Random Science Tuesday (yup, its that time again)

Fake Sugar can give you very REAL cancer-- well, at least if you are a rat.
"Italian researchers published a new study last week that showed aspartame -- widely used in soft drinks -- might cause leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer in rats."

"The CSPI said the Acceptable Daily Intake of aspartame in the United States is 50 mg per kilogram of body weight, equivalent to a 50-pound (20 kg) child drinking 2.5 cans of diet soda a day, or a 150-pound (68 kilogram) adult drinking about 7.5 cans a day.
The Italian researchers found a cancer risk at the very highest doses -- double the U.S. Acceptable Daily Intake."

So watch out for the aspartame-- don't panic, but start phasing it out.


Cool new lab grown skin grafts actually work!
"To have an off-the-shelf skin replacement product that can be used in large numbers of patients will revolutionize the treatment of burned and skin damaged patients,"
Check it out here!


Darwin would be Sad: Galapagos Tortises Are in Danger (and so are the iguanas, birds, and other various unique creatures)
"The United Nations on Tuesday declared Ecuador's Galapagos islands in danger as booming tourism and immigration threaten giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies unique to the archipelago."

Here's hoping they can get that under control-- cause a trip to the Galapagos is still VERY high on my list of dream trips... (right up there with back to Spain with Craig in tow, and Italy, and Ancient ruins in Greece)