narcotics
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US charges CEO of company selling encrypted devices to drug traffickers
The US Department of Justice has charged two individuals associated with encrypted phone software maker Sky Global, including the company's CEO, for allegedly facilitating global drug trafficking organizations.
Snail venom provides a new way to treat chronic pain
The Conus regius' venom is bad news for its prey, and it's been proven harmful to humans as well. For instance, a 2009 clinical case describes a diver who had trouble moving his arm for 12 hours after an attack. However, scientists from the University of Utah see hope in the ocean dweller's powerful venom. In fact, research suggests it could be used to develop a new treatment for chronic pain.
Massive meta-study confirms the health benefits of cannabis
After digging through more than 10,000 separate clinical studies, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine on Thursday issued a groundbreaking, 400-page report on the potential benefits and detriments posed by cannabis use. The biggest revelation: cannabis has verifiable medicinal uses, which are backed by large amounts of high-quality science. This could spell the end for weed's categorization as a Schedule I narcotic.
Scientists close to brewing morphine (or heroin) from sugar
Sugar is basically ubiquitous and it looks like it could be used to make morphine, which is a refined form of heroin. Recent research shows that a genetically modified strain of yeast, when exposed to sugar, could be used to ferment the opioid. Yes, essentially, you could homebrew your own scag. I know what you're thinking: "This sounds like madness." But there's some proof behind it. Researchers from the University of California Berkeley and Concordia University in Canada presented an almost complete means to turn glucose to morphine, while scientists from the University of Calgary supplied the missing piece that completes the process. The idea wasn't to flood the streets with home-made heroin. No, the plan is much more noble than that: to produce "cheaper, less addictive, safer and more-effective" painkillers, according to Nature.
Saints Row IV loses 'alien narcotics' mission to gain approval in Australia
We knew the Australian Classification Board had fundamental objections to Saints Row IV. What we didn't know, however, was that these sticking points boiled down to just a single 20-minute side mission, in which the player gained superpowers by smoking "alien narcotics" with a character called Shaundi. That mission has now been exorcised, microwaved and buried in a sanitary disposal tank somewhere in the outback. According to Eurogamer, the only other change to the Australian version of Saints Row IV is the removal of a weapon called the Rectifier, which the censors were too anal to appreciate, but which will still be available to players as DLC. Meanwhile, we're taking bets on how long it'll be before the full, uncut title hits shelves Down Under as a premium box set.
The Daily Grind: Do narcotics belong in MMOs?
Be it a sci-fi cantina or a fantasy tavern, your MMO's local watering hole no doubt offers a very specific sort of drug: alcohol. But you might have noticed that non-alcoholic drugs aren't usually given the same chance to virtually corrupt you as do more comfortable vices like extreme violence, gore, thievery, and physics-defying cleavage. Immersion-centric players might argue that narcotics add to the gritty realism of many game worlds and aren't really different from other mind-and-body-altering substances like booze, but developers seem wary of wading into that territory. Star Wars Galaxies, for example, launched with canon-correct spice (complete with "downer" effects) but ended spice production with the NGE. And Lord of the Rings Online implemented Tolkien's famous pipeweed but has resisted bestowing beneficial effects on those who smoke it, probably for fear of encouraging "bad" behavior, triggering political drama, or jeopardizing its age rating. What do you think -- do narcotics belong in MMOs? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
One Shots: Naught for nice
Yesterday's One Shots gave us a look at land pirates, but today we thought we'd look towards the skies for a peek into the underworld that EVE Online has to offer. This spectacular behind-the-scenes shot is of a part of New Eden that some may not have had a chance to see. We'll let today's contributor, Lady Straun, tell you more about it: Whilst everyone may be all aflutter over the new ways to get your inner OG on in CrimeCraft or Borderlands, Lady Straun and the rest of her crew have been hijacking cargo, ransoming hapless pilots and engaging in general mayhem over in the EVE Online universe for quite some time now. Why, you can even find your pick of illicit goods readily available and conveniently advertised in a wonderful neon glow...From big to small, we want your MMO screenshots! All you have to do to contribute is mail them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post them out here for everyone to check out and give you the credit! Couldn't be easier.%Gallery-9798%
