Good luck, single people.

Although it’s mostly gross, instead of life-threatening, this is hardly good news:

Scientists have found a “superbug” strain of gonorrhea in Japan that is resistant to all recommended antibiotics and say it could transform a once easily treatable infection into a global public health threat.

The new strain of the sexually transmitted disease — called H041¹ — cannot be killed by any currently recommended treatments for gonorrhea, leaving doctors with no other option than to try medicines so far untested against the disease.
…
“Based on the historical data … resistance has emerged and spread internationally within 10 to 20 years,” [the bacteria's discoverer] said.

Another interesting tidbit: “Japan has historically been the place for the first emergence and subsequent global spread of different types of resistance in gonorrhea.”

Via the Hairpin.

Linkwad.

1. I’d like to be able to say “Only in Baltimore could a drunk cop taunt and shoot an unarmed man and not be convicted of murder,” but I’m pretty sure that’s true just about everywhere.
2. Everything is terrifying, grocery store edition: in the US, food kills one person every two hours.
3. Compare and contrast: 1777 vs. 2011.
4. FBI agents no longer need a reason to investigate anyone they want, or record it. But don’t worry–there’s no way they’d abuse that power.

Get freaky.

Holy shit, uncanny valley.

Via Engadget.

Relatedly, here’s the case for and against anthropomorphic robots.

The breaking point.

Via @BoingBoing, an explanation of metal fatigue, which took a chunk out of a Southwest Airlines 737 over the weekend. Read it all, since three more Southwest 737s are showing cracks.

Relatedly, Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner has been criticized for its composite body, which won’t show signs of fatigue.

Linkwad.

1. The mistake-prone post-9/11 anthrax investigation, chapters 1 and 2. I was looking for the Atlantic piece a while back for some reason, but thought it was from the NYer. If I mentioned it to you, here it is.
2. The Fukushima Daiichi plant’s reactor container might be leaking.
3. “If you find yourself rolling around the tundra with a one-ton polar bear, you don’t have much to lose.” Noted! Via the Hairpin (Have I mentioned how awesome that site is?).