Here is a patient guide to stem cells with the key factual things you need to know. For better or worse, I am in the unique position of being a stem cell scientist and also a patient since I had cancer 2 years ago. Looking on the bright side this gives me a unique perspective …
How should we all handle cyber safety issues? Could someone be stealing your work-related or personal data while you travel? If you have recently traveled outside the U.S., particularly to China or Russia, I have bad news for you because you may have already been hacked. Check out this article in the NY Times about how dangerous …
My family is excited about the Grammys. Some members like the Oscars. We are not so into the Tonys, but millions of Americans are into them. We need an awards ceremony, maybe even a show for scientists. Scientists will never be the stars that artistic performers are, but it is sad and arguably a sign …
We need an annual American awards ceremony for scientists Read More »
If you care about contraception, you need to understand stem cells. And if you care about stem cells you should know more about birth control. Why? There is a big media to-do about federal guidelines related to health care organizations providing birth control. President Obama has gotten into the fray and in fact just today …
What do stem cells have to do with contraception? Read More »
They say politics makes strange bedfellows….remember the Witherspoon Council? These are the fellows who are the BFFs of the two scientists suing to stop federal funding of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. They also wrote a large, very stodgy tome about stem cell research, in which they mentioned me and this blog…kinda implying we …
How sure are you that your last paper was right? Could you be wrong about something big even though you are sure you are right? The reality is that there’s a bigger chance than you think that you are totally wrong about many things, especially those you are most sure that you are right about. …
Humbling lessons from the Umbrella Man about science Read More »
Does the Planned Parenthood icon at left send chills down your spine, because according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and most Republican Leaders, it should scare you greatly. An opinion piece today in the WSJ provides an extreme perspective on the debacle in which the Komen Foundation last week dropped support for Planned Parenthood, …
Refuting the WSJ’s propaganda piece on Planned Parenthood Read More »
Interestingly, the Komen Foundation appears open to funding human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. The latest report from Science includes a quote from Komen that denies any changes in funding policy for research and suggests they have not ruled out funding such research: Contrary to circulating online reports, Komen has not “de-funded” any grantee based on human embryonic stem …
Komen Foundation open to funding human embryonic stem cell research Read More »
The use of stem cells for cosmetics and cosmetic procedures is exploding even while many important questions remain. How legitimate are these stem cell cosmetic products and procedures? Are they safe and effective? What kinds of medical conditions are they being used to treat? I also recently did a post on another area of medicine …
Birds can amazing creatures. Around noon today I was down in the Mt. Diablo, CA area for one of my daughter’s soccer games. The soccer field was in the hills and effortlessly soaring above the field for much of the game was the bird whose picture is above. The wingspan looked to be about 6 …
How can a vulture or other birds be so majestic? Read More »