of trust may actually be the norm, and that the higher levels we observed in the late 1950s and early 1960s might be the exception. So is there any way to increase political trust? Changing opinions about “the government” is likely next to impossible. When we gave people information about things that government did well, we found that it had little effect on how much trust people expressed. Trust among Democrats increased a little bit, but it didn’t among Republicans. But there might be workarounds. People trust specific parts of government, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Defense, much more than they trust “the government in Washington.” Even with politicized agencies like HHS and EPA, people expressed roughly the same amount of trust that people expressed in the government as a whole when Ronald Reagan was president. This may help explain why Americans complain so much about the government in general but do not want to do away with much of it. Those who seek to use government to solve problems would be well served to talk about its specific parts rather than the government as a


Chef Geoff’s in Rockville is now closed

Geoff Tracy Tracy closed the restaurant over the weekend after a little more than three years in business. Chef Geoff Tracy closed his Rockville restaurant this weekend. (Len Spoden Photography) "I am super stubborn, and I worked my butt off to try to make it work," the chef said, including changing prices and modifying the menu. "I could not get it to work. I was just getting beaten financially every month." In reality, he said he probably should have shuttered a year and a half ago. Tracy cited competition from the high number of area restaurants as a likely contributing factor. In addition to Lia's in Chevy Chase, Tracy's Chef Geoff's in Tysons Corner, Dulles Airport and on New Mexico Avenue remain open. Tracy said 60 to 70 percent of the Rockville staff will relocate to the rest of his properties, and he's working to place the rest of them in other restaurants. Chef Geoff's downtown location continues to operate as well, though its days are numbered. The building on 13th Street NW off of Pennsylvania Avenue is scheduled to be redeveloped, and the restaurant will close at the end of the year. Coincidentally, that's exactly when another downtown restaurant will serve its last meal. We learned this week that DC Coast will shutter after about 17 years, leaving a prime piece of real estate ripe for the taking. Tracy said he's definitely interested in inquiring about the space at 14th and K streets NW, as well as other locations around the city. "We'll find something," he said. "We'll find the next opportunity." Related items: DC Coast is closing, while its former sibling Ten Penh is poised for a revival N.Y. beckons, but power couple Geoff Tracy and Norah O'Donnell still find sense of home in Northwest D.C.


‘I’m praying for you all.’ Doctors Without Borders releases messages with U.S. military on night of bombing

by the same name, which leads U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and is near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. OCHA CivMil is short for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ civil-military liaison in Afghanistan. The humanitarian group assured the U.S. military its hospital in northern Afghanistan was not under Taliban threat just days before a deadly airstrike on the compound last month, the organization said Thursday. The group continued to push for an independent investigation into one of the deadliest civilian casualty incidents stemming from a coalition action in the Afghan conflict. The U.S. military and others are currently conducting parallel reviews into the chain of events leading to the more than hour-long attack. Campbell told The Washington Post in an interview in Kabul on Friday that the military is obligated by law to do what is known in military parlance as a 15-6 investigation, after the Army regulation that lays out the rules for investigating officers. He expects to have the initial results of that soon, but declined to be more specific with a time table. Campbell added that he does not want to comment on the specifics of what happened that night until the investigation is complete, citing a desire to uphold its integrity. “I want to make sure we get it right the first time,” Campbell said. “I will be very open and transparent with everything I can be to make sure we learn from that and that we tell the world what happened and why it happened.” MSF has called for an international fact-finding commission to review the case, but Campbell said that is “never, ever done” in circumstances like this. But he acknowledged that after the 15-6 investigation there will may be a need to “see where it goes from there.” “My responsibility under international law is to do the 15-6,” Campbell said. “And we’re doing that.” Campbell told the House Armed Services Committee on Oct. 8 that he expected to have the results of the investigation in about 30 days. This story has been updated to include more comments and context from Campbell’s interview with The Post. The humanitarian group released a log of calls it made to military and other officials as U.S. aircraft were bombarding the facility Oct. 3. Related stories: The Pentagon’s evolving response to the Afghan hospital attack Top U.S. general in Afghanistan: Hospital ‘mistakenly struck’


Unsettling finding from CDC investigation: Tapeworms can transmit cancer cells to humans

