This week:
- Default Science Censorship,
- Human hairy mice,
- Ancient Asians in the Americas,
- Shopper Drug Mart sued over homoeopathy and,
- Getting more in traditional medicine than expected.
Download the episode here!
Topics:
Default Science Censorship
When Tom Spears wanted to do nice story about snow, he uncovered more than he thought. We discuss how the Harper Government has made access to Canadian scientist as simple as navigating a labyrinth.
Find out more:
- A simple question, a blizzard of emails, and a peek inside how Canada’s bureaucracy work
- What’s the big secret?
- As It Happens – SNOWFALL NRC
Human hairy mice
We follow up our previous story about the reporting of science in the media with a look at an article “describing” research into using stem cells to grow human hair on mice. We noted the actual absence of science in the article.
Find out more:
- Japanese Scientists Regenerate Human Hair on Bald Mouse
- Fully functional hair follicle regeneration through the rearrangement of stem cells and their niches
Shopper Drug Mart sued over homoeopathy
We discuss the lawsuit and my its important that an implicitly trusted entity – a pharmacy – should not be allowed to sell ‘medical’ products that are falsely advertised and make unfounded claims.
Find out more:
- Shoppers Drug Mart Named In $30M Lawsuit For Selling Homeopathic Product
- Skeptic Dictionary – Oscillococcinum
- Skeptic Blog -Oscillococcinum
Ancient Asians in the Americas
When did the first Asians make their way to the Americas. If you exclude the ‘founding immigration’ , we discuss supposed evidence of ancient Asian “discovering” america prior to Columbus. We also show that the most likely candidate is not the ‘obvious’ Chinese (as many others claim) but the Polynesians.
Find out more:
Getting more in traditional medicine than expected
Don discussed the accidental discovery of some scientist attempting to show the efficacy of a DNA reading technique. What they discovered was that what you are getting in traditional Chinese medicine may be more than you bargained for. They discovered the ‘expected’ endangered species. They also showed that what was called ‘pure’ antelope contained goat and sheep DNA. It also found unlisted ingredients that could allergic reactions such as peanuts. Also they found ingredients that are toxic and potentially fatal.
Find out more:
- DNA tests uncover hazards in Chinese therapies
- Deep Sequencing Reveals Potentially Toxic, Trade-Restricted Ingredients in Some Traditional Chinese Medicines
Skeptical Highlights:
Is Bin Laden Really Dead?
As part of SFU Philosphers’ Café, moderator Martin Hunt asks how we can verify remote events.
Where:La Zuppa – 1544 Lonsdale Ave., North Van
When: April 25, 2012, 7 pm
Cost: Free
Orthomolecular Medicine Today
A conference that claims to be science based medicine is being held this week. What is “orthomolecular medicine”? ‘A form of complementary and alternative medicine that seeks to maintain health and prevent or treat diseases by optimizing nutritional intake and/or prescribing supplements’ < Wikipedia >. Is this woo or not?
Where: Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver
When: April 27-29, 2012
Cost: $100-$545
