David Warmflash
Bell Curve redux: Is the science of intelligence too taboo to research?
A new study identified genes linked to intelligence while a recent interview of political scientist Charles Murray, co-author of The ...
Cesarean section: How this booming birth procedure influences human evolution
The rising use of C-sections around the world is altering the survival rates of mothers and fetuses who might not ...
Star Trek-like transporter might solve brain disease mysteries, understand religious belief
Scientists have modeled a Star Trek-like transporter illusion to learn about how the human brain shapes our sense of spatial ...
New transplantation era beckons if we’re ok with growing organs in pigs
Some day, human organs from pigs may fill the organ gap, and the needed science and engineering is advancing rapidly, ...
Are we alone? If not, why hasn’t anyone dropped by Earth for a visit?
Scientists disagree on the probability that advanced extraterrestrials exist somewhere in the universe. Among the biggest arguments against aliens is ...
Glowing trees, no more colonoscopies and other wonders of synthetic biology
Synthetic biology offers the opportunity to create a wide array of novel life forms, products and approaches to medicine -- ...
Seeing patterns that aren’t there? Understanding how the brain forms opinions — And implications for science
Humans have a natural inclination to 'order the world,' our minds imposing familiar patterns on the chaos of life. Could ...
Time to amend human embryo research ’14-day rule’?
The rule that cuts off research on human embryos at 14 days gestation is based on an arbitrary time limit ...
Avoiding the unexpected: Zika, malaria-fighting gene drive in mosquitoes has built-in safety net
Concerns about CRISPR gene drives and other CRISPR applications have to do with the possibility that something could go wrong ...
‘Brain fingerprints’: Will semantic memory identification replace fingerprints and passwords?
Semantic memory identification is an emerging ID technology based on the patterns of electrical signals that your brain puts out ...
Enhancing humans: Becoming a cyborg could end up as a privilege of the wealthy
Within the next 200 years, humans will have become so merged with technology that we’ll have evolved into “God-like cyborgs” ...
Could life have emerged multiple times on Earth, in the universe?
If we discover that life forms on Mars or Europa do not share an origin with Earth life, we'll have ...
Collateral damage from Trump’s family planning aid ban? What it means in fight against thalassemia blood diseases
Reversal of current US policy that provides aid for countries around the world for family planning, including abortion counseling, could ...
Star Trek-like ‘tricorders’ promise DNA analysis on the go
We are rapidly approaching a time when Star Trek-style "tricorders" will offer rapid handheld analysis of genetic samples. It could ...
Piltdown Man evolution hoax reminds us about danger of confirmation bias
A 100-year-old hoax involving the "discovery" of a missing link in the human evolution chain provides insights into the pitfalls ...
The future is here: 3 ways technology can improve sustainability
Generating energy and using more land for crops increases atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. So does livestock farming. But there are ...
Complex equation: How important are genetics in determining math skills?
What role does genetics play in determining mathematical aptitude? A cursory search will turn up articles claiming that genes account ...
Smart drugs: Is it smart to use them?
Brain-boosting drugs are routine in treating conditions with deficits in cognition or alertness, such as ADHD and narcolepsy. They also ...
Human hibernation: How it can change the world of medicine
Many films and shows feature human hibernation as a means to help astronauts travel deep into space. While this could ...
CRISPR-Cas9 is hot but it’s not the only way to edit a genome
Despite its growing track record and huge potential, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing may not be the magic bullet for all applications ...
What are humanity’s greatest existential threats?
Climate change is not the greatest threat to our species. There are forces, both natural and human-made that could destroy ...
2016 Presidential Race: Clinton, Trump, Stein and Johnson on Vaccines and Bio-Pharmaceuticals
Professional medical organizations could not be stronger in support of childhood immunizations, including mandatory vaccinations of school children. Only Clinton ...
2016 Presidential Race: Clinton, Trump, Stein and Johnson on Biomedical Research
GLP continues its series on the presidential candidate's positions on genetics and biotechnology. Today we assess Trump, Clinton, Johnson, and ...
2016 Presidential Race: Clinton, Trump, Stein, and Johnson on Food, Farming and GMOs
Here is a GMO policy primer, lining up not just Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but also Libertarian Party candidate ...
Humans on Mars? NASA must find way to protect us from radiation
Radiation exposure has proven dangerous for Apollo astronauts who traveled to the Moon. But radiation encountered by astronauts flying in ...
Men are from Earth, women are too: Sexes not so different when it comes to sex
There are gender differences in sexual behavior, to be sure, but with certain phenomena, women are far more similar to ...
Artificial intelligence: Should we worry?
Hollywood has a long history of depicting artificial intelligence. But as it inches closer to making the jump from the ...
