A provocative study, from the American midwest, about safety: “Cutting Off the Nose to Save the Penis,” Steven M. Schrader, Michael J. Breitenstein, and Brian D. Lowe, Journal of Sexual Medicine, vol. 5, no. 8, 2008, pp. 1932–40. The authors, at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, report [AIR 15:5]: “The […]
Tag: Review Articles
History Detectives Interpret a Subtle Clue (Walks/Orgasms)
It’s always a good time to look back and ponder on this study about how some people stroll: “A Woman’s History of Vaginal Orgasm is Discernable from Her Walk,” Aurélie Nicholas, Stuart Brody, Pascal de Sutter, and François de Carufel, Journal of Sexual Medicine, vol. 5, 2008, pp. 2119-24. (Thanks to Sam Petuchowski for bringing […]
Perceptions of Bearded Men
“Perception of Men’s Personal Qualities and Prospect of Employment As a Function of Facial Hair,” Altay Alves Lino de Souza, Vera B.U. Baiao, and Emma Otta, Psychological Reports, vol. 92, no. 1, February 2003, pp. 201–8. (Thanks to John Bell for bringing this to our attention.) The authors, at University of São Paulo, Brazil, explain
Naming Names (and Flies)
M.M. Green is not annoyed not by flies, but he writes about his annoyance at people who speak imprecisely about flies. “It Really Is Not a Fruit Fly,” M.M. Green, Genetics, vol. 162, 2002, pp. 1–3. (Thanks to Judy Lai for bringing this to our attention.) Green, at University of California, Davis, explains [AIR 15:5]: […]
Why Do Women Swear?
A study of distaff ejaculations: “Why Do Women Swear? An Exploration of Reasons for and Perceived Efficacy of Swearing in Dutch Female Students,” Eric Rassin and Peter Muris, Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 38, no. 7, May 2005, pp. 1669–74. (Thanks to Alisa Frith for bringing this to our attention.) The authors, who are at […]
The “Holy Plane” of Rectal Surgery
“The ‘Holy Plane’ of Rectal Surgery,” R.J. Heald, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, vol. 81, September 1988, pp. 503–8. The author, at Basingstoke District Hospital, Basingstoke, U.K., explains [AIR 16:1]: this is the story of a simple artisan’s pleasure in the actual style of performing an operation—in essence the way to use a […]
A Quick Take on Fast Walkers
Some scientists struggle to understand walking, as is evident in this study: “Walking Fast—Ranking High: A Sociobiological Perspective on Pace,” A. Schmitt and K. Atzwanger, Ethology and Sociobiology, vol. 17, no. 5, September 1996, pp. 451–62. The authors explain [AIR 15:5]: “We hypothesized that habitual fast walking might be a means to acquire and/or to […]
ICKY: Enema with Garden Hose
“Kendi Kendine Lavman Uygulamasina Bağli Kolorektal Perforasyon” [Colorectal Perforation Due to Self Administered Retrograde Enema with Garden Hose], Tugba Topcul, Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg, 2003, vol. 9, no. 4, 2003, pp. 297–9. The author, at Akcakoca State Hospital, Duzce, reports [AIR 16:1]: We report a case of colorectal perforation due to self administered retrograde […]
The Logic of Ménage à Trois
“The Logic of Ménage à Trois,” Magnus Enquist, Risa H. Rosenberg, and Hans Temrin, Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biological Sciences, vol. 265, no. 1396, April 7, 1998, pp. 609–13. Enquist and two colleagues were awarded the 2003 Ig Nobel Prize in interdisciplinary research for their 2002 report “Chickens Prefer Beautiful Humans.” The 1998 monograph […]
CUTESY AND ICKY: Tight
“Tighter Guidelines to Evaluate Loose Stools,” C. Surawicz, American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 92, no. 3, March 1997, pp. 535–6. [AIR 16:1]