Science, Medicine, & Education

Not only snowbirds head south in winter. Insects too

HAIFA, Israel (Press Release) — Where do insects go in winter? A new study published in the prestigious journal Science found that flying insects migrate on a seasonal basis. This movement constitutes the largest migration found in today’s world, creating a mass that is almost eight times that of birds that migrate from Britain to Africa.

Not only snowbirds head south in winter. Insects too Read More »

International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, The World We Share

Congress looks to punish ‘sanctuary campus’ colleges that protect illegal immigrants

Forget sanctuary cities: The next heated congressional battle on immigration could be over “sanctuary campuses” – colleges and universities who say that unless they’re forced by law, they’ll resist any cooperation with federal immigration agents. Dozens of schools have already declared themselves sanctuaries and many more are debating the move, and Rep. Duncan Hunter, California

Congress looks to punish ‘sanctuary campus’ colleges that protect illegal immigrants Read More »

San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Israel haters try to shift blame for campus anti-Semitism

  By Richard L. Cravatts BOSTON, Massachusetts — In early December, a bipartisan Congressional bill, H.R. 6421/S. 10, the “Antisemitism Awareness Act,” took on a long-overdue task, namely, increasing “understanding of the parameters of contemporary anti-Jewish conduct and will assist the Department of Education in determining whether an investigation of anti-Semitism under title VI is

Israel haters try to shift blame for campus anti-Semitism Read More »

Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Senators on key panel reject Donald Trump’s skepticism about vaccines

Most members of a key Senate committee are rejecting President-elect Donald Trump’s skepticism about the safety of vaccines, which suggests Trump could face significant backlash in Congress if he seeks to advance the anti-vaccine movement from the Oval Office. In the week following Trump’s controversial meeting with vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., STAT contacted

Senators on key panel reject Donald Trump’s skepticism about vaccines Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Some great thoughts to learn and unlearn

  By Natasha Josefowitz, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — We are faced with contradictions on a daily basis; some are generational, some cultural, some familial. When we have believed in one way of acting and then are faced with new medical or scientific findings or a deeper understanding and recognize that the opposite way is

Some great thoughts to learn and unlearn Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Natasha Josefowitz, Science, Medicine, & Education

6 questions for Rep. Tom Price, Trump’s nominee to lead HHS

WASHINGTON – It’s called a “courtesy hearing,” but Rep. Tom Price, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, can expect some of his Senate interrogators to get a little rough. Price, an orthopedic surgeon and six-term GOP congressman from Georgia, will appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and

6 questions for Rep. Tom Price, Trump’s nominee to lead HHS Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Gatehouse a military outpost for David and Solomon

TEL AVIV, Israel (Press Release) — Some believe that the fabled mines of King Solomon were located among copper smelting camps in Israel’s Timna Valley. The arid conditions at Timna have seen the astonishing preservation of 3,000-year-old organic materials, which have provided Tel Aviv University archaeologists with a unique window into the culture and practices of

Gatehouse a military outpost for David and Solomon Read More »

Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Trump’s pick for education secretary could put school vouchers back on the map

Fifteen years ago, a controversial question about America’s schools dominated headlines, prompted ballot measures in various states and led wealthy philanthropists to dig deep into their pockets in the name of educational reform. Should government money pay for students to attend private — even religious — schools? Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary,

Trump’s pick for education secretary could put school vouchers back on the map Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

High school photogs have a field day

By Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO — High school photographers from throughout San Diego convened recently at San Diego City College where they practiced lighting techniques, working with models, developing photos the old-fashioned way in the dark room, and finding beauty in small objects.  Being a student at Patrick Henry High School, I was privileged

High school photogs have a field day Read More »

San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori

What Trump can – and can’t – do to change vaccine policy

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent doubter of the safety of vaccines, told reporters on Tuesday that he will chair a commission on vaccine safety and scientific integrity as part of Donald Trump’s administration. The president-elect’s spokeswoman issued a statement hours later saying “no decisions have been made” about “forming a committee on Autism.” But

What Trump can – and can’t – do to change vaccine policy Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

UCSD now serving kosher and halal food

By Chris Stone Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO — In a breakthrough cuisine at UC San Diego and a plus for the community, a renovated campus restaurant offering hot kosher meals and Halal-friendly ingredients hosted its grand opening Wednesday. And UCSD freshman Nora Yagolnitser’s Jewish grandmother approves. Yagolnitser went to the “soft opening” of

UCSD now serving kosher and halal food Read More »

Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Obama is the first US president to author an article in Science magazine

In an eleventh-hour attempt to cement his legacy on climate change and dissuade his successor from scrapping his policies, President Barack Obama published an article in a top academic journal, Science, this week. Science editors say, according to their records, he is the first sitting US president to author an article in the peer-reviewed journal.

Obama is the first US president to author an article in Science magazine Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Former President Carter’s work against Guinea worm continues as personal health is stable

ATLANTA — Former President Jimmy Carter said Wednesday that his health is good enough that he hopes he will live to see the end of Guinea worm, a parasitical disease he has led the fight against since the 1980s. He was at the Carter Center to talk about the opening of a new exhibit at

Former President Carter’s work against Guinea worm continues as personal health is stable Read More »

International, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Trump, Kennedy, and the real science of vaccines

News that President-elect Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met on Tuesday rang alarm bells throughout the scientific community, because both have aggressively promoted discredited anti-vaccination theories. Here are the debunked theories they espouse, and what the science actually says. THE CLAIM: That the high number of vaccines given to young children can overwhelm

Trump, Kennedy, and the real science of vaccines Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA