Stem cell cosmetics is an exploding area ranging from facial creams (e.g. from L’Oreal and its Lancome) to face lifts to boob jobs to baldness treatments (see two key posts here and here for background and great stories). The stem cell cosmetics field has not been held back by issues such as the fact that […]
L’Oreal Lancome gets hammered by FDA, why kid gloves for clinics? Read More »
The notion of caloric restriction (CR) as a means to prolong human life is intriguing. The basic idea of CR is that if you eat a lot less than the average person you’ll live longer. You might even live a higher quality, healthier life. But is this true? (update: see my newer post on 5
Caloric restriction: dieting monkeys teach human scientists? Read More »
All science, whether biology or physics, whether microscopic or at the solar system level, is about experiments. Sometimes we as a society forget that. In fact, experiments are at the heart of investigations as diverse as studying cells to exploring space to medical treatments. For NASA, the last week has been a tale of two
NASA’s wickedly up & down week: broader lessons about science & medicine Read More »
What would a Romney victory mean for MS patients? Not good news I believe. As we’ve sort of, kinda gotten to know the Romney’s as potential President and First Lady, we’ve all learned some interesting things about them. I, for one, do not feel as though I know them very well still. Like many Americans,
Why a Romney victory would equal a big defeat for MS patients Read More »
I’m discussing the seamier side of science in a seven part series on what I call scientific sinning or the “seven sins of scientists”. The first four pieces in this series really stoked a great deal of interest and debate, covering Failure to Cite, Paper or grant killing, Need for Speed, and hype. Today in the fifth installment
Seven sins of scientists part 5: snobbery Read More »
What scares scientists? What fears keep them up at night worrying? What makes them scream (if only in their heads)? As part of my elephant in the lab series tackling difficult but important topics for scientists, today I am talking fear! Earlier posts in this series included taboo topics about iPS cells, the dirty dozen
Fears of academic scientists: elephant in the lab series Read More »
Open access publishing is getting a lot of attention. Taxpayer supported government grants + scientists’ work = closed access publisher profits (derived from payments from taxpayers + scientists) This simple equation embodies all that is wrong with today’s predominant system of publishing. In fact, it is an indictment of closed access publishers. The profits of
The case for open access publishing embodied in a single equation Read More »
Here is the scientist’s guide to insulting other scientists. Strap in.Scientists have special ways of using words to insult each other and believe me it can be vicious even if almost uninterpretable to those not fluent in that language. These insults are sometimes brutal or fatal career-wise, but also sometimes ironic and telling of our
The scientist’s guide to insulting other scientists Read More »
Regenerative Sciences, Inc. just announced in a press release (PR) that John C. Malone (pictured above in their PR), Ph.D. has “joined the Regenexx Team”. Malone has infused the restive stem cell company with millions in cash. Regenerative Sciences is the adult stem cell company run by Dr. Chris Centeno of the Centeno/Schultz Clinic that is locked in
It is currently legal for the federal government in the U.S. to fund human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. However, that funding is in serious jeopardy. Someone today described it to me as “hanging by a thread”. A 3-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court is currently holding arguments on whether such funding should be
How will Federal Court Rule on Funding of hESC research? Take our poll Read More »