Biology in the News Explained

Tumor evolution and chemotherapy resistance

Changing the way we deliver effective chemo drugs could considerably extend the lives of advanced cancer patients.

The “wisdom of the crowd” effect is a statistical artifact

A recent paper on "social influence" and the "wisdom of the crowd" effect is actually nothing more than a demonstration of two basic statistical concepts generally taught to biology graduate students in their first year. What was PNAS thinking?

Torn: The “Conflict of Modern Motherhood” is all about guilt

A review of the book “Torn: True Stories of Kids, Career & the Conflict of Modern Motherhood”, edited by Samantha Parent Walravens (May, 2011).

Self-correcting science works again

Andrew Wakefield - a disturbing study in self-delusion.

TORN: True Stories from Amazing Women

Video trailer for upcoming book "Torn: True Stories of Kids, Career, and the Conflict of Modern Motherhood", edited by Samantha Parent Walravrens

Yes, Virginia, there really is “science”

Virginia is indeed fortunate to have the crusader Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli spending their tax dollars (during such difficult fiscal times) only on the highest priority: destroying a single climate scientist who no longer works in Virgina.

Women are still bailing out of science: “choice” or discrimination?

According to a PNAS paper just out, there is no more discrimination against women in science, so we should just stop worrying about it and move on with our lives, already.

The “scientific method” still works, if we give it a chance

In its article "The Truth Wears Off," the New Yorker reveals to the lay reader some of the many ways in which scientific results are biased, all of which should be obvious to scientists. These biases do not mean that science itself is flawed or in crisis. Indeed, the article demonstrates that science works as it should.

When will sociologists learn some sociobiology?

Why would any biological scientist possibly be surprised that a one-year-old baby understands some of the rules governing society?

A good day for science and medicine

Myriad Genetics has rightly lost the lawsuit by plaintiffs trying to undo their right to patent genes. But given the makeup of our courts after eight years of President Bush, is their any hope for defending ourselves against the current pro-corporation onslaught?

Carnival round-up

Carnivals on education, politics, opinions, and science are all out, with some posts by Bioblog.

Sociobiology shows us why racial integration is so hard, and so important

We need to keep making an effort to interact with people not like us, because if we do not, our social brains easily fall into the trap of demonizing them. School integration is still an obvious way to do this.