On Monday, President Obama lifted the federal limits on embryonic stem cell research. In a nation of wildly varying opinions, this comes with both strong support and passionate opposition.

What is Stem Cell Research?

Embryonic stem cells are unique cells that can develop into any type of specialized cell that exists in the human body. It’s believed that these cells can be used to reverse significant damage and serious disease, and this is why it’s such a hot research topic. For example, stem cells could be used to replace dead muscle tissue in a heart attack victim or repair spinal tissue and give someone who’s paralyzed another chance to walk.

(more…)

A claim that’s supported by scientific research has a certain seriousness to it that makes it feel verified and trustworthy. But is it?

The Pursuit of Truth

Many of the scientific discoveries and inventions that have occurred up until now are absolutely amazing. Using our advanced knowledge to uncover unknown truths is a marvelous thing. Finding truth is the core of what research is and is what drives scientists to dedicate themselves to it. But that doesn’t mean every piece of published research is worthy of this distinction.

To avoid having any influence on the results of a research study, researchers must have a strictly unbiased outlook on the results. Although this can be hard to accomplish, bias can inadvertently lead to changes in the design and protocol of a study that ultimately alter it’s outcome. A biased study leads to a biased truth which isn’t really the truth at all.

A Conflict of Interest

In today’s fiercely competitive marketplace, corporations are looking for any advantage they can get to sell their products. For a company selling a product in the health and fitness field, one of the most valuable advantages they can get is to back their product’s claim with scientific research. But keep in mind that a scientific study can be very expensive and cost millions of dollars. Unfortunately, this all leads to a situation where potential for profit drives the need for research rather than the need for honest answers.

(more…)

The complexity and balance of nature is simply amazing and we may only be scratching the surface toward understanding how it all works. Even the complexity of a single cell is quite amazing, so it can be overwhelming when you consider that we each have trillions of them.

Many of these cells are specialized and grouped together to form glands, organs, systems, muscles, and bones that are perfectly integrated with each other and provide the incredible result we know as life. This is all the natural result of evolution. Ironically, it’s the intelligence we also gained through evolution that gives us the ability to manipulate, for better or worse, this delicate balance that nature has so cleverly created.

Are We Victims of Our Own Intelligence?

As humans, we have the consciousness to philosophize about life and reflect on emotion. As a result, we all want to live long and happy lives. While science has enabled us to manipulate the odds in our favor in some respects, it’s reduced our odds in others. After all, science is invention and discovery that results from human intelligence, and human intelligence is not immune to mistakes, greed, or corruption.

(more…)