Periodic Tabloid

Swine-flu vaccine was in the news again. Researchers at Novartis have started testing the vaccine, a necessary step before the public offering. Though the seasonal flu vaccine is proceeding on schedule, the H1N1 vaccine will be delayed until after the regular vaccine is released. By 31 July worldwide fatalities exceeded 1,100, and perhaps the vaccine will prevent the surge expected this fall. As the threat of swine flu slips from the forefront, are public health officials doing enough to stress the importance of vaccinating against the seasonal flu and H1N1?

We rely on a multitude of chemicals for nearly every aspect of contemporary life. In fact it’s hard to conceive of life in the 21st century without the drugs, materials, foods, fuels, and other chemicals that make it all happen. There is also general agreement that society needs to protect citizens from the toxic repercussions of chemicals.

Debates over health care are heating up. Framed in terms of reforming the payer system, President Obama is putting forth a government-sponsored health plan. Not everyone is pleaed with his proposal, but everyone says that the patient is their #1 concern!

The standard mindset in treating cancer is to kill as many of the offending cells as possible with whatever artillery you can devise. Traditionally, the weaponry has comprised surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, or, for the irreverent, “cuts, burns, and poisons.”

It’s not easy competing with Sir Elton John. But such was the fate of Robert T. Fraley last week when he received this year’s Biotechnology Heritage Award in Atlanta.

The patent system is designed to give financial incentives to inventors so the rest of us benefit from their efforts. This works pretty well, and the world's economies—at least in normal times—have flourished because of the innovation promoted by the patent system. 

A new journal is usually a sign of vitality and excitement in any field. And if that journal reaches the caliber of the venerable Nature family of publications, the excitement hits an even higher energy level.

Bacterial resistance to antibiotic medicines is commonplace, is spreading worldwide, and is a major threat to human health. There are strains of bacteria resistant to every known drug. Don’t catch one of these beasties unless you’re sure your last will and testament is in good order.

Having reliably made over 100 Periodic Tabloid posts, I’ve decided to become more irregular.

A new initiative of the U.S. National Academy of Science seeks to link scientific experts with people who make media and entertainment.