I spend some hours each week reading and thinking about the recent scientific literature and I’m sure many of you do the same thing, but do we gravitate towards hyped “holy crap” papers? Every so often, a new paper erupts on the scene. It makes a big splash with a flashy entrance that captures people’s …
The ‘Holy Crap’ Effect: Reflecting on Big Splash Papers Read More »
There’s a tremendous buzz about STAP cells (see more here and here). The buzz runs the gamut from true believers to complete non-believers and everything in between. What do you think? Take our poll below.
The STAP papers on making iPS like cells using acid treatment of differentiated cells really has people talking. See embryo at right made from GFP reporter STAP cells that glow green. As I said in my review of the papers yesterday, there are still some critical things we do not know about STAP cells and I …
More thoughts from STAP acid reprogramming stem cell paper Read More »
Turns out the show on stem cells that I and some others in the stem cell field will be on with Stephen Hawking that is airing next Monday, February 3rd, on the Science Channel is called “Stem Cell Universe with Stephen Hawking” (scroll down in this linked page to near the bottom as of Jan. 29 …
Stem Cell Universe with Stephen Hawking: TV show graphic and link Read More »
In two Nature papers (here and here) published today researchers report the astounding finding of reprogramming differentiated cells back to a pluripotent or even totipotent state simply by exposing the cells to extreme environmental stress, creating cells they called STAP cells. Update: see more thoughts on STAP stem cells here. STAP cells: stressing the cell …
Tonight, President Obama will give his “State of the Union” annual address on how our country is doing. I’m guessing he will say the state of the union is positive, but with challenges. What is the state of the union for stem cells in America today? Overall I think it’s extremely encouraging and the field …
In the summer of 2013, the producer and crew of the Discovery Channel’s Through the Wormhole filmed two times at my house for a special episode on stem cells. I think it’s going to be a great show. The stem cell episode will first air on the Science/Discovery Channel on Feb. 3 (check your local listings …
Exciting Being on Upcoming ‘Through the Wormhole’ Stem Cells Episode Read More »
A robot has joined our household. Wait, what? By way of disclosure, we didn’t exactly choose to have the robot join our household nor did the robot choose on its own like some kind of terminator barging into the place. Rather, my mom gave it to us as a gift. No it’s not quite like …
Stem cell biotech, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT; stock symbol ACTC), has started off 2014 with indications that it is in a phase of rapid evolution. Some changes, such as today’s announced departure of now former CEO Gary Rabin (see my 2013 interview with him here), are already in the public domain, but other big developments …
Big Changes Unfolding at Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC) Read More »
So what’s going to happen in today’s NFC Championship game between the Seahawks and 49ers. As someone who lives in Davis, CA just about an hour from San Francisco, you might think I’d be a 49ers fan. However, I grew up in Seattle, spent many hours in the Kingdome, and I am in fact a …