This common parasite, known as the hymenolepis nana or the dwarf tapeworm, may carry cancer cells that may take root in people with weakened immune systems. The malignant cells are pictured here. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified a puzzling and unsettling new cancer-like condition in a 41-year-old man, who is believed to have become ill through a common stomach bug. The case — the first known transmission of cancer cells from a parasite to a human — involves an HIV patient from Colombia who developed multiple, large tumors in various parts of his body. Local doctors biopsied those tumors and found that the cells acted like cancer cells in their destructiveness but were strange in other respects. For one, they were about 10 times smaller than normal human cancer cells. The doctors contacted the CDC for help. Atis Muehlenbachs, an agency pathologist in the special unit that investigates unexplained mystery illnesses and deaths, wasn't sure what to make of the cell samples when he and his team received them in 2013. The cells' growth pattern was cancer-like, they noticed, with overcrowding and a high rate of multiplication. But the cells also fused together, which is rare for human cells. One early theory, Muehlenbachs said in an interview Wednesday, was that they could be a new type of infectious organism. But after performing dozens of tests, the team discovered the cells contained DNA snippets of a dwarf tapeworm, Hymenolepis nana. That analysis was verified by a researcher and tapeworm expert at the Natural History Museum in London. "In the initial months, we wondered if this was a weird human cancer or some unusual, bizarre emerging protozoa-amoeba-like infection," he recalled. "Discovering these cells had tapeworm DNA was a big surprise — a really big surprise." The CDC researchers, who published their findings Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, now think the Colombian man may have ingested some microscopic tapeworm eggs, most likely in food contaminated by mouse droppings, insects or human feces. Because of the man's compromised immune system, the tapeworms multiplied rapidly inside his gastrointestinal tract and the cells invaded other parts of his body. It's unclear whether the cells in the tapeworm eggs exhibited cancer-like properties before they entered the man's body or whether some interaction between the parasite and his body then caused them to


one person to another. It's unclear how common this type of tapeworm cancer illness is in humans, but experts like Pritt believe it's likely that there are more cases out there: "H. nana is a very common tapeworm infection in humans, and therefore I would expect there to be other cases like the one described…that were misdiagnosed or went undetected." Matthew B. Laurens, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who specializes in infectious diseases, said the findings highlight our need to strengthen cancer diagnosis and data collection in developing countries. “We could just be scratching the surface of something that could be very important,” Laurens said. Peter D. Olson, a researcher at the Natural History Museum in London who helped the CDC interpret its results, said that the finding represents "an enormous advance in our knowledge and raises questions about the conditions under which cells may become cancerous." Another CT scan, this one of the front of the man's chest, shows another view of the tumors. (Courtesy Pontifical Bolivarian University) The Colombian man came to the attention of researchers at the Pontifical Bolivarian University in his home town of Medellin when he sought care because of fatigue, fever, a cough and weight loss. The patient had been living with HIV for at least seven years and had not been adhering to therapy. A CT scan showed tumors ranging in size from 0.4 to 4.4 centimeters in his neck, lymph nodes, lungs and liver. Stool samples showed tapeworms inside his body. Tapeworm infections are very common worldwide, especially in the developing world, with an estimated 75 million people infected with H. nana at any given time. Most do not show symptoms and clear the parasites quickly. But in people with compromised immune systems, tapeworms tend to thrive and can live in their hosts for years. By the time the CDC researchers figured out what was going on, the man's condition had deteriorated and he was in hospice care. He died 72 hours later, without any opportunity for treatment. His official cause of death was HIV/AIDS, with cancer a contributor to his weakened state. Muehlenbachs said further study was limited by the patient's death and the fact that researchers have been unable to grow tapeworm cancer cells in the lab. Muehlenbachs said he's not sure the current arsenal of treatments could have helped given the nature of


Marijuana is literally the least of the nation’s drug worries, the police have announced

