Gizmodo: Studies

Cellphone Use While Pregnant Causes Kids To Go Haywire, Study Says

Elaine Chow — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:30:00 EDT

Pregnant women should probably add cellphones to the list of things they need to avoid, along with alcohol, sushi and cat poo. A giant study that surveyed over 13,000 children found that women who used mobile phones when pregnant were more likely to give birth to kids with behavioral problems.

The study, conducted by UCLA and Aarhus University in Denmark, found that using cell phones just two or three times a day would raise the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and emotional disorders by the time they enter Kindergarten.

The scientists responsible for the study say that the results were "unexpected," and that they haven't discovered what biological mechanisms causes the problems. But the results stayed the same even when they accounted for other possible causes—such as smoking, family psychiatric history or socio-economic status.

But before everyone freaks out and buys a MummyWrap, the scientists stress that the results "should be interpreted with caution" and affirmed by other studies. In the meantime, maybe tell Mommy-to-be to limit her cellphone use a little bit, just in case. [The Independent via Textually]

iCub Baby Robot to Undergo Developmental Training, Still Isn't a Real Kid

Haroon Malik — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST

Those spiffing fellows at the University of Plymouth, UK are undertaking a research project involving a baby-bot named iCub, which will see the robot actually learn how to speak. The three-foot high robot will help researchers deduce how language is taught, but the further reaching impact of the study include the prospect of developing humanoid robots that can learn, think and talk. Sure, Steven Speilberg has already envisioned such a future, but how far off was he?

Well, we can't really say. The iCub will undergo pretty basic tests, such as shape analysis, nesting different sized cups and stacking wooden blocks, as well as speech development tasks, meaning iCub will be able to name actions it carries out, which will lead to a commentary of its routine. The overall goal was laid out by Angelo Cangelosi, Professor in Artificial Intelligence;

"The outcome of the research will define the scientific and technological requirements for the design of humanoid robots able to develop complex behavioral, thinking and communication skills through individual and social learning."

It may well be a far cry from AI, but the project, which will begin next year, is costing around £4.7 ($9.34) million and if that kind of cash doesn't lead to robots that can write our articles for us, we shall be really, really pissed. [BBC News]

Italian Perv Professor Claims Ultrasound Can Hunt Out the G-Spot

AddyDugdale — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:17:27 EST

A professor from the University of L'Aquila in Italy says has discovered a clue which may point the way to the fabled G-Spot—or at least prove that some lucky ladies have it, while others don't. Emmanuele Janini's findings (he scanned 20 women, 11 who experienced vaginal orgasms and nine who didn't, with a vaginal ultrasound) have set off a raging debate inside the wonderful world of lady-pleasure.

Tissue in the urethrovaginal space of the women who were no stranger to vaginal orgasms was, apparently, thicker than in that of the non-vaginal ones. This, says Janini, is evidence that women without any visible evidence of a G-spot cannot have a vaginal orgasm.

Beverly Whipple of Rutger's University School of Nursing in Newark, the team which coined the term G-Spot, is sceptical of Janini's findings. "It is an intriguing study, but it doesn't necessarily mean that women who don't experience orgasm don't have any tissue there." She reckons that the test would benefit from having women stimulate themselves first, and then repeating the ultrasound tests, as the area is believed to swell under physical pressure.

Janini is planning to continue his studies (of course he is) but says that women should not feel despair if they are unable to have vaginal orgasms. "One clear finding is that each woman is different," he says. "This is one reason why women are so interesting." And I thought it was our brains. [New Scientist]

Robots Entitled to the Same Rights as Humans in the Future?

Gizloco — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:51:54 EST

The wheels are in motion to give robots the same rights that people currently enjoy. Huh? A recent inquiry by the British government suggests that within the next 20 to 50 years robots will be intelligent enough to warrant many of the same rights and benefits that us mere mortals now have. Robots would be expected to be given some sort of robot health care, robot affordable housing and robot rehab clinics, something previously limited to Miss USA. The report says that robots will also soon be able to reproduce on their own.

It's not all a free ride for our robot friends, though, as they'll be expected to pay taxes and serve in the military. I look forward to seeing an all-robot battalion battle the forces of another country's all-robot battalion. Now, it's safe to say that we here at Gizmodo love robots. But do we think that robots should be given actual legal rights? Do you? Didn't we already confront this issue in the film Blade Runner? – Nicholas Deleon

Robots could demand legal rights [BBC News]