A big proof of principle advance has been announced on the IPSC front. Human brain cells have been reverted to an embryonic-like state with drugs—and without using any cancer-causing gene, reducing the need for virus vectors. From the story: A major advance in transforming one kind of cell . . . . Continue Reading »
I have reported on the Canadian futile care lawsuit involving Samuel Golubchuck here at SHS previously. For those who may not recall, Golubchuck is a terminally ill elderly patient being treated in a Winnipeg hospital’s ICU. Doctors want to refuse life-sustaining treatment. The . . . . Continue Reading »
The title of the article says it all. Daniel Allott in an article from the American Spectator , now reproduced on the Wall Street Journal’s opinion pagehighlights Barack Obama’s position on abortion by interviewing someone Obama would have rather seen dead: According to . . . . Continue Reading »
That seems to be what Forbes magazine is after in this interview with stem-cell scientist extraordinaire James Thomson. BioEdge highlights these excerpts from Thomson: ? “I do think there will be some niches where transplantation is important, but I think people are grossly underestimating . . . . Continue Reading »
Having previously noted the techno-/theo- logical dream of transcending death through science, I’m almost pleased to note that some futurists are now throwing cold water on the idea of The Singularity. (That’s the moment when AI surpasses human intelligence, Skynet becomes self-aware, . . . . Continue Reading »
I admire James Thomson, the scientist who first derived human embryonic stem cells and helped push the IPSC “lead into gold” breakthrough into human application. As most of the Science Establishment has outrageously hyped the potential of using ESCs for CURES! CURES! CURES!, Thomson has . . . . Continue Reading »
This morning, a two-page advertisement against same-sex marriage appeared in the New York Times , the Los Angeles Times , and the Washington Times . Purchased by an organization called “Tradition, Family, Property,” the ad is text heavy, putting an argument about the orgins and results . . . . Continue Reading »
Oh, and Nathaniel , if you think Canada is bad, did you see what’s up at Yale? Here’s a bit from Michael Gerson’s column in yesterday’s Washington Post : The American kickoff of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation last week unintentionally revealed the mountain of . . . . Continue Reading »
According to Canada’s National Post , the student union at York University has decided to table its proposed ban on student clubs that oppose abortion. Gilary Massa, vice-president external of the York Federation of Students, said student clubs will be free to discuss abortion in student . . . . Continue Reading »
I read this NYT op/ed by Columbia physics professor Brian Greene whilst flying home from Europe in the Herald Tribune. On its face, Greene seems to be promoting better science education both in schools and among the general public. But it struck me that his underlying message is that science should . . . . Continue Reading »