Cops say they're really not worried about your back yard marijuana plant. But they'll still arrest you for it. (AP Photo/Jeff Barnard, File) America's cops overwhelmingly do not see marijuana as a major threat to their communities, according to results of a survey released this week as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's "2015 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary." The DEA asked a nationally representative sample of over 1,000 law enforcement agencies what they saw as their biggest drug threats. Marijuana came in at the bottom of the list, named by only 6 percent of survey respondents. The share of law enforcement agencies naming pot has been declining steadily since the mid-2000s, even as states have moved to legalize medical and recreational marijuana during that time period. By contrast, nearly three quarters of police departments named heroin and meth as their top drug threats this year. The perceived threat of heroin has more than quadrupled since 2007, according to the survey. And after rising sharply from 2007 to 2013, the threat posed by prescription painkillers has subsided considerably in the past two years. The findings indicate a statement by law enforcement of a fact that drug policy experts and researchers have known for a long time: compared to other recreational substances, including alcohol, marijuana doesn't cause that much harm. It's probably even safer than many people think. And whether you're worried about potential harms to individuals or to communities, marijuana is very low on the list of recreational substances. The state and local police also say that marijuana is not a big driver of crime. Only 6 percent said that marijuana was the most serious driver of violent crime in their communities in 2015, and 5 percent said it was the biggest contributor to property crime. This contradicts arguments made by some high-ranking law enforcement officers recently that marijuana is somehow driving an increase in murders this year. Despite this shift in thinking, arrests for marijuana possession continue unabated. Cops keep arresting people for marijuana possession. This might be a simple question of low-hanging fruit: Marijuana is by far the most widely used illegal drug, and more users means more potential arrestees. But these arrests have serious consequences for the people caught up in them, and they divert precious police time and resources away from more serious crimes, like rape and murder. Beyond that, the Department of Justice has continued


New York is investigating Exxon Mobil for allegedly misleading the public about climate change

the public alike, believe global warming is a rock-solid certainty. But it’s not,” according to a contemporary media report. But matters have changed since then and the company’s current CEO, Rex Tillerson, has called for a carbon tax. “Exxon Mobil recognizes that climate risks are real and responsible actions are warranted,” said its vice president of public and government affairs, Ken Cohen, on a press call regarding the subpoena. “We have a commitment to helping address this important societal challenge.” Cohen said on the call that the company began in the late 2000s to inform “shareholders and investors” about climate change and how it could affect the company’s business “through regulatory filings.” In response to the series by Inside Climate News, Cohen said the company has been in “active dialogue” with the publication since the stories came out. “Our company, beginning in the latter part of the 1970s and continuing to the present day, has been involved in serious scientific research, and we have been supporting since that time scientific understanding of the risk of climate change,” Cohen said. “Over the last decade, whispering concerns have increased within oil and other fossil fuel companies about a wide range of possible legal vulnerabilities. I think such concerns in fact have driven companies to take public positions acknowledging basic climate science in more recent years, and compelled them to even begin advocating seemingly progressive but politically unlikely policy approaches like carbon pricing,” says Paul Bledsoe, a former Clinton White House aide on climate change who is now an energy and climate consultant in Washington. Schneiderman, a Democrat, has been attorney general since 2011 and like other prominent New York-based prosecutors has not shied away from tackling big targets. Over his tenure, he has taken on Apple’s foray into E-books, big mortgage banks, and fantasy sports sites. He even filed a $40 million civil lawsuit against Donald Trump, alleging that the mogul’s “Trump University” — which purported to teach real estate investment techniques — in fact offered very little education at a high cost to students. Read more in Energy Environment: Scientists confirm their fears about West Antarctica — that it’s inherently unstable Scientists say illegal pot farming operations are poisoning threatened weasels The huge paradox at the heart of how people think about environmental risks For more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter here.


What Whole Foods is doing to try to dig out of its rut

Christopher Quinones re-stocks cream cheese on a shelf at the Whole Foods Market in Woodmere Village, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) When Whole Foods Market first began opening its groceries in cities and suburbs across the country, every store launch was something of a test case for whether organic eating was a niche fad or part of a sweeping change in how many Americans want to eat. For a while, Whole Foods consistently delivered impressive growth — so impressive, in fact, that other massive retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Target became eager to get in on what the industry now believes is a durable shift toward healthier, less-processed food. And that’s when the going got tough for Whole Foods: The category it practically created was suddenly crowded with alternatives that often had lower price tags. On Wednesday, we saw some of the clearest evidence yet of how much Whole Foods has been hurt by this new reality. In its quarterly earnings report, the company said that sales were down 0.2 percent at stores open more than a year, the first time in at least four years it had seen a decline on this metric. Total revenue was up 6 percent, its smallest quarterly increase since at least 2011. Its stock was down 2 percent on Thursday, the first day of trading after investors saw the report, and its stock is down nearly 41 percent so far this year. Whole Foods splashiest bid to turn things around is its previously-announced plan to launch a new chain, 365 by Whole Foods Market, which is slated to open next year and will cater to a more value-conscious consumer. [What job cuts at Whole Foods teach us about the company’s future] But the retailer stressed on Wednesday that it has other tactics up its sleeve to hang onto and grow the customer base at the existing chain. Co-chief executive John Mackey said Whole Foods will be doubling down on its lucrative exclusive brands and prepared foods business. These categories already account for one-third of Whole Foods’s total sales, but the grocer thinks greater innovation and differentiation in this area would help it ring up even more sales. Executives said Wednesday that the company will be adding a new leadership position for a global vice president of culinary and hospitality who will helm these efforts. Meanwhile, the company is seeking to walk a tightrope when


