From New Scientist, an article on the science of voodoo: When mind attacks body. Francis Bacon believed there was beauty in the colour of meat, and it was possible "to be optimistic and totally without hope" (and more on Bacon at Bookforum). Is your flirting a disaster? It's official — men can't tell when women fancy them. From TED, Mary Roach on 10 things you didn't know about orgasm. Do narcissists have better sex? People commit adultery all the time, but what makes us so suspicious of faithful partners? The real lab rats: Three books on research fraud and misconduct illustrate the human personalities and emotions that lie behind hard science. Is a degree in homeopathy a sick joke? Scientists say there's almost no evidence that any of it works. A review of The Global Assault on Teaching, Teachers, and Their

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