Wesley J. Smith

I reported a few days ago here at SHS about how an ethics committee in Switzerland expounded on what could be called the rights of plants. Now Nature has weighed in about the ridiculous matter of “plant dignity,” worrying that it could impede biology. From the editorial:The Swiss federal . . . . Continue Reading »

This shouldn’t be necessary—and it isn’t enough—but the Animal Liberation Front and others have been enjoined from coming within 50 feet or researchers’ homes and from otherwise intimidating and harassing them. Of course, that will make no difference to the fanatics. . . . . Continue Reading »

I submit, it is my hypothesis, that medicine is devolving from a profession with firm standards of excellence and ethics, into a technocracy—still possessing excellence—but with a very fluid concept of ethics. Case in point: A law that would require “good moral character” as . . . . Continue Reading »

Ian Wilmut was an enthusiastic human cloner, and indeed, had obtained a license from the never-say-no UK Embryo Authority to create cloned embryos from the DNA of motor neuron disease patients, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease in the USA. Then Shinya Yamanaka invented Induced Pluripotent . . . . Continue Reading »

As I keep saying, most biotechnology is not controversial. This is amazing: Scientists have restored site with a bionic eye. From the story:Surgeons have carried out the first operations in Britain using a pioneering “bionic eye” that could in future help to restore blind people’s . . . . Continue Reading »

Oh brother: PETA claims to be about ending all human use of animals, but its first priority is grabbing attention. The newest gimmick is a contest that will award $1 million to the scientist who first develops in vitro meat that can be sold to the public in place of steak or bacon. From the . . . . Continue Reading »

This is a perfect example of all that has gone wrong with our public discourse and what passes for important public policy. Facts simply no longer matter. What counts are narratives and motives.Thus Gail Collins, writing about global warming in the NYT, states: The Europeans have a perfect right to . . . . Continue Reading »

Washington’s Initiative 1000 to legalize assisted suicide is rolling in dough, thanks to Booth Gardner and the professional assisted suicide groups, who in turn, get much of their money from the likes of George Soros. Here is a breakdown of about $550,000 in campaign donations based on filed . . . . Continue Reading »

Studies about seniors being happy seem to have surprised a reporter. From the story:Eye-opening new research finds the happiest Americans are the oldest, and older adults are more socially active than the stereotype of the lonely senior suggests. The two go hand in hand: Being social can help keep . . . . Continue Reading »

Ha! I had some fun at the expense of Dr. Richard “a free thinking oasis” Dawkins the other day, accusing him here at SHS of being a Raelian because he states in Expelled that it is an “intriguing possibility” that life here was seeded by space aliens.Well, today Dawkins had a . . . . Continue Reading »