Even though the economy is slow, Visa goes through with its IPO (it rhymes)

Visa hopes to raise as much as $17 billion during its initial public offering. This would beat AT&T's IPO, which raised $10.6 billion in 2000. Check out the details here.

More Americans Change Faiths

Fact of the day: "More than a quarter of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion or no religion."

Read the article here.

Best Science Fair Pictures

"Animal Magnetism"
"Crystal Meth: Friend or Foe?"See more Gawker Science Fair pictures here.

Clarification: Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) is a completely different country from Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).

One more fact of the day: Zaire is the former name of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Virgin Birth

Something highly unusual has happened in Kansas. A Komodo dragon is pregnant, even though she has had no male of the species in close proximity for over a decade. According to the NY Times, "it appears that these lizards sometimes use a form of virgin birth in which eggs hatch without conception. The embryos are genetic clones of the mother."

Read the story here.

"Insurance Fears Lead Many to Shun DNA Tests"

The fear of genetic discrimination has caused many Americans to avoid DNA tests that could reveal hereditary diseases. Many Americans are seeking private DNA tests, and pay a premium so their employers, doctors, and insurers do not receive the results. People fear disclosing too much about their genetic make-up, because they may lose their health insurance, or even a job.

This argument would make a strong case for universal health care. Check out the article here.

Low-calorie sweeteners may make you fat?

A study at Purdue University found that animals that ate foods with artificial sweeteners ended up eating more calories than animals that ate foods with natural sugar. Check out the entire article here -- oh the irony.