Just the Facts

Vegan on Mars
NASA scientists are planning a menu that includes vegan pizza for a mission to Mars in the 2030s. There may also be a “Martian greenhouse” for the astronauts to grow vegetables hydroponically during their years in space.

Animal Experiments Down in Switzerland
Almost 100,000 fewer animals were used in experiments in Switzerland in 2011, compared with 2010. The lower numbers are due to animal protection laws made more stringent in 2008.

Squid Pro Quo
After eating calamari, a 63-year-old South Korean woman felt a sharp pain in her mouth. Doctors found 12 small pods containing squid sperm attached to her mouth.

Brainy Bonobo
A 31-year-old bonobo named Kanzi who lives at the Great Ape Trust in Iowa recently used stone flints as choppers, drills, and scrapers to extract food sealed in a log. The tools he created are similar to the stone tools of early humans.

As Bad as Smoking?
The cholesterol in egg yolks poses the same cardiovascular risk as smoking, according to a recent study in the journal Atherosclerosis. Researchers found egg consumption—like smoking—accelerates plaque buildup in arteries.

Fruits Counter Pollution
The damaging effects of air pollution may be avoided by eating more fruits and vegetables. Air pollution has a greater impact on people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have low levels of vitamin C in their blood, according to a new study.

A True Happy Meal
Children are likelier to try new foods if they see adults smiling while they eat them. Research suggests that youngsters are particularly susceptible to others’ emotions.

Gorilla SWAT Team
A couple of 4-year-old gorillas were seen dismantling poachers’ traps in a Rwandan forest. This was the first time researchers were able to closely observe this behavior in the wild.

Illustrations Doug Hall/PCRM