Science and Society
by Judi L. Nath, Ph.D.Ignorance is Bliss; Willful Ignorance is a Death Kiss: Summer School
Hello Favorite Humans! It’s been awhile since we last communicated because I was convinced that humankind surely would have this pandemic under control once those vaccines started rolling out and sleeves started rolling up. Alas, we seem to have a few...
If Only There Was Something We Could Do
Just over 246 years ago, on April 19, 1775, the Revolutionary War began with “the shot heard round the world.” This same shot created the United States of America. This might also have begun America’s love affair with guns. Before we go any further, note that...
What is the Magic Number in Which You Start Caring?
This past week, the FDA halted distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine “out of an abundance of caution” because 6 women had developed blood clots and one of those six died. The type of blood clot they developed is called a cerebral venous sinus...
Red, Red Wine: Stay Close to Me
Whenever I hear the words, “red wine,” I automatically get an ear worm as the song reminiscent of Bob Marley begins streaming in my head, and reggae music brings that warm fuzzy feeling…long before the wine does. One year ago, I wrote my first blog. Yes, that was...
The COVID-19 Vaccines: Apple, Apple, Orange
Over this past weekend, the FDA granted emergency authorization to a 3rd COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson (J&J). This vaccine is a single shot in the arm – a one and done. So, you might be wondering how this one compares to the two we already have...
COVID-19: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
Hey, Folks! Just reminding you that there’s a pandemic out there, and this virus is doing what all viruses need to do to survive: mutating. And, if we’re going to get through this, we’ll need to channel the ethos of those Mutant Ninja Turtles. ...
Vaccine Hesitancy: The Woman That Deliberates is Lost
There’s an old saying that goes something like this: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” This 1710 maxim, attributed to prose satirist, Jonathan Swift, is as relevant today as it was 311 years ago. I...
Take My Breath Away: Breathing On and Off a Ventilator
Common words heard repeatedly this past week center on breathing, as in “I can finally breathe” and “What a breath of fresh air.” These phrases remind us of just how important air is, from when newborns take a life-giving breath to poems that are inspirational....
Science & Society: Elephant in the Room
For nearly a year, I have been writing about science and society, linking everyday events to our lives while supplying underlying biological reasoning. My goal has always been to calm the chaos through the lens of science. In light of recent events, I...