Science From The Trenches: The Stem Cell Debate Is Dead

Last week Oprah featured Michael J. Fox on her show and something interesting happen. A regular contributor to the Oprah show, Dr. Oz, proclaimed the death of the stem cell debate (embryonic vs. adult):

Oprah doctor: 'stem cell debate is dead'

Dr. Oz to Oprah and Michael J Fox: "The stem cell debate is dead."

As Mr. Fox and Oprah squirmed in the seats, Dr. Oz dispelled the myth that nothing of substance on this matter occurred during the past 8 years. In fact, Dr Oz not only dismissed that advances had not been made, but stated that this past year has seen extraordinary advance, and that cure results are just a few years away (“single digits” in years).

Dr. Oz greatly underestimates the death culture in this country. The media chooses to ignored numerous medical breakthrough using adult stem cells, such as the recent story regarding diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes using adult stem cells), by either not reporting it, or omitting the use of the term “adult” when referring to stem cells used in the research.

The Obama administration is about to throwaway billions of dollars on embryonic stem cell research, even though adult stem cells have shown far more promise, and far less risk than embryonic stem cell (Study hints at role of stem cell genes in testicular, breast cancers)

The dogma of death is leading to bad science.

Huge Volcano's Erupting Under the Arctic: No Big Deal!

Lets play of game of “Internet Scavenger Hunt.” It is a simple game. I will give a subject to search on, and you try and find it.

First run a “News” search on “Arctic Could Be Ice Free.” How many articles did you get back? Probably in excess of 450 stories from numerous different news outlets.(Including Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc). Many will focus on a news story (LiveScience: Melting Arctic Ice) dated on June 26, 2008.

Now run another “News” search on “Volcano's Erupting Under The Arctic.” How many hits came back? Less than 20 (which included Fox, but not ABC, CBS, or NBC)! This story was featured in LiveScience as well, and appeared on June 28, 2008.

LiveScience: Volcano Erupting Under Arctic

Here is the catcher. Both the melting arctic ice story and the volcano eruptions came to light during the same week. To any reasonable person, the connection would warrant a closer look. However, without any research, and no validation, Robert Reeves-Sohn of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution stated - "We don't believe the volcanoes had much effect on the overlying ice."

Really!? Volcano's expel heat, which rises and warms the water. The currents carry the heated water around the polar cap, which in turn would warm the ice. And what happens to ice when it warms....thats right, it MELTS!

But hey, why would we ever suspect a connection between volcano's and melting ice?