Search Results for: garden

Sunflower in winter, fungi, & other weekend garden musings

Sunflower-in-winter

It’s not technically winter, but it sure feels like it. Cold, rain, and darkness are here as the winter solstice approaches in less than two weeks. Imagine my surprise then to find a sunflower blooming in my Davis, CA garden along with my winter crops of beets, carrots, peas, cilantro, etc. You can see my …

Sunflower in winter, fungi, & other weekend garden musings Read More »

Reviews of P shot & O shot stabs at sexual enhancement

Something called a P shot has sparked interest from some men interested in high-risk attempts at enhancement. The goal of today’s review post is to fact-check P shots. They’re sold for supposed penis enhancement or to address erectile dysfunction (ED). I’ll also fact-check so-called O shot stabs at vaginal rejuvenation or enhancement. These are both …

Reviews of P shot & O shot stabs at sexual enhancement Read More »

Weekly stem cell reads: parabiosis, UC Davis trial, HeLa lawsuit, gray hair

Parabiosis, anti-aging

Parabiosis refers to the joining together of two animals, typically rodents in research. They become one interconnected living system that shares blood. Research on mouse parabiosis has sparked much interest in anti-aging therapies. These might utilize “young” materials to help older people. Our first recommended read is a parabiosis paper. Before we jump into that, …

Weekly stem cell reads: parabiosis, UC Davis trial, HeLa lawsuit, gray hair Read More »

Weekly reads: escape to New York, CRISPR baby patents, ISSCR guidelines, pubs

the high line in manhattan

My to-read list this weekend includes a range of papers along with various news & media including a report of two US research groups aiming to get CRISPR baby patents. More on that below. At long last a trip + fun thing to do in NYC Last week I took my first trip in more …

Weekly reads: escape to New York, CRISPR baby patents, ISSCR guidelines, pubs Read More »

Scientists try not to lose it with their labs shut by the pandemic

light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel

How can we scientists find ways to keep doing our research during the COVID19 pandemic even if it has nothing to do with the coronavirus? Also, how should those of us involved in science communication talk about the outbreak? At a more basic level, how can scientists try not to go bonkers during this dark …

Scientists try not to lose it with their labs shut by the pandemic Read More »

Recent stem cell news: vision, brain organoids, & lab meat

human-corneal-anatomy2

365 days a year, 24 hours a day stem cells are growing in labs around the world, providing a never-ending stream of data and products, with real hope, good news, and lots of surprises. You can see some past examples of good news in the stem cell and regenerative medicine field highlighted on The Niche here. …

Recent stem cell news: vision, brain organoids, & lab meat Read More »

Helpful tomato tips for growing great ones

unusual-tomatoes

Looking for some tomato tips? I do sometimes escape the lab into the outside world and once out of there I can often be found in my vegetable garden  looking after my tomatoes. I’ve written many times here on The Niche about gardening including tomatoes and have an occasional series “Scientist in the Garden.” After …

Helpful tomato tips for growing great ones Read More »

Who let the frogs out & why do they sit on my tomatoes?

Frog-on-purple-tomato

I don’t study frogs, but they’ve sure been studying bugs in my garden this year. Every so often and more frequently in summer I post about experiences as a scientist in the garden. As long-time readers know, I’m a bit obsessed with growing tomatoes. You can see past posts on tomatoes and tips on how …

Who let the frogs out & why do they sit on my tomatoes? Read More »