These days when we think of the words “scientific” and “sin”, we might conjure up an image of a stem cell scientist being called a sinner by extremist anti-stem cell activists. As you know, I think that is bogus. In this article that’s not the kind of scientific sin I’m talking about. Rather, I’m talking […]
Seven sins of scientists: starting with failure to cite Read More »
Each month or so, the leadership of CIRM, also know as the Board or the ICOC, meets to discuss CIRM issues of business, policies, grants, and so forth. Today the ICOC is having such a meeting here in Sacramento and I went to half the meeting. I would have gone to the whole thing, but
What’s it like inside of a CIRM Board meeting? Impressive! Read More »
I recently did a post on the top 10 cancer myths out there and got some great feedback including some readers pointing out additional important myths. Here are some additional cancer myths. 1) The government and/or big pharma have cures for cancer, but they are hiding them from us so they can make more money
More cancer myths including some biggies Read More »
Is trying to clone a woolly mammoth all just science hype? Hype is a bad thing and it hurts science in major ways. Hype channels resources away from valuable scientific pursuits and flushes them down the toilet. Hype makes people have unrealistic expectations so they end up disappointed by even very important science if it
Cloning the mammoth: more than science hype? Read More »
It seems like a lot of my blogs have the word “baldness” in them, huh? The latest post today is on the apparent inverse correlation between baldness and pediatric cancer, not using stem cells to try to treat baldness. You might be scratching your head (bald or not) at this point. The connection is
How baldness can prevent kids cancer? Read More »
Cancer invokes powerful feelings so it is not surprising that there are a lot of harmful myths and urban legends out there about it. As a cancer researcher and cancer survivor, I can see it from both the biomedical research side and the patient side. Here’s my top 10 list of myths & legends about
Harmful cancer myths & urban legends Read More »
What’s wrong with Romney? Romney is quoted today as saying it would take an “act of God” for him to lose the GOP nomination. A miracle, I guess? Perhaps, but I say that if he is the GOP nominee it would take a miracle for him to beat Obama. Last night Mitt Romney, the GOP
What’s wrong with Romney? Read More »
How many hours a week should science trainees (postdocs and graduate students) work per week? I raised this question in a poll recently (you can still vote here) and a big turnout. The results are above. The results are interesting. Nobody thought trainees should work less than 40 hours a week. Only 11% felt that
Surprising results of our hours per week poll for science trainees Read More »
Thousands of kids in America get cancer each year and need our help. One of the best organizations in the world, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, is dedicated to helping these kids. This is a wonderful foundation! St. Baldrick’s describes itself as “a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers
Make a difference for kids through St. Baldrick’s Read More »
Biomedical science is all about data, discoveries, brainstorming, and ultimately making a difference in patients’ lives, right? Isn’t it true? Well, hmmm….. I wish that were true and maybe at some point in the past it was true. Nowadays there is a different reality. The black hole at the center of most biomedical scientists’ universes
The black hole: grants eat up most of scientists’ lives Read More »