After years of heated debate and extensive preliminary research, scientists will finally have the chance to test stem cells on human subjects.
The initial trial will involve two groups. The first will be comprised of people afflicted with a progressive form of blindness; the second, those partially paralyzed by spinal chord injuries. In hundreds of tests on partially paralyzed rats, those injected with stem cells were able to walk.
The FDA has required exhaustive tests to get to this point and scientists say that the results have proven that the cells are safe for humans and have incredible potential to treat cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson's, spinal chord injuries, blindness and myriad other conditions, most of which are currently untreatable.
Last week a judge blocked the federal government from funding any research involving human embryonic stem cells, a move that scientists say will have devastating results:
"Every day we lose is another day lost for patients waiting for cures."
Bioethicists stress that even research that achieves great things can’t be justified if it requires violating human rights.
The question then becomes whether embryos are human beings. Many who object to stem call research insist that those cells amount to a baby. Most bioethicists disagree, saying that if using embryonic stem cells to treat cancer is immoral, then so is creating embryos to treat infertility. Most fertilized eggs created for IVF are disposed of or indefinitely frozen; only a small number are actually implanted and even fewer are donated for research.
Despite last week’s injunction, it looks as though the human trial will still happen but the pressure’s on, say scientists. Many worry that if the results of this initial test, for whatever reason, are not positive, opponents will claim that the entire field is illegitimate.
Helium balloons might become a thing of the past but not because something new and better has come along, simply because we’re running out of helium. Despite the fact that it’s sold cheaply, which experts say is “ridiculous,” it’s a non-renewable resource and cannot be manufactured artificially.
It has more uses than just making parties more festive and making you sound like one of the chipmunks; it’s needed for MRI scanners, airships, rockets, deep-sea diving, and document preservation.
In 1925, the US government started building up an enormous reserve of the gas in Texas - the largest in the world. Then, in 1996, the reserve was $1.4 billion in debt and, to recover some of the money, Congress passed an act saying that it should be sold by 2015, regardless of how cheaply.
Physics professor and Nobel laureate, Robert Richardson, says that helium is worth 20-50 times what it’s sold for, making a helium-filled balloon worth around $100.
"As a result of that Act, helium is far too cheap and is not treated as a precious resource. It's being squandered."
It’s possible to recycle helium in some cases but, because it’s so inexpensive, recycling it is not cost effective and not even NASA does it.
Would you still buy balloons if they cost $100 each? What about $10?
In the midst of job-hunting but reluctant to remove those less than professional images you have on Facebook?
You might want to consider taking your career to Germany, where a new law on data privacy prevents employers from screening potential candidates on social networks.
As of last year, nearly half of all employers used sites like Facebook to check out candidates and around 35% had rejected hopefuls based on what they saw online.
Offenses include inappropriate photos, comments about previous employers, and posts about drug use.
They’ll still be able to use any site that’s meant for job-seeking, like LinkedIn. They can also still Google you, although they may not be able to use certain info if it’s either out of your control or too old.
Some argue that it's only fair that employers get a glimpse into the life of someone they'll be hiring. Others argue that it leaves too much room for candidates to be judged based on things like political or religious views.
Where do you stand? Should Facebook be fair game or is it none of their business if you do your job well and keep the partying limited to Saturday nights?
Jail time for plastic bag use, a 9-day, 62-mile traffic jam, and cannabis cars. Here are a few tiny slices of what’s happening around the world.
Mexico City Says Peace Out to Plastic Bags
Mexico City is the latest place to ban the use of plastic bags. Stores will be required to charge customers who want them, but they can only sell biodegradable varieties.
While major cities around the world are implementing laws like this, some take it further than others. In Mexico City, failure to comply will get you fined up to $90,000 and tossed in the slammer for 36 hours. Believe it or not, that’s mild compared to the consequences in Delhi, where you can be jailed for up to 5 years for the offence!
(Via BBC)
China’s 62-Mile, Month-Long Traffic Jam
Think rush hour traffic is bad in your city? A traffic jam spanning more than 60 miles has had drivers in gridlock since construction began on August 13. Drivers say they’d rather wait it out than try alternate routes because the cost of tolls and gas would be too high. Instead, they’re getting out of their cars to play cards and buy overpriced instant noodles from street vendors who’ve decided to make a profit off of the situation. The tolls might start looking pretty appealing very soon; the traffic is not expected to clear until construction is completed…. halfway through September. Beat that, New York.
Extremists Take Advantage of Flooding in Pakistan
Millions in Pakistan are still without basic necessities. The flooding that began nearly one month ago has left millions living in unsanitary conditions, while their homes and livelihoods remain underwater. Aside from concerns about the outbreak of diseases like cholera, Pakistan's president cautions that Islamic militants are using the situation gain support from those affected. International aid has been slow to reach victims and some Islamist charities with ties to terrorism have been using the opportunity to provide aid to victims while promoting their agendas.
You can earn donations to help provide basic necessities to flood victims by supporting Music for Relief on SocialVibe.
Cannabis Cars for Canada
A Canadian car company has announced that it will begin testing biocomposite electric cars made from cannabis. Pothead jokes aside, if they succeed this could be a great way for auto companies to become more environmentally friendly. Hemp is not only very strong, it’s also a renewable resource.
