MENopause?

After many years spent believing men could produce offspring (so to speak) at any age, new studies show just the opposite.

According to research conducted by Doctors Harry Fisch and Larry Lipshultz, there exists a biological clock for males as well.

"Fertility will drop for some men, others will maintain their fertility but not to the same degree, and there is an increased risk of genetic abnormalities," says Fisch.

Some of the genetic abnormalities include autism and schizophrenia. Children born to men 40 or above are more likely to contract these problems than those of younger males.

Pamela Madsen, director of the American Fertility Association, stated, “I don’t see why everyone is so surprised. Everyone ages. Why would sperm cells be the only cells not to age as men get older?”

The overall view of the scientists researching this phenomenon is men need to be more aware of this issue and understand that they cannot wait forever to have children. Doing so would put their potential children at risk for serious medical complications.



Information for this post was obtained from Roni Rabin's article "It Seems the Fertility Clock Ticks for Men, Too."

The Evolution of the Yellow Submarine: Manifest Destiny, Part II

With the change of human “nomadism” from survival necessity to vacation activity, hotels have become more upscale to complement the area—if not, then to become the reason for travel.

Take Bruce Jones’ idea of creating a futuristic resort and placing it 40 feet underwater, for example. The 50-year-old president of U.S. Submarines decided it would be an improvement on the first underwater hotel (a cozy two bedroom, single bath dwelling off the coast of Florida’s Key Largo). According to Popsci.com, the complex would include a missile defense system, a mall, a wedding chapel, luxurious suites, a spa, and a rotating restaurant and bar.

The Poseidon Mystery Island, the resort’s moniker, will be located in a coral lagoon in Northeast Fiji and will cost around $105 million to build. To lower building costs, Jones and a crew of five engineers will construct the acrylic windows and ship them from Oregon to Fiji.

Interested in reserving a room? All of the suites will go for about $15 thousand a week, with the exception of the 1,200 square feet master suite, which runs for the other suites’ weekly price tags per night.

With his decision to claim a piece of the ocean in the name of commerce, Jones has failed to mention what environmental effects the Poseidon will have on the sea. As people become more earth-friendly through their use of hybrid-electric motorcars and their concern of the global warming issue, they are going to want to know whether or not the Poseidon is yet another detrimental blow to mother nature.



Information for this post was obtained from Michael Behar's article "1,200 Feet Under the Sea."