papers to grade

In my large class for freshman engineers I give a choice of assigned topics for a short argument paper (the topics change every year). It is always intereresting to see what topics the students choose. This year order of preference was:
life extension
the future of the space shuttle
impact of genetic engineering on farmers
viruses and worms on the internet
electronic publishing of textbooks (only one paper on this topic)
Their preferences suggest a romantic view of technology, where I expected them to be interested in topics that affect them most directly.