Newsy – Page 3 – Science & Story

October 27, 2015April 17, 2016

Two (wait, three) piece on the psychology of mass shootings

The New Yorker and Mother Jones both have longform pieces out this week on “the Columbine Effect” — that is, the tendency of would-be school shooters to draw inspiration and practical lessons from previous high-profile killings (of which there are, obviously, a growing number). And I think it’s worth comparing the two theses. The Mother Jones piece focuses on … Continue reading Two (wait, three) piece on the psychology of mass shootings

February 7, 2015February 9, 2015

The American Anti Vaccination Society (est. 1885)

On October 27, 1885, some twenty people (plus a few reporters) gathered at the home of Dr. R.A. Gunn on East 22nd street in Manhattan for an inaugural meeting of the American Anti-Vaccination Society. The group’s stated mission: “arousing the public to the evils of vaccination.” Their key arguments: Vaccines are ineffective at preventing disease. Worse yet, … Continue reading The American Anti Vaccination Society (est. 1885)

July 3, 2014April 20, 2015

On catch phrases and scientific controversy

Kim Tingley has a great cover story in the New York Times Magazine this week, on the slow crawl of mitochondrial gene transfer toward human trials. She does a good job of unpacking the science, and an even better job of probing the roots of our uneasiness with this prospective new therapy. The procedure involves … Continue reading On catch phrases and scientific controversy