In the wake of the pink slime scandal, there’s even more unappetizing news—this time from the poultry department. By testing feathers, researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that chicken sold in your supermarket may have been raised on a steady diet of prescription, over-the-counter, and even banned drugs. Among the substances found: antidepressants, painkillers, allergy meds, caffeine, and banned antibiotics. New Info On Clot Risk Of Some Birth Control Pills [Fox News] US health regulators are adding information to the labels on a popular class of birth control pills—including Yaz and Yasmin—that says they may raise the risk of blood clots. While most birth control pills increase a woman’s chances of potentially fatal blood clots, the FDA said on Tuesday that some studies showed the danger may be even higher for newer pills that contain the synthetic hormone drospirenone. Were You Born Nice? [Science Daily] At least part of the reason some people are kind is that they have certain “nice genes,” according to a new study in Psychological Science. The study looked at the behavior of people who have versions of receptor genes for two hormones that are associated with niceness. Study participants who found the world threatening were less likely to help others—unless they had versions of these receptor genes. Ashley Judd Tells Critics To Stuff It—Albeit More Eloquently [The Daily Beast] In response to recent media attention and rumors that her “puffy face” is a sign of weight gain or plastic surgery, Ashley Judd fires back in an editorial for The Daily Beast. You won’t want to miss her smart response to what she sees as a sign of yet one more effort to objectify—and demean—women. The Elusive Vaginal Orgasm [Daily Mail] For decades it’s been thought that the clitoris was the key to a woman’s sexual satisfaction. But now research in the Journal of Sexual Medicine shows that not only can women climax through sexual intercourse alone, but the resulting orgasm is distinctly different than those reached by clitoral stimulation, as both activate different areas of the brain. A New Tax Day Hazard [Time] You may want to stay off the road this April 17th: The risk of fatal car crashes goes up by six percent on tax day, according to a new study that looked at 30 years of road crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The underlying causes aren’t clear, but the researchers say it’s likely human stress—which leads to being distracted—that’s leading to extra deaths. Saving The Planet One Dog At A Time [The Bark] Nothing like a little canine power to help conservationists save the planet. That’s the thinking behind Dogs for Conservation, a new organization that trains dogs to assist people working in the fields of wildlife conservation. The 86-Year-Old Gymnast [Huffington Post] Johanna Quaas, 86, wowed the audience at the 2012 Cottbus World Cup in Germany last month. Clad in a green leotard, she performed gymnastics routines on both the floor and parallel bars. She’s won 11 medals in senior gymnastic competitions, but she currently practices the sport “just for fun.” Check out her astonishing video.
