Thought for the day
“We are all,atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.” (Richard Dawkins)
Archive of entries posted on April 2018
Back pain treatments “useless”
Most treatments for low back pain simply do not work, an international team of scientists writing in The Lancet has warned. The condition is now the world’s leading cause of disability: an estimated 540 million people are affected and that number is growing as populations age. But back pain is not properly understood, the scientists …
Signs of old age
To the New Statesman I can confirm Peter Wilby’s observation that old age creeps up unnoticed from my reaction on being offered a seat on the Tube by a stranger for the first time. The overwhelming emotions are those of surprise, indignation and insult, with gratitude a long way behind. Some years later, I still …
Some thoughts from Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Epicurean
Here are some thoughts, called “The Decent Life”, from the philosopher Emperor, whose beliefs were Epicurean: Honour and revere the gods, treat human beings as they deserve, be tolerant with others and strict with yourself. Remember, nothing belongs to you but your flesh and blood – nothing else is under your control. 5.33 Make sure …
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Is do-it-yourself gene editing wise and ethical?
CRISPR, the cheap and easy technique for making precise changes to DNA, has researchers around the world racing to trial its use in treating a host of human diseases. But this race is not confined to the lab. Last month, Josiah Zayner, a biochemist who once worked for NASA, became the first person to edit …
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