Sorry, You’re All Flawed People often want to know the causes of their illnesses. They often hear the phrase “it’s genetics.” The answer provokes little solace and some fear. Aid is provided in the sense there is “an explanation.” But an explanation that speaks to innate, uncontrollable flaws? What will happen to me next, people […]
Dining Out For 100 Trillion (1/2/13)
An Important Six Pounds of You They don’t vote, but they sure make their voices heard. They are legion, but small. They change most aspects of your daily life. But you hardly notice them, rarely show respect, and virtually never give them deserved credit. As a minority group that lives within your extraordinarily diverse ecosystem, […]
Sugar Coating Aspirin (12/18/12)
Aspirin Resistance? Aspirin is back in the news. Recently the science of “aspirin resistance” has taken a big knock. And once again calls for “aspirin for everyone” – at least everyone middle aged – are being pushed as “the” heart disease and cancer preventive. What we really learn from these debates is what runs the […]
Losing Virility? The Strange Science of Sperm Counts (12/12/12)
The French Fuss Authorized by the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertes , a group of French researchers reported in Human Reproduction a decrease by about a third of French sperm count over the period 1989-2005. According to these records the average count decreased from 73.6 million for milliliter to 49.9 million over 17 […]
Different Brains (12/11/12)
Different Ways of Thinking Different people, different brains. But as George Orwell might have said, some brains are “more” different than others. People with “mental illness” or “learning disabilities” like dyslexia often experience lifelong reproach, ostracism and discrimination. Tell an employer you are “bipolar” and you may lose that job. No matter what your capacities […]