Science and Nature Writing

Book: Best American Science and Nature Writing 2004. Always on the lookout to increase knowledge, I thought I would learn something by reading these articles. Here's what I learned:

• Before insulin (pre-1922), the only treatment for diabetes was a starvation diet. Obviously it didn't work.
• The average height of the US Civil War soldier was 5'4".
• Organ transplant experiments didn't begin in earnestness until the 1950's. And were not successful until the late 60's. I actually remember the hype around the first successful heart transplant in 1968.
• Doctors no longer justify any means to save a dying patient. Siding with caution also means they no longer discover something new that might help or cure.
• The Social Security website has a list of the most popular names by year. As of 2003, my name is ranked at number 288, and falling. Check your name.
• It is very difficult for an extrovert to understand introverts whereas an introvert has no problem understanding extroverts.
• Introverts tend to think before talking. Extroverts tend to think by talking.
• Nearly half of all married couples in the Middle East are first or second cousins. Less than half a percentage of all US marriages are cousins. It's about 1% in Europe.