Grand Baltimore Co. estate’s operatic flair matches its special history

want the interior to look like one. When the current owners discovered the barn in 1994, it was still in good shape — for a barn, but not a house. They enlisted Helen Kopits Hiser of Towson-based Hiser + Kopits Hiser Architects to create their dream home. It took 2½ years to plan the renovation and 2½ years to build. “I remember walking in there the first time and going, ‘Oh, dear God, please don’t let me screw it up,’ ” said Hiser, who had never before worked on a project like this. The owners were insistent that, even though they were going to live in a barn, they didn’t want the interior to look like one. They wanted an elegant home to entertain and raise their family. “I really wanted [the barn] to keep its power,” Hiser said. “But at the same time, we’re talking about a family of four.” (Photo by Hometrack) Architect Helen Kopits Hiser called this stairway the Scarlet O’Hara stairs. Inspired by Ponselle, Hiser created dramatic spaces including a 45-foot atrium with cupola skylight in the foyer and a great room with 45-foot vaulted ceilings. She calls the grand oak staircase with its wrought-iron railings and brass handrails the Scarlet O’Hara stairs and the limestone hearth and cast-stone fireplace in the great room the Orson Welles’s “Citizen Kane” fireplace. [Taylor Swift goes for Hollywood history in her new digs] The enormous open spaces could have created an echo chamber, but the owners brought in acoustical engineers from the Kennedy Center to soundproof the walls. The result is a space that is neither cold nor sterile visually or acoustically. A 71-foot loggia that connects the main barn to a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest cottage serves as a gallery space. Eight floor-to-ceiling glass panes separated by stone columns allow for courtyard viewing of the artworks. The 5.92 acre grounds include whimsical touches, such as the Alice in Wonderland-like oversize chessboard, a swimming pool and sport court. The 12,085-square-foot home has six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, an elevator and a 900-bottle wine room. Originally listed at $3.45 million, the price has dropped to $2.995 million. Listing: 10955 Nacirema Lane, Stevenson, Md. Listing agent: Karen Hubble Bisbee and Nancy Hubble, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Previous House of the Week (Photo by Hometrack) A 71-foot loggia that connects the main barn to a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest cottage serves as a gallery space.


So many things you wouldn’t expect are made with animal parts

Steel fermentation vessels are seen at the Guinness brewery in Dublin in 2014. The brewery is the world’s largest maker of stout beer, and the largest brewing tanks can hold up to 750,000 pints each. (Shawn Pogatchnik/AP) To the delight of vegans everywhere, Irish brewery Guinness revealed this week that it will stop using fish guts to make its famous dark stout. Who knew there were fish guts in beer in the first place? Let's take a step back. First, it’s true that the production of Guinness involves the harming of some critters. This is not unusual; many beers and wines are made using animal products. These ingredients aren’t added to flavor the beverage, but to help purify it. Only trace amounts remain in the final drink. Nonetheless, Guinness has been trying to become more vegan-friendly. By the end of next year, Guinness’s main plant in Dublin plans to have an alternative system for filtering beer, a spokesperson said in an e-mail. Brewing is the process of using yeast to turn the sugars and carbs in grains and fruit into alcohol. After the yeast has done its job, the particles die and fall to the bottom of the tank and get filtered out (or not). Brewers often use animal or vegetable products to clump up the yeast so it settles faster and leaves the beer or wine as clear as possible. A favorite ingredient among British brewers is isinglass, a clear gooey substance that is dissolved out of the bladders that fish use to stay afloat. Isinglass is mostly just collagen, a crucial — and abundant — animal protein perhaps best known for plumping celebrity faces. Fish swim bladders are a traditional source of very pure collagen. Monks used isinglass in the Middle Ages as a glue to repair parchment and apply decorative gold leaf to their manuscripts. Isinglass has played a role in clarifying beer for hundreds of years. By the mid-18th century, it was ubiquitous in England, according to Cambridge professor Peter Mathias’s history of the beer industry. It has now become a tradition for British brewers to continue using isinglass — you won’t tend to find this substance in American or German beers. But even beers dosed with isinglass contain little of it; most of the fish protein gets removed along with the yeast, which is the point of the whole process. A 2007 study found that


