Category Archives: Science and the scientific method

Financial Times Screeches at China’s “Propaganda” for Sticking to Zero Covid Policy

A new article on how China is sticking to its zero Covid guns is revealing, and not in a good way.

Thawing Permafrost Is Roiling the Arctic Landscape, Driven by a Hidden World of Changes Beneath the Surface as the Climate Warms

Not only is permafrost releasing methane, but when it melts, it removes a key support, leading to collapsing soil and loss of lake drainage.

IPCC Adaptation Report: It’s Later Than You Think

“It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5C,” IPCC Working Group III co-chair Jim Skea announced.

Arctic Greening Won’t Save the Climate – Here’s Why

Why arctic greening is yet another feel-good idea that does not pan out in practice.

Under the Sea, a Hidden Climate Variable: Thawing Permafrost

Carefully mapping the changing topology of the Arctic Ocean floor, scientists are racing to study submarine permafrost.

How This Month Produced a Mind-Boggling Warm-Up in Eastern Antarctica (and the Arctic)

Why part of Antarctica suffered wildly out of band warmth.

The Worrying Murkiness of Institutional Biosafety Committees

Experts say institutional biosafety committees are a crucial to ensuring the safety of biomedical research. Critics say they are too opaque.

“Just Scandalous”: CDC Withholding Most of the Covid Data It Gathers. What Is It Trying to Hide?

We predicted the new CDC head, Rochelle Walensky, would do badly. A New York Times story shows how she’s underperforming our low expectations

New Data: Omicron BA.2 More Contagious and Severe than BA.1, Yet Officials Committed to Relaxing Protections

[Jaws theme song] BA.2 is coming….Maybe it won’t be that terrible, but you might get out of the water.

New Study Explains How Coronavirus Stays Airborne Longer Than Previously Thought

New information on the airborne spread of Covid.

Ending Drug Price Gouging: A Regulatory Framework for Pricing of Medicine Innovation

regulators can step in to ensure drug pricing both supports patient access and drug development.

What Does Climate Change Have to do with Snowstorms?

An easy-to-present example of how climate change affects weather.

Covid Sightings: Omicron Reinfections, Brain Effects, Shabby US Performance, Western Australia Border Controls

There’s enough new Covid news as to merit some focus on the bigger developments…so have at it!

Covid Situation Continuing to Develop Not Necessarily to the Officialdom’s Advantage

The new Covid news isn’t better than the old Covid news, and some is actually disconcerting.