Many folks believe that if you can kill or otherwise inactivate cancer stem cells, you’ve gone a long way to curing many types of cancer. However the cells have remained elusive. Now, Mick Bhatia’s lab has found that the antipsychotic drug, Thioridazine, has activity against cancer stem cells. The work, published in Cell (read paper […]
Some folks say that paper, hard copy journals are going to become obsolete. But they are still accumulating in science labs, offices, and corridors are a rapid pace. So what do we do with all of them? I’m not talking about recycling them, but some other more creative uses such as… 1. Build a maze
Humor in science: Uses for old hard copy paper science journals Read More »
The number of stem cell clinics both in the U.S. and around the world continues to accelerate. There are in fact so many clinics that it would be difficult to keep track of them all. As a way of simply dipping one’s toe in the water of the ocean of clinics, I did a “stem
Lessons from Google Ads for Stem Cell Clinics in May 2012 Read More »
Yesterday I did an interview with the President of ICMS and then today I did a follow-up post providing my recommendations to them publicly on how they should move forward. Why did I do this? Or to paraphrase a stem cell scientist who just now let me have it: “Why the #*@#$&^# did you do
Why did I have a dialogue with ICMS? Read More »
The Catholic Church, particularly the Vatican, has a bit of a split personality when it comes to stem cells and other “controversial issues” such as assisted reproduction and contraception. Officially, they oppose these things, but behind the scenes most everyday ordinary Catholics support them. This divide has become all the more apparent in the last
Vatican’s doomed stem cell meeting still haunting them Read More »
Wait, what’s that taboo elephant doing in the IPS cell lab? You don’t see it? I’m starting a new series called “The Elephant in the Lab” where I discuss controversial laboratory topics that people are usually too afraid to publicly discuss. We are starting with iPS cells. (for a description and definition of iPS cells
Taboo topics about iPS cells: the elephant in the lab series Read More »
I’m discussing the seamier side of science in a seven part series on what I call scientific sinning, including science hype. The first three pieces in this series covered Failure to Cite, Paper or grant killing and a Need for Speed. Today we talk about how bad it can get when scientists hype their work and I’m going
Seven Sins of Scientists Part 4: science hype Read More »
Earlier this year, Dr “LookGood” aka Dr. Steven Victor, cosmetic surgeon to the stars, received a warning letter from the FDA over how his clinic was handling stem cell-related procedures. The FDA listed 16 issues as problems. On April 20, Dr. Thomas E. Young of Young Medical Spa in Pennsylvania also received an FDA warning
Have we crossed the tipping point to stem cell disaster? Read More »
I have a Plumeria plant in my office in my lab and when I came in today (Monday), I found the Plumeria in bloom and giving off a very beautiful scent reminiscent of Hawaii. (update: note you may enjoy my “Scientist in the Garden” series). Wow! Holy cow, how did that happen? Ok, back up.
Tips to get an indoor Plumeria to bloom Read More »
Some scientists do really rotten things, a topic I’m exploring in a seven part series on what I call scientific sinning. I started my series on the sins of scientists a few weeks ago with a piece called “Failure to Cite”. “Failure to cite” refers to the practice whereby some scientists choose not to cite the papers
Seven sins of scientists part 3: a need for speed Read More »