If you prefer to listen to podcasts, feel free to play the audio version of this blog by clicking on the player above. Podcast: Thanksgiving Food SafetyLength: 2 min 14 secondsWritten and read by the author
P-Value, the False Idol (revisited)
The most powerful woman in the world blinded her own son to uphold her beliefs Gorgeous, brilliant, and powerful, the Empress Irene perched upon her throne and contemplated her Eastern Roman Empire. She sought to reunite it with the West through marriage with none other than Charlemagne. Luckily for the great Carolingian king, pleuritis killed Continue Reading
I Like My DNA With Farts
Not a lot of farts, just a soupçon of farts, a light crop-dusting perhaps. Why is this? Our many bacterial nemeses do not like their DNA with farts, so it keeps ours separate. As you may have guessed, a bit of creative license exists here, but you won’t forget this mnemonic device. When do our Continue Reading
There’s Nothing Humorous or Humoral About Poison Ivy
Great stories require great villains, which implies three-dimensional, well-developed characters. Often, they generate more interest and fascination than the hero, hence, the prevalence of antiheroes in modern movies and tv. From DC comics, Poison Ivy instills ambivalence. As Batman’s nemesis, we begin hating her, but may discover ourselves admiring her. Her passion revolves around the Continue Reading
Nietzsche, and How He Helps Us Beat Ya, Malaria
Paraphrased, Nietzsche said, “There are no facts, only interpretation.” This could apply to malarial species. If you do some intense data searching, that is, you have a computer, Wi-Fi, and then Google, “number of malaria species that infect people” – typical results include 4, 5, and 6. They could all be correct. Four has been Continue Reading
RTS,S/AS01 – Spells “How to Save Lives”
Welcome back. In the last malaria podcast, we covered the background and challenges malaria presented regarding vaccines. Today, we will lightly touch upon some of the intricacies of Mosquirix, the first-ever vaccine against the disease. You may also know this vaccine by the catchy name RTS,S/AS01. Can hardly imagine why anyone would want to label Continue Reading
Malaria, Thy Name Is Shapeshifter
The Chinese Nei Ching text dating back more than 4000 years (2700 BCE), attributes malaria to the machinations of three demons: one carrying a hammer, another a bucket of water, and one, a stove. While this helped explain the headaches, chills, and fevers then, today, vaccine researchers might be tempted to count a higher number Continue Reading
Vaccinating the Un-Vaccinatable
Imagine a story. Earth’s population faces extinction from a predator that takes no prisoners. Every fortress invaded; the population dies… to the last individual. No survivors, no mercy, and no solution. Then an outsider steps forth from obscurity with a gift providing hope. Sounds like a great novel doesn’t it? In some ways, the story Continue Reading
Ask Yourself This Question Before You Go Into a Pool
“Would you bathe with these people?” “Would you bathe with these people?” That is what you are doing. You are about to jump into chlorinated bathwater used by the people you see before you and those who came earlier. What do people do after they get out of a pool? Usually, shower off. For everyone’s Continue Reading
Sand Fleas and Beach Fleas, Jigger or Chigger?
What Lurks Beneath the Sand? Sand fleas and beach fleas, jigger or chigger? Red bugs or bed bugs. Who do you figure? Can ya tell ‘em apart just by who’s bigger? Not so easy, not so fast. To learn all about them, listen to our podcast! Has this list piqued your interest? Oh yeah, and Continue Reading