Food poisoning due to antibiotic resistant bacteria, in many cases salmonella, is on the rise. A New York Times article investigates the role pig farmers and the pork industry is playing in making a bad situation much worse. The historically defensive agriculture industry has exploited favorable laws and loopholes to prevent scientists and public health officials from evaluating pertinent information, crippling any attempt at understanding the nature and scale of the problem. https://nyti.ms/2GMouZG
Trust in scientists is on the upswing in the United States. According to a Pew Research study, 85% of Americans hold positive opinions of the scientific community. That is an increase of 10% from the previous poll taken. Scientists beat out teachers, religious leaders, military leaders and journalists. At the bottom of the list? Politicians, of course. http://bit.ly/2GOnrZr
The challenge of reconciling classical physics and quantum physics is nothing new. All sorts of string theories took stabs at explaining it. Now, it appears as if a concept normally associated with the biological sciences has migrated into the wild and wooly world of physics. Natural selection. Three experiments have given some support to what is being called Quantum Darwinism. http://bit.ly/2GOZnpr
With trust in vaccines often questionable, hospitals have tried a new strategy. They’ve hired doctors who have the responsibilities of gently and empathetically coaxing patients into getting vaccinated. These so-called vaccine counselors are the way forward. http://bit.ly/2GMpn4s
Believe it or not, there isn’t a ton of studies that investigate the role of human culture on surrounding animals. In the case of this paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the researchers report “how the population levels of a scavenging raptor which breeds in the megacity of Delhi, the black kite Milvus migrans, depend on spatial variation in human subsidies, mainly in the form of philanthropic offerings of meat given for religious purposes.” http://bit.ly/2GPxjC4
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