All about the science of disease
One of the most interesting aspects of the “Age Of Misinformation” is the flourishing of thousands of medical myths. These are usually propagated by people who are not qualified medical professionals or scientists, who peddle misinterpreted or flat-out incorrect information to the Internet masses. Whether these myths are started to sell products or in good … Read more
The most exciting science headlines of the week were undoubtedly based on an exciting new study published in Science Translational Medicine showing that chemotherapy can promote breast cancer metastasis. Media coverage on the subject has varied from highly sensationalist to more sensible – and for once, the panic-striken ALL CAPITALS approach doesn’t seem like it’s out of place. … Read more
As a scientist, it is part of my job to keep tabs on new scientific discoveries and recent publications. It was in this context that I recently ran into a fascinating paper by researchers at the University Of Cambridge looking into how formaldehyde (a known carcinogen) selectively destroys BRCA2 – a protein in the cell … Read more
We are undoubtedly in the middle of what has been described as a “cancer epidemic”. The risk of contracting cancer has risen by over 10% over a single generation and is expected to increase by over 20% between 2010 and 2020. This means that in three years’ time there will be about 2 million people diagnosed with cancer … Read more
As a cancer scientist and someone interested in the ever-evolving relationship between science and the media, my eye was caught this week by the flashy headlines claiming that good-old tomatoes might just be the cure for gastric cancer. All the media fuss appears to stem from a paper accepted last week in the Journal Of … Read more
The #marchforscience happened this past weekend. In a truly heartwarming display of both political commitment and self-aware nerdiness, scientists and science-enthusiasts from around the globe took to the streets last Saturday sporting a series of exceedingly rational demands and some outstandingly witty signs. While of course some people found themselves poking holes through the actual … Read more