Scientific Integrity

Are You Listening, God? Apparently Not.

Jeff O'Connor — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:28:00 GMT

William Saletan summed-up the most recent multi-million dollar study concerning the impact of prayer on one's health in a recent Slate.com piece this way:

Warning: The surgeon general may determine that prayer is hazardous to your health. That's what can happen when faith sets out to prove its power through science.

Mr. Saletan's wry observation is based upon the results of a three-year, $2.4M study of the impact of other peoples prayers on the recovery of patients who recently underwent heart surgery.

Patients who knowingly received prayers developed more post-surgery complications than did patients who unknowingly received prayers—and patients who were prayed for did no better than patients who weren't prayed for. In fact, patients who received prayers without their knowledge ended up with more major complications than did patients who received no prayers at all.

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While witty, I prefer the conclusion reached by Dr. Bruce Flamm as quoted in The Washington Post:

"I would hope that these results, combined with similar recent findings, would encourage scientists to stick to science and stop dabbling in the supernatural," said Bruce Flamm of the University of California at Irvine.

Food for thought during the upcoming election cycle. It only takes a single vote to impose the unsubstantiated beliefs of a few concerning important matters of personal privacy and public policy, ranging from a woman's right to choose to stemcell research funding, on all of us.

You are the Missing Link. Hello!

Jeff O'Connor — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 07:09:00 GMT

"Missing Link" Human Skull Found in Africa, Scientists Say
Stefan Lovgren/National Geographic News
March 27, 2006

Scientists working in Africa have discovered a Stone Age skull that could be a link between the extinct Homo erectus species and modern humans.

The face and cranium of the fossil have features found in both early and modern human species. The skull is believed to be between 250,000 and 500,000 years old.

"[This skull] shows the continuity of the evolutionary record, so in that sense it is a link [between Homo erectus and modern humans]," said Scott Simpson, a paleontologist from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio...

The face and cranium of the fossil have characteristics similar to those of an early-human species, such as Homo erectus. But there is anatomical evidence that the fossil is part of modern humans' ancestry. Simpson says, for example, that the shape of the skull's dome, or vault, is similar to that of modern humans.

"If you look at Homo erectus, their vaults tend to be low, long, and angular," Simpson said. "This vault is very spherical, like modern humans'."

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Sure, the title to this post is a bit dated, but then again so is the skull that was found.

Global Strategies for Clinical Trial Information

Jeff O'Connor — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:12:00 GMT

In 2003 the World Health Organization (WHO) began a series of conferences to address the issue of establishing a mechanism for conducting and reporting on clinical trials in a consistent, universally-accessible manner. Based upon internationally recognized scientific and ethical principles, the resulting program - the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform - seeks to achieve the following:

ensure that all clinical trials are registered and thus publicly declared and identifiable
ensure that for all trials, a minimum set of results will be reported and made publicly available
establish a complete and readily searchable register of clinical trials – overseen by an objective international body with the input of stakeholders
assist in making treatment decisions
help increase public trust in clinical research

These lofty goals - among others - will be achieved through a public Web portal intended to serve as a “one-stop-shop“ for clinical trial information from all over Earth! How cool is that?

For an overview of this incredibly exciting and worthwhile effort, check out the Webinar series being conducted by BetterManagement.com.

Well, This Explains A Lot About the Bush Administration's Approach to Just About Everything...

Jeff O'Connor — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 11:35:00 GMT

'nuff said.

(Click the comic or here for original image)

On Scientific Integrity

Jeff O'Connor — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 11:54:00 GMT

For those who just don't get it...

Political Interference in Science
Union of Concerned Scientists

The United States has an impressive history of investing in scientific research and respecting the independence of scientists. As a result, we have enjoyed sustained economic progress and public health, as well as unequaled leadership within the global scientific community. Recent actions by political appointees, however, threaten to undermine this legacy by preventing the best available science from informing policy decisions that have serious consequences for our health, safety, and environment.

Across a broad range of issues—from childhood lead poisoning and mercury emissions to climate change, reproductive health, and nuclear weapons—political appointees have distorted and censored scientific findings that contradict established policies. In some cases, they have manipulated the underlying science to align results with predetermined political decisions.

They have also undermined the independence of scientific advisory panels by subjecting panel nominees to political litmus tests that have no bearing on their expertise, and by nominating under- or unqualified individuals—some of whom have industry ties that could represent a conflict of interest. Other scientific advisory committees have been disbanded altogether.

These activities have naturally outraged members of the scientific community, and have also drawn criticism from numerous legislators who rely on the independence of government research. The American public, which trusts its government to make well-informed decisions in the interest of public health and safety, should be concerned as well.

UCS is working with scientists and ordinary citizens alike to spur appropriate legislative and regulatory action. Find out more information about how you can help us restore scientific integrity to federal policy making.

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Sadly, Stupidity isn't Likely to Be Extinct Any Time Soon...

