June came and went. I noted its passing briefly on the 1st of July. When I look back in later years, I will find a large hole in my life where Science erased1 June2. 1 Please note segue. Thank you. 2 Would be funny if my name were June.
One minor quibble about the latest thing-that-used-to-be-thought-of-as-bad-for-you is actually good for you report. Since I can’t find the abstract online, the following quote will have to do: A pint of the black stuff a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks. Drinking lager […]
Sometimes I wonder where the breakdown in communication between scientists and journalists lies. In this article about a recent study on a DNA damage checkpoint enzyme, the Beeb describes the study as such: Research into how the human body repairs damaged DNA has been described as a “major breakthrough”. The way that cells protect themselves […]
All the elements of a good article: a horror story, some recent headway into the problem and written in plain English, albeit with the occasional technobabble. Plain english synopsis here.
What the great one says, with research substituted for writing. You don’t live there always when you write. Mostly it’s a long hard walk. Sometimes it’s a trudge through fog and you’re scared you’ve lost your way and can’t remember why you set out in the first place. But sometimes you fly, and that pays […]
Walking the dog a couple of nights ago, we passed a sign1 that made me smile. And I just couldn’t resist using it. So there. The damage is done. Tell me if I should undo it. 1 I’d like to credit the corny genius behind the sign-tist chain of sign shops for this.
While we’re blathering about science, the recent award of a Nobel prize to Mario Capecchi, Martin Evans and Oliver Smithies made me remember how much I used to curse their blasted brains during the PhD years. You guys deserve a Nobel prize for making 3 years of my nascent scientific life hell. Then again, without […]
I’ve been thinking about the future1, my place in it, and my place in scientific research. Having bored myself silly with self-centeredness, I looked further afield. Back in July2, Professor Greenfield was deploring the lack of female scientists in the higher echelons of her profession. She makes a few fair points, but, as can only […]
BBC picks up on the hot jet-lag study of the day: Sildenafil accelerates reentrainment of circadian rhythms after advancing light schedules, PNAS U S A, 2007. Some initial thoughts: It’s not so much that Viagra, saviour of many a marriage, is the new wonder-drug that will eradicate jet-lag a la melatonin, but that it works […]
Further kick in teeth: I am, as of yesterday, not an official employee of the university. My contract expired, and I fell through the cracks. I am persona non grata. So while I’m still expected to work all hours, I cannot access my lab out-of-hours or on weekends. Ah ha ha ha. I will not […]
akatsuki ra-ra-ra 