Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006

Numbers

195 Deceased people whose ashes will be shot into space in rockets this spring, including James Doohan, who played Scotty on Star Trek

$5,300 Highest price charged by Space Services Inc. for the trip--less than the average terrestrial funeral costs

1 in 146 million Odds of winning last week's record $365 million Powerball lottery

$15.5 million After-tax jackpot for each of the eight holders of the winning ticket--all meatpacking-plant workers

11% Portion of Americans who believe sexual orientation is a "conscious choice"

60% Portion of U.S. women who believe sexual orientation is innate, vs. 39% of men

70% Plunge in Italy's poultry sales since Feb. 11 amid fears of avian flu

46% Percentage of American poultry eaters who say they would stop eating fowl if bird flu hit the U.S.

Sources: Space Services Inc. (2); Multi-State Lottery Association (2); Scientific American Mind Survey (2); AFP; Harvard Public School of Health