“Positive data, positive data, positive data” – says the overbearing supervisor. What does it all mean? Well, essentially the terms positive and negative can only exist if you have a pre-existing stance on the outcome of an experiment. Scientists design experiments to test hypotheses. Indeed some of these experiments have a desirable outcome. That outcome being “a pieceContinue reading “This Data is Positively Negative!”
Author Archives: Sunniyat Rahman
Metabonomics: Seeking Meaningful Signatures In Your Biological Fluids
In the first of a new interview series for minimolecule.com, I caught up with Dr. Toby Athersuch to understand the rapidly growing field of metabolic profiling. This research is allowing scientists to analyse blood, urine, plasma and other biological fluids to help characterise disease states and advise on potential treatment and prognosis. It is alsoContinue reading “Metabonomics: Seeking Meaningful Signatures In Your Biological Fluids”
Hollywood and Science: Making the unreal, real.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that scientists are totally devoid of imagination. In actual fact, some of the best scientists are those that are able to bring creativity to their day to day, to think outside the ordinary and push beyond existing boundaries. There is however a great creative force on this planet.Continue reading “Hollywood and Science: Making the unreal, real.”
Climate Change: Why we just don’t give a….
Climate change does not tip the human moral balance according to novel research compiled by psychologists at University of Oregon. Evidence from behavioural analysts and those studying the human condition suggest that we as human beings do not feel motivated to engage in urgent action to solve the issue of climate change, although climate scientistsContinue reading “Climate Change: Why we just don’t give a….”
Mother’s Love
A few weeks ago, actually maybe a few months ago now I was day-dreaming at my desk. I was supposed to be busy conducting experiments and reading research papers but I had a sudden burning question. Admittedly my question was rather odd and led me on a 2hr procrastination path. Don’t worry though, I managedContinue reading “Mother’s Love”
Your Environment: Friend or Foe?
A significant challenge in medical research is understanding why we fall ill. Why is it that some of us get certain diseases whilst others do not. Although we are genetically very different from each other (unless you count your identical twin), understanding the reasons behind variability in health does not just fall onto the obvious candidateContinue reading “Your Environment: Friend or Foe?”
Is there a gene for loving Call of Duty?
Genes are brilliant; and yet the way they are depicted may seem to oversimplify some really complex issues. If you watched BBC’s Horizon last week, entitled “Are you good or evil” you would have been entertained with the idea that scientists have uncovered the genetic basis of being evil. The “warrior gene” as it hasContinue reading “Is there a gene for loving Call of Duty?”
Cancer: Why we don’t have a cure just yet.
To say that cancer is a complex disease to understand and a difficult disease to treat would be a great understatement. Those that have lost loved ones to cancer describe the experience as a long and torturous path, full of deception. At times those diagnosed with cancer seem as though they have their energy back,Continue reading “Cancer: Why we don’t have a cure just yet.”
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