How Much Do We Really Know about Animal Consciousness? Angela Roothaan Philosophy, Politics, Politics & Economics, Science, Science & Medicine What defines the boundary between humans and animals? The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness states that “comparative research on this topic is naturally hampered by the inability of non-human animals,...
The Final Word? The Emergence of the Post-Publication Peer Review Process Wudan Yan Science, Science & Medicine Who, if anyone, has the final word in science? Wudan Yan sits down with Ivan Oransky and Adam Marcus of Retraction Watch to find out.
Scientists Have Feelings Too Faith Kearns Science, Science & Medicine The intellectual rigors of my scientific training did not prepare me for the strong bouts of emotions that come with research that has immediate meaning in people’s lives.
Behind the Scenes of the Drug Approval Process: Containing Ebola Li Zha Medicine, Science, Science & Medicine The spread of Ebola is unsettling to many Americans, yet to date the U.S. FDA and the EMA (the FDA’s European counterpart) have not approved any medicines or vaccines to treat a potential global outbreak. In October 2014, both agencies released guidelines for companies to get accelerated approval for potential Ebola treatments; such emergency responses are unprecedented. Why did the FDA and EMA make these rules in the case of Ebola and how will they change the course of drug approval? Harvard University chemist Li Zha explains.
Who Defines What’s “Healthy”? Diagnoses, Treatments, and Medicine’s Mission Laura Christianson Medicine, Science, Science & Medicine, Society & Culture As a medical student, I'm perpetually absorbing knowledge taught to me...What all of these teachings share is a certainty that there are problems, and that medical students can learn – through lectures and textbooks and research – how to fix them. I'm still not clear why we're making the attribution of one thing as a problem, and another as the solution.
Am I an Early Bird or Night Owl? Ask Dr. Steve Kay Anything about the Biology of Circadian Rhythms Hippo Reads Staff Science, Science & Medicine Interview by Ben Winterhalter When Dr. Steve Kay, the dean of USC Dornsife, finished his graduate work on genetics at UK’s University of Bristol, there were three words on his mind: “get to...
Examining Ebola Fears & Viral Mutations Joseph Timpona Medicine, Science, Science & Medicine Ebola hysteria dominated popular news in 2014. However, since the outbreak began to draw attention in March earlier this year, only two people have been infected in the United States. Did this really warrant non-stop media coverage? Much of this attention may have been attributed in part to the worry that Ebola may “mutate to become airborne,” but is this even something we need to worry about?