The grisly details drew mainly local attention. But after an online furor that the case was being ignored by the national news media because of troubling accounts of late-term abortions, reporters from major newspapers and television networks descended Monday on the Court of Common Pleas. (New York Times)

A significant High Court ruling means the media can report part of a landmark family law action about whether the genetic parents of two small children born to a surrogate mother may be listed as the children’s parents on their birth certificates. (Irish Times)

The media can have a significant influence on the public image of science and technology, in the specific case nanotechnology. This is true in particular if only a small percentage of the population only comes directly into contact with such fields of research. (Nanowerk)

“Good Morning America” cameras were there last week when co-host Robin Roberts underwent a bone marrow transplant. So were her colleagues Diane Sawyer and Sam Champion, wearing surgical masks and singing songs of encouragement. All of it was on the next day’s show, along with a detailed interview with Roberts’ doctor. (Washington Post)

New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 364, Issue 21, May 26, 2011) is now available on-line and by subscription only.

Articles include:

• “Are We Making Progress in Maternal Mortality?” by A. Paxton and T. Wardlaw, 1990-1993.

• “Reforming Medicare by Reforming Incentives” by A. C. Enthoven, available on-line.

*They’ve been busy as video curators over at Vienna’s “Synthetic Biology Science, Art and Film Festival.” *There are literally dozens of these remarkable efforts — and they invite you to spend all day rating them. http://bio-fiction.com/videos/

Biotech-labs around the world are busy in the field of Synthetic Biology – a new approach to engineer “life” and living systems. Synthetic biology aims at applying engineering principles to biology. The DNA of an organism is no longer manipulated, but programmed on a computer and built up from scratch. Bio:Fiction is the Synthetic Biology Science, Art and Film Festival, taking place at the Museum of Natural History in Vienna, Austria from 13-14th of May 2011. The Bio:Fiction festival provides information and dialogue about synthetic biology in an attractive, factual and entertaining way. (Wired)

Designing new genomes could speed the creation of vaccines and biofuel-producing bacteria. (MIT Technology Review)

Video - Dr. Karen Boyle discusses embryo splits in IVF procedures.  (ABC News)

A new ad lampoons these anti-abortion initiatives by interpreting them literally. (Salon)

(FLYP)

Inside a family’s decision to let their son live, if only for a brief time.

Scientists are placing adult stem cells on contact lenses, placing them on patients eyes and they’re seeing (no pun intended) dramatic improvements within weeks!

Dr. Oz explains to Oprah and Michael J. Fox why embryonic stem cell research is dangerous and won’t cure Parkinson’s, but Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell research will!