Towards an Exercise Pill 362
aztektum among many other readers sent us news that medical researchers have developed two drugs that can build muscle tone in mice without exercise. While such an advance may inspire dreams of a "couch potato pill," the article mostly talks about other medical uses, should the drugs prove safe and effective in humans. The doctor in charge of the research is working with sports authorities to develop a test to detect the drugs in athletes. "Researchers at the Salk Institute in San Diego reported that they had found two drugs that did wonders for the athletic endurance of couch potato mice. One drug, known as Aicar, increased the mice's endurance on a treadmill by 44 percent after just four weeks of treatment. A second drug, GW1516, supercharged the mice to a 75 percent increase in endurance but had to be combined with exercise to have any effect. 'It's a little bit like a free lunch without the calories,' said Dr. Ronald M. Evans, leader of the Salk group."
Nerd Decisions... (Score:5, Funny)
Stand in line for a pill to make me muscular, or stand in line for the new iPhone?
At least the iPhone won't leave me as soon as I talk.
But...? (Score:3, Funny)
How Much Does the Pill Weigh? (Score:5, Funny)
How much does the pill weigh? You can damn well bet I am not going to move my hand to pick up more than 8-10 grams.
Re:Nerd Decisions... (Score:5, Funny)
Take the pill, and then beat up a nerd who bought the new iPhone and steal it.
Or don't get the new iPhone at all. Who needs that thing?
Re:How Much Does the Pill Weigh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The heart muscle? (Score:3, Funny)
Wow! (Score:5, Funny)
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Never in history has there ever been a better time to be a mouse!
Uh oh (Score:5, Funny)
Re:But...? (Score:5, Funny)
Don't you ever look at your email? The answer should be obvious.
Re:Better Living Through Chemistry (Score:5, Funny)
Thing is, steroids aren't exactly without side effects. Forcing every MLB player to take steroids isn't a good solution. (But, you still haven't solved your problem - how are you going to force every player to take the same AMOUNT of the required steroids?)
That said, Bruce Banner did this, like, a million years ago. Changes user color to green. Incompatible with mood stabilizers. Lame.
Give me my smart pill (Score:5, Funny)
I want a pill that will improve critical thinking skills! And logical reasoning ability!
And while we are at it, lets make it inhance one's capacity for impartial objectivity when making important decisions.
I would spend my entire life savings on this stuff just to dump it in my city's tap water.
One can dream...
hmmm (Score:1, Funny)
'It's a little bit like a free lunch without the calories'
Isn't that a bit like. . . no lunch at all?
Re:Universal Soldier anyone ? (Score:5, Funny)
How about "universal soldier MICE"?!?! Have you not seen all the wonder drugs made for mice? The world, fooled by the tiny size of mice, have overlooked all the scientific breakthroughs in the field of "super mice enhancement". Everything from "mental performance enhances", "cancer curing medicine" and now "muscle building drugs"... The days of humans are number. Fuck Asimov, Mice dont follow no rules.
Can we please get a tag called "supermice"?
Re:How Much Does the Pill Weigh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Uh oh (Score:4, Funny)
Re:How Much Does the Pill Weigh? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Nerd Decisions... (Score:5, Funny)
Agreed. I'm not standing in line for a phone until Microsoft makes one. Then I might, though, because MS products are 1337. Or at least better than their Apple counterparts. Microsoft only needed 2 generations to make a Zune MP3 player that is better and has more features than a 7th generation iPod.
Re:Better Living Through Chemistry (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Pill would save lives. (Score:2, Funny)
100,000, eventually.
Re:But...? (Score:3, Funny)
There's a pharmacy here in Springfield that delivers. Now, how to get the front door open for them to hand it to you is another problem entirely.
Re:Wow! (Score:3, Funny)
I found a photograph [wrensnestonline.com] of one of the mice used in this study.
Re:so .... (Score:3, Funny)
Your server got slashdotted again, Rick? better buy more gerbil wheels for that generator!
Re:How Much Does the Pill Weigh? (Score:1, Funny)
Richard Gere? Is that you?
Re:How Much Does the Pill Weigh? (Score:3, Funny)
"Before we sit down for the Lord of the Rings marathon, you've all taken your couch potato pills, right?"
"Yes! Stop asking!"
Re:Pill would save lives. (Score:2, Funny)
There are quite a few people who cannot exorcise.
Your mother runs on the treadmills in Hell, Karras!