Science
It's official: Your Periodic Table is now obsolete sciencealert
Get ready to ring in 2017 with a brand new Periodic Table iupac.org, because four more elements have officially been added to the seventh row: nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og).
Also see Periodic table expands with elements named after Japan, Moscow, Tennessee phys.org
Brain
The Neuroscientist Who’s Building a Better Memory for Humans wired
Theodore Berger, a biomedical engineer at the University of Southern California, can’t promise ... perfect recall—perhaps for the better—but he is working on a memory prosthesis. The device, surgically implanted directly into the brain, mimics the function of a structure called the hippocampus by electrically stimulating the brain in a particular way to form memories—at least in rats and monkeys. And now, he’s testing one that could work in humans.
Society
Ontario turns parenting into a group affair world.wng.org
Under the All Families are Equal Act, same-sex couples or a group of up to four adults who agree to have a child, whether through a surrogate mother or artificial insemination, will be legally viewed as parents without any adoption process. They simply must sign a contract to co-parent before the child is conceived.
More than one-fourth of the legislature, mostly members of the Progressive Conservative Party, skipped the vote, which was unanimously in favor of the bill.
Bank of England trying to find 'solution' to remove animal fat from new £5 note as thousands sign petition independent.co.uk
More than 107,000 people have signed a petition saying the use of tallow in the production process is “unacceptable to millions of vegans, vegetarians, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others in the UK”.
And then there are news days like today. Also see Scottish polymer bank notes are vegan-friendly bbc
UK doctors to seek permission to create baby with DNA from three people theguardian
A scientific review commissioned by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) hfea.gov.uk concluded on Wednesday that the therapy should be approved for “cautious clinical use” when children are at risk of inheriting specific genetic diseases.
The HFEA will now consider the findings and invite clinics to apply for licences if it endorses the recommendations at a meeting on 15 December. Last year, parliament changed the law to allow MRT, but scientists continued with further experiments to assess the treatment’s safety.
Also see 'Three-parent baby' fertility treatment could be available on NHS by next spring independent.co.uk
UN’s new LGBT rights expert urges global partnership to end violence and discrimination un.org w!
The five key steps are lifting criminal laws which affect LGBT people; not seeing the community as suffering from a disorder; giving all people the right to have their gender identity recognized on official documents; working with different cultures and religions to ensure inclusive practices; and ensuring children grow up with the ability to empathize with people of different sexual orientation and gender identity.
Federal court weighs key decision on LGBT-workplace bias sfgate
Several of the 11 judges at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals signaled they are ready to enter what would be a historic ruling broadening the scope the 52-year-old landmark law [1964 Civil Rights Act], with the court directing the toughest questions during the hourlong hearing at a lawyer who argued only Congress could extend the protections.
Peace
Colombia's Congress Ratifies Second Peace Deal With Marxist Rebels npr.org
Colombia's Congress approved a modified peace treaty on Wednesday night by a 130 to 0 margin. Although tougher on the rebels than the original accord, opposition lawmakers staged a walk-out to protest provisions that will allow guerrillas accused of war crimes to avoid prison.
Italy
Italy's referendum: A nightmare scenario in the heart of Europe money.cnn
Italians are being asked to vote on a sweeping series of constitutional reforms championed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi thefamouspeople. He says the changes are vital to end political gridlock and revive Italy's stagnant economy, and has pledged to resign if voters reject them.
Also see Italy referendum explained: What is it about and what would a No vote mean for the UK? independent.co.uk
Turkey
Turkish PM seeks support for expanded powers for Erdogan usnews
Opposition parties have opposed a presidential system, since they fear it would allow Erdogan to rule unchecked. But MHP jamesinturkey leader Devlet Bahceli has switched positions and recently voiced his party's support.
France
Hollande Takes Himself Out of France’s 2017 Presidential Race bloomberg
Hollande made the announcement in a televised address on Thursday evening, saying that his lack of support opened the country to the risk of extremist movements. He becomes the first president since the Fifth Republic began in 1958 not to seek re-election. britannica
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