Wesley J. Smith

They have to know better than this.  The National Science Foundation has erroneously conflated “induced pluripotent stem cells” with “adult” stem cells in discussing a report—which I also covered here at SHS—calling for continued federal funding of embryonic . . . . Continue Reading »

I know I am spitting in the wind, but that’s my job. We permit voluntary organ donations of one kidney or a slice of liver.  While things usually work out fine, there is no question the donation risks the health or life of the donor.  But the point is to save a life.Now, the issue of . . . . Continue Reading »

I have made fun of the noted transhumanist, George Dvorsky, on more than one occasion—most notably after listening to him advocate “uploading” animal consciousnesses into computers to eradicate the suffering caused by predation.  But I am not making fun of him now.  . . . . Continue Reading »

Sometimes, Woody Allen’s fantasy from Annie Hall actually happens:I provide a lot of latitude here on my blog for people to disagree with me, call me names, and cast aspersion on my motives.  That’s why I don’t generally read or respond to private emails that criticize what I . . . . Continue Reading »

Global warming hysterics have resorted in recent years to one of the biggest gun in any political advocacy arsenal—the lawyers. Suits have been brought, for example, against businesses that have acted within existing pollution regulations—for spewing carbon dioxide and supposedly warming . . . . Continue Reading »

These kind of stories are appearing with greater regularity in the UK papers:  A Christian discusses his or her faith with a colleague, or offers to pray with a patient—and gets the sack and/or is put through the job discipline ringer.  (Here’s an example from just a month . . . . Continue Reading »

Scientists have developed a new strain of wheat that can increase yields and resist a virulent fungus. From the Greenwire story via the NYT:A multinational group of scientists has developed farm-ready wheat resistant to a virulent and devastating plague that has slowly spread from Africa into the . . . . Continue Reading »

ESCR scientists are mounting a furious political assault against the lawsuit, currently back in Royce Lamberth’s court urging that human embryonic stem cell research continue to be funded by the Feds, hoping to pressure the judge to see it their way. From the Science Daily Story:Banning . . . . Continue Reading »

I can think of few things that would undermine universal human equality than for society to think that killing despairing people with serious illnesses or disabilities could be a splendid means of incresasing the supply of transplant organs.  I warned about this likelihood in my very first . . . . Continue Reading »

When I had the honor of interviewing the founder of  hospice, Dame Cecily Saunders, for my book Culture of Death, at the end of our conversation, I asked the usual catchall question of whether there was anything else she wanted to say.  She thought a moment and told me that her one regret . . . . Continue Reading »