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Getting
Under Objectivity's Skin
December 5, 1998 | Volume 154 | Number 23
Cover: Modern notions of objectivity stand in
contrast to 18th-century attempts to portray ideal forms, such as this engraving of a
human skeleton and its muscles that was intended by a Dutch anatomist to show "more
perfect patterns" than those observed in actual specimens. The engraving
includes a rhinoceros and other decorations. (Table of the Skeleton and Muscles of the
Human Body, 1749, B. Albinus, London) |
 Click on this icon listed by each article to get full references and
sources. |
News of the Week:
Diabetic Pregnancy Risk Starts Early
The risks faced by fetuses in diabetic mothers may stem from high sugar
concentrations, causing excess cell death soon after conception.
Poor winter homes delay bird nesting
An analysis of carbon isotopes in migratory bird tissue links poor winter
habitat to late arrival at breeding grounds the next summer.
Titanic wreckage still tells a riveting tale
A new analysis suggests that low-quality rivets contributed to the rapid
sinking of the Titanic.
Gulf War syndrome may signal mental ills
Mood and anxiety disorders may underlie many cases of the controversial
ailment known as Gulf War syndrome.
Turtle genes upset reptilian family tree
A genetic study suggests that turtles are not a primitive form of vertebrate.
Newer pennies pose a special toddler risk
Pennies minted after 1981, when swallowed, can trigger stomach ulcers and
erode into ragged, circular blades of zinc.
Preemie diets linked to IQ
What a premature male infant eats in the first month of life can have
long-term intellectual impact.
Very Large Telescope: New infrared camera struts its stuff
Newly released pictures show off the capability of an infrared camera
installed Nov. 14 on the first of what will eventually be a quartet of 8.2-meter
telescopes in northern Chile.
Scientists harvest antibodies from plants
Two studies demonstrate that mammalian antibodies synthesized by plants
function normally, offering an inexpensive source for future medicines.
Astronomy
Star motions yield four more planets
Tracking the
back-and-forth motion of nearby stars, astronomers recently have found evidence of four
extrasolar planets, bringing to 16 the number of planets known to orbit sunlike stars.
Biology
Geraniums intoxicate Japanese beetles
Even though a few bites
of geranium knock out Japanese beetles for hours, the insects keep going back for more.
Ravens’ memories can lead to thievery
Ravens’ ability to
remember food caches may extend to the location of booty hidden by another bird.
Diverse fungi underlie plant success
Soil fungi play a bigger
role than expected in maintaining the diversity of plant communities.
Behavior
Schizophrenia: Consenting adults . . .
Systematic help from
researchers allows patients with schizophrenia to understand the risks and benefits of
participating in clinical trials.
. . . and memory lapses
Memory lapses of
schizophrenic patients may represent not a disturbance specific to their mental disorder,
but a lack of mental effort.
Biology
Voles are addicted to love
Female voles pick a mate
in response to the release of dopamine within their brain, the same chemistry that makes
cocaine and heroin addictive.
The threat of a piece of pumpkin pie
People with anorexia
nervosa may have an actual fear of food.
Objective Visions
Historians track the rise and times of scientific
objectivity
Notions of scientific
objectivity have changed over time and respond to social influences within and outside
specific disciplines.
Fill 'Er Up . . . With Veggie Oil
Vegetable oils are moving from the kitchen table to the
car engine
Vegetable oil can serve
as a renewable, less polluting alternative fuel and engine lubricant.
Letters: A
Selection from Letters to the Editor
