Wesley J. Smith

A reader sent a funny old story to me from Modern Mechanix (“Yesterday’s Tomorrow, Today”), circa 1956. The article is about transhumanism, long before the term was coined, and it ponders some of the ways that science might “redesign” the human body. Here’s an . . . . Continue Reading »

An article about a pending speech by Peter Singer in the Phoenix Times demonstrates once again that some of the best journalism and commentary can be found in the alternative press. From the story, byline Sarah Fenske:In his 1985 book Should the Baby Live? The Problem of Handicapped Infants, the . . . . Continue Reading »

The country that has brought the concept of “plant dignity” to the world has now extended “rights” to members of “social species.” animals. From the story: Under a new Swiss law enshrining rights for animals, dog owners will require a qualification, anglers will . . . . Continue Reading »

Some time ago, I charged Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology with having “betrayed science.” Recently, at his initiative, we have been in communication and have cleared some of the bad air that lay between ourselves. While we do not agree on ethical matters, I think it is fair to . . . . Continue Reading »

SHS continues to its slow, but satisfyingly steady growth. We just passed 30,000 visitors in the last 30 days. That is thanks to you all. My deep appreciation for your support and participation, for sending me stories you think will be of interest, and for your comments. Thank . . . . Continue Reading »

I reported a few days ago here at SHS about how an ethics committee in Switzerland expounded on what could be called the rights of plants. Now Nature has weighed in about the ridiculous matter of “plant dignity,” worrying that it could impede biology. From the editorial:The Swiss federal . . . . Continue Reading »

This shouldn’t be necessary—and it isn’t enough—but the Animal Liberation Front and others have been enjoined from coming within 50 feet or researchers’ homes and from otherwise intimidating and harassing them. Of course, that will make no difference to the fanatics. . . . . Continue Reading »

I submit, it is my hypothesis, that medicine is devolving from a profession with firm standards of excellence and ethics, into a technocracy—still possessing excellence—but with a very fluid concept of ethics. Case in point: A law that would require “good moral character” as . . . . Continue Reading »

Ian Wilmut was an enthusiastic human cloner, and indeed, had obtained a license from the never-say-no UK Embryo Authority to create cloned embryos from the DNA of motor neuron disease patients, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease in the USA. Then Shinya Yamanaka invented Induced Pluripotent . . . . Continue Reading »

As I keep saying, most biotechnology is not controversial. This is amazing: Scientists have restored site with a bionic eye. From the story:Surgeons have carried out the first operations in Britain using a pioneering “bionic eye” that could in future help to restore blind people’s . . . . Continue Reading »