Microsoft shuts down Santa for talking dirty
Microsoft Corp. quickly shut down Santa Claus’ Web privileges after it found out the automated elf it created for kids to instant message with was talking naughty, not nice.

Cellphone could be boarding pass, too
Continental Airlines passengers in Houston will be able to board flights using just a cellphone or personal-digital assistant instead of a regular boarding pass in a three-month test program launched Tuesday at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

GOOG411 Testing in India for Voice Activated Search? (by Kristen Nicole at Mashable)
Could Google be working on an initiative through its India research lab for the mobile search service GOOG411? This experimental mobile search tool, as you know, works by using voice recognition so that you can call in and find the information you’re looking for.

Hack: Young Professor Makes Lab-on-a-Chip with Shrinky Dink and Toaster Oven
A young professor has used her favorite childhood toy, a laser printer, and a toaster oven to make microfluidic devices - tiny computer chips with plumbing that are usually fabricated in multimillion dollar labs.

Overweight Kids Often Become Obese, Unhealthy Adults
Experts warn of surge in cardiovascular troubles by 2035

Gene That Influences Alcohol Consumption Identified
ScienceDaily (Dec. 6, 2007) — A variant of a gene involved in communication among brain cells has a direct influence on alcohol consumption in mice, according to a new study. Scientists do not know yet whether a similar gene variant, with a similar effect on alcohol consumption, exists in humans.

Tattoos Could Replace Needle Sticks For Diabetics
A diabetes “tattoo” might be just the thing to relieve diabetes sufferers of the constant pain of needle sticks.

What makes skin strong? Velcro-like cells
Scientists have gotten their best look ever at interactions inside human skin cells, finding a Velcro-like setup that links them and makes skin strong while also supple.

Close Families Raise More Independent Adults
ScienceDaily (Dec. 6, 2007) — You’re already 25 and you still live with your parents. You’re 26 and you still bring your laundry take home food from your mother. Don’t worry; new research at the University of Haifa found that, contrary to common belief, young adults who maintain a close or moderate relationship with their parents exhibit greater independence in their personal lives than those who have a distant relationship.

Humans Appear Hardwired To Learn By ‘Over-imitation’
ScienceDaily (Dec. 6, 2007) — Children learn by imitating adults–so much so that they will rethink how an object works if they observe an adult taking unnecessary steps when using that object, according to a new Yale study.

China finds panda fossils on tropical island
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese archaeologists have found fossils that prove pandas once roamed what is now the southern Chinese island of Hainan, state media said on Wednesday. 

Ancient kangaroo didn’t hop: scientists
SYDNEY (AFP) - A 25-million-year-old fossil has revealed that a predecessor of Australia’s iconic hopping kangaroo once galloped on all fours, had dog-like fangs and possibly climbed trees, scientists have reported.