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| Science Forum Index » Miscelaneous » [BOBPARKS-WHATSNEW] What's New Friday September 11,... |
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| Bob Park... |
 Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:27 pm |
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WHAT'S NEW Robert L. Park Friday, 11 Sep 09 Washington, DC
1. PLACEBOS: WOULD THEY WORK BETTER IF THEY HAD SIDE EFFECTS?
Every doctor seeks to evoke the placebo effect. They might wear a white
smock with a stethoscope around the neck for a start. A diploma and
license mounted on the wall further enhances the effect. The doctor may
say that your condition has been studied, and effective treatment is
available. "You should feel better in a few days," the doctor says while
writing a prescription. You feel better before you fill it. That's why
the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is the most
important invention in modern medicine. It tells us what works, and what
doesn't. But according to Steve Silberman in Wired magazine, placebos
have become a big problem for big-Pharma: Theywhich is making one
promising drug after another seem little better than
the placebo. So what's happening? I suspect that the people who design
the trials have gotten more sophisticated at double-blinding. That's
good; it prompted industry to launch new studies aimed at better
understanding the placebo effect, to the eventual benefit of medical science.
2. ASTRONAUTS: PRELIMINARY AUGUSTINE COMMISSION REPORT.
The Coalition for Space Exploration issued a statement on Wednesday
praising the Augustine Commission. That's a very bad sign. The Coalition
is a space-industry lobby; it pushes for space exploration by humans, ruling
out the universe beyond Mars. That is totally inappropriate for the modern
space age, but it costs a lot more, and spending more is what the
Coalition for Space Exploration is about. Columbus, if he could have, would
have sent a drone to find the New World. The only plan that makes any sense is
to give everyone involved in human spaceflight a medal, and send them home
with the thanks of a grateful nation. The final report is expected to be
released next Tuesday.
3. NIST: PATRICK GALLAGHER IS PICKED TO BE THE NEW DIRECTOR.
Three months ago WN commented on the long delay in filling the position of
director of NIH, http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN09/wn060509.html , with
Francis Collins. It was pointed out to me at the time that the position of
director of NIST had still not been filled. Today, President Obama
nominated Patrick Gallagher to fill that position. Dr. Gallagher joined
the NIST Center for Neutron Research in 1993, and became NIST deputy
director
in 2008.
4. CONTRACEPTION: THE CHEAPEST WAY TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS.
While the United States is focusing on reduction of greenhouse emissions
by technological means, the Optimum Population Trust in the UK issued a press
release this week comparing the cost of reducing CO2 emissions by
technological means to the cost of an equivalent CO2 reduction by
investing in family planning. It concluded that family planning is five times
more effective.
5. VAMPIRE SCIENCE: MYTHOLOGIES THAT ARE THE UNDEAD OF SCIENCE.
The link between cellphone radiation and cancer, for example, seems to
have once again gotten out of its coffin. The only defense is exposure to
sunlight.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
University of Maryland, but they should be.
---
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