The idea isn’t new; Henry Ford created one in the 1930s (above). Maybe it’ll catch on this time. Would you buy one?
Want to live in a cleaner world? Us too. Help keep the world a little cleaner by joining us for a Weekend Without Oil.
The idea is simple; each person uses about 3 gallons each day. That’s 6 per weekend for each of us. If enough of us get together and follow 11 steps for just one weekend, we can keep the world a lot cleaner.
If you want to get persnickety about it, sure – most of us can’t have a truly 100% oil-free weekend. We already own all kinds of things that required the use of oil to make and to be transported to us. Footballs, basketballs, ink, crayons, dish soap, deodorant, ink, eyeglasses, CDs and DVDs, lipstick, ammonia, and tires are just a few items made using petroleum.
Don’t fret! We don’t want you to get rid of things you already have. Using items you own is way greener than buying new stuff. We’re talking about a weekend without using any new oil. Basically, that’s 48 hours without driving or buying new stuff. You can pull that off, right?
For a simple synopsis of how we use oil, where it comes from, and what exactly petroleum is, go here. Sure it’s written for kids, but it sums things up pretty nicely.
For more tips on cutting back your oil use, visit greenpeace.org.
Think you can do it? Share your tips for living a greener life in the comments!
Linkin Park is asking you to help them bring food, clean water, and temporary shelter to the millions affected by the recent flooding in Pakistan. Monsoon rains have devastated the country, leaving millions without basic necessities like food and medicine. Though the current death toll is about 1,600, aid agencies predict that it will continue to rise as waterborne illnesses like cholera spread.
A boy makes his way through thick mud and debris carrying belongings he managed to salvage from his family’s home, Pir Pai. (Photo: Alixandra Fazzina)
An Afghan family transports their recovered belongings back to their temporary shelter via donkey cart, Pir Pai. (Photo: Alixandra Fazzina)
The ruins of homes destroyed in the worst flooding Pakistan has seen in decades, Tali village, Balochistan. (Photo: UNHCR)
A young boy feels his way through flood waters using a walking stick. (Photo: UNHCR)
At a UNHCR distribution point for flood survivors in Balochistan, children from Tali village rest on a new UNHCR tent while their father fetches help to move it. In Tali, 85 to 90 percent houses have been destroyed. (Photo: UNHCR)
Through their charity, Music for Relief, Linkin Park is working with UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, to help the millions of victims. They’ve pledged to match the funds donated by individuals or raised on SocialVibe, up to $10,000.
Despite the enormous number of people affected, global aid has been small compared to other recent disasters so your help is critical. Within ten days of the January earthquake in Haiti, $1 billion had been pledged. Ten days after the start of the flooding in Pakistan, about $100 million had been pledged – one tenth of the amount given to Haiti.
U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke explains:
"The international recognition of this disaster has not yet been sufficient to its dimensions… floods, unlike earthquakes and tsunamis, are not sudden catastrophes that hit and then the reconstruction begins. They're rolling crises, which grow and are initially underestimated."
Some simply attribute the lack of assistance to donor fatigue but, whatever the reason, the fact remains that there are millions of people in dire need of food, water and medical attention. Many are sleeping outside, next to the goats and cows that managed to survive, others in muddy camps or overcrowded government buildings.
To start earning donations for the victims, support Music for Relief on SocialVibe.
Catching cancer in the early stages drastically increases survival rates but catching it early poses myriad challenges, particularly with types of cancer for which there are no effective screening tests. Scientists may have found a solution. A new device can detect cancer through a person’s breath.
"This study shows that an 'electronic nose' can distinguish between healthy and malignant breath, and can also differentiate between the breath of patients with different cancer types... It could also be an easy way to assess and monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatment and detect relapses earlier."
Apparently, as cancer grows, the cells emit chemicals that can be detected in a person’s breath. Even more exciting is the fact that the device can detect different types of cancer (so far lung, breast, bowel or prostate have been tested).
The study is still in the early stages and more research is needed, but the possibilities are very exciting. The hopes are that the device will be able to detect cancer before tumors are large enough to be felt or even seen on X-rays.
You can earn donations that fund research to help advance treatments and cures for all kinds of cancer by supporting Stand Up to Cancer on SocialVibe.
When you feel threatened, your body goes through a series of changes: chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol are released into your bloodstream, your blood vessels constrict, and blood is taken from areas like your digestive tract and redirected to muscles and limbs to prepare you for “fight or flight.”
These reactions are helpful in dangerous situations but can have harmful effects on your health if you experience them often over time. A new study shows that racist people’s bodies actually experience these changes when they encounter people of races that they view negatively, even under non-threatening, everyday conditions.
Think you’re safe? A study published last year suggests that we might all be more racist then we think. According to the study, between 75 and 80 percent of people had “non-overt” prejudices. Want to find out if you perceive yourself accurately? You can visit Harvard’s Project Implicit site to test your perceptions on everything form race , gender and age to obesity or religion.
The good news is that there’s a fairly simple solution: building friendships with people of other races seems to eliminate the unhealthy reactions.
Have kids? They’re watching you carefully as they develop their own attitudes about race.
To read more about why racism is bad for your health, visit Greater Good.
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