Jeff O'Connor — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 17:53:00 GMT

Federal judge: Intelligent design unconstitutional
Far-reaching decision concludes that ID isn't science
By Amy Worden
Philadelphia Enquirer

A federal judge today declared the teaching of intelligent design in Dover Area School District unconstitutional, saying an "ill-informed faction on a school board" adopted a policy that violated the separation of church and state.

In a far-reaching decision, Judge John E. Jones 3d concluded that intelligent design is not science.

"In making this determination, we have addressed the seminal question of whether ID is science," Jones wrote. "We have concluded that it is not, and moreover that ID cannot uncouple itself from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents."

He scolded the board's majority for requiring teachers to read a statement to high school biology students that noted "gaps" in Darwin's theory of evolution and directed them to a book on intelligent design in the school library.

"The breathtaking inanity of the board's decision is evident when considered against the factual backdrop which has now been fully revealed through this trial," Jones said in a 139-page decision. "The students, parents, and teachers of the Dover Area School District deserved better than to be dragged into this legal maelstrom, with its resulting utter waste of monetary and personal resources."

Jones said those who disagree with the decision - the first-ever federal trial on the teaching of intelligent design - "will likely mark it as the product of an activist judge." But the judge, a Republican appointed to the bench by President Bush, said "this is manifestly not an activist Court." (emphasis mine)

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While I agree with Judge Jones, I am reminded of the fact that people have been arrested in this country for reading both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in public. With the current majority party firmly in the grip of America's own Taliban, I fear it won't be too much longer before upholding the Constitution is considered a hallmark of "judicial activism" and its practioners villified accordingly.

Neanderthal Morris May Face Political Extinction

Jeff O'Connor — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:39:00 GMT

Connie Morris has Challenger for Kansas Ed Board Seat

CARL MANNING / Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. - Sally Cauble, a former teacher and local school board member, is planning a Republican primary challenge of Connie Morris, a conservative and sometimes controverisal member of the State Board of Education.

Although the board is split along moderate and conservative lines, Cauble, 54, of Liberal, said she wasn't didn't put herself in either camp.

"I'm running on common sense, and I'm a Republican," she said Friday...

"I believe God created the universe. I taught evolution and I find the two compatible," Cauble said. "I may teach intelligent design in a philosophy class, but I'm not sure I would put it in the science curriculum."

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Connie Morris, as you may or may not know, says that evolution is a “fairy tale.” Much like ethical behavior and fiscal responsibility among members of the Kansas State Board of Education.

Connie Morris Makes a Monkey of Herself

Jeff O'Connor — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 09:39:00 GMT

Evolution debate gets personal in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. - A discussion about how evolution should be taught in Kansas' public schools degenerated Wednesday into personal attacks among State Board of Education members.

The board reviewed proposed standards drafted by three conservative members, designed to expose students to more criticism of evolution in the classroom.

The standards, which determine how students in fourth, seventh and 10th grades are tested on science, currently describe evolution as a key concept for students to learn before graduating from high school, treating it as the best explanation for how life developed and changed over time.

The three members who drafted the latest proposal are among six conservatives who control the board — and likely to approve much if not all of it. Four moderates, who favor retaining the standards' evolution-friendly tone, assailed the proposal.

Board member Bill Wagnon, of Topeka, told the three conservatives they had become "dupes" of intelligent design advocates and said their proposal was based "on absolute and total fraud."

Board member Sue Gamble, of Shawnee, said while board members should review proposed standards, they shouldn't write their own language, as the three conservatives did. She said the writing should be left to scientists and science teachers.

Board Chairman Steve Abrams, one of the three conservatives who drafted the latest proposal, said he had studied "a huge amount" of science, including in postgraduate classes. He is an Arkansas City veterinarian.

But Gamble replied: "I question your qualifications."

Helping Abrams draft the latest proposal were board members Kathy Martin, of Clay Center, and Connie Morris, of St. Francis. Morris chastised the board's four moderates for not attending the public hearings in May.

During the hearings, witnesses criticized evolutionary theory that natural chemical processes may have created the first building blocks of life, that all life has descended from a common origin and that man and apes share a common ancestor.

"Had you attended, you would have been informed," Morris said. "You would be sitting here as informed individuals and not arrogantly calling us dupes."

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Connie Morris isn't just a dupe, she's also a liar and a fool.

She's a liar because there are no credible scientists who support “intelligent design.” Consequently, there was nothing for the four sane members of the school board to “have been informed“ about at the hearings apart from her “personal testimony of salvation through Jesus Christ“ that apparently qualifies this elementary school teacher for her job. In fact if anyone should be chastised for being “uninformed,” it should be Connie Morris and her thugish cohorts who, along with the out-of-state hucksters flown-in to testify at taxpayer expense, admitted under oath that they had never even read the existing teaching standards that are so badly in need of change!

Connie Morris is a fool because she's raising her profile just prior to an election year at the same time a scandal is brewing about a recent Miami travel extravaganza that was paid for by - you guessed it - the State Board of Education. Ironically, when pressed about her taxpayer-funded spending habits the normally loud-mouthed, camera-mugging “conservative republican” had no comment.