Whether you’re a serial monogamist or have a tendency to stray may be partly programmed into your genes

siblings who had been in a monogamous relationship for at least one year. The study was published earlier this year in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. Twin studies are commonly used by researchers to estimate how heritable a specific trait is in humans. Because identical twins have the same genome, any differences between them can be chalked up to environmental factors. On the other hand, fraternal twins and ordinary siblings only share share half of their genes on average. Data from both identical and fraternal twins, along with non-twin siblings, are carefully compared to tease out the impact of nature versus nurture. When surveyed, 9.8 percent of men and 6.4 percent of women admitted to having more than one sexual partner in the last year. For both sexes, identical twins correlated strongly with one other in terms of unfaithfulness while fraternal twins and siblings did not. The results suggest that there is indeed a genetic component to one's likelihood of committing infidelity — as in, nature accounts for roughly 63 percent of relationship-straying for males and 40 percent for females, with environment responsible for the rest. “The clear finding is that an individual's genetic makeup in general influences how likely he or she is to cheat,” said Zietsch. “We could tell that because genetically identical twins were similar in their fidelity or infidelity to partners, whereas nonidentical twins and normal siblings were not similar in this respect.” The leading theory is that genetic variations are involved in tuning our hormones levels up or down, which affect how strongly bonded to our partners we feel. Notable studies with the monogamous prairie vole, a small rodent that mates for life, have found that vasopressin plays a key role in pair-bonding. Prairie voles possess many more of this hormone's receptors in the brain as compared to promiscuous montane voles — a free-wheeling species with no interest in settling down. However, increasing the number of receptors in the brain of a male montane vole quickly turns him into a one-female-only type of partner. Based on these findings from animal studies, Zietsch and his colleagues tested a subset of subjects for links between cheating and the arginine vasopressin receptor 1A gene (AVPR1A), which encodes the protein that acts as a receptor for vasopressin. Significant associations with specific AVPR1A variants were found for women, but not for men. “With regard to individual genes, we provided


of an individual gene — such effects have proved not very robust in the past, and this is with regard to all traits, not just infidelity.” An earlier study, published by the journal PLOS ONE in 2010, pointed to a different place within the human genome responsible for modulating the neurotransmitter dopamine, which helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. People with a specific genotype of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) reported a higher rate of promiscuous sex and more instances of sexual infidelity than controls. This DRD4 genetic variant causes reduced binding for the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain's reward circuit, implying that these people need more novelty and stimulation to achieve a “normal” level of excitement. It has previously been linked to sensation-seeking activities like alcoholism, gambling addiction, and even a love of horror films. But as Zietsch notes, while there may be a clear genetic influence on our tendency to cheat, there is no such thing as a single “infidelity gene.” Other, more nuanced factors may play a role — for instance, the motivation to have an affair isn't always boredom. Among mental health professionals, the belief that infidelity always arises from an intrinsic flaw within the transgressor — such as a failure to commit or abnormally high sensation-seeking — is largely outdated. Christian Jordal, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Couple & Family Therapy at Drexel University, is hesitant to believe that one's propensity to cheat and genetic makeup are entwined. “I'm not a geneticist or medical researcher, but there can be a tremendous amount of ambiguity around why people cheat,” said Jordal. “It's the same sort of mystery of the human heart: How is it that we choose to be attracted to someone? Why do we think or feel the way we do around love and romance? In the same way we don't always have these answers, we don't have the answers around infidelity issues.” Read More: Unsettling finding from CDC investigation: Tapeworms can pass cancer cells to man What you need to know 5 theories about why white, middle-aged Americans are dying at such high rates Cutting sugar from kids’ diets appears to have a beneficial effect in just 10 days SPECIAL REPORT: Billionaire Paul Allen's quest to build an artificial brain For more health news, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter