Wesley J. Smith

I had the opportunity to meet Michael Fumento on a recent trip to Washington DC. I found him as knowledgeable in person as on paper. Here is an example, in which Fumento describes how science journals are being politicized. This seems a real problem to me. At least on the issues in which I am . . . . Continue Reading »

Piglet islet cells transplanted into pancreases have effectively treated diabetes in monkeys. The technique is now ready for early trials in humans. Add this study to the successful cure of juvenile diabetes in mice using spleen cells, and we may see that there are many hopeful approaches to . . . . Continue Reading »

This is pretty remarkable: Apparently researchers were able to morph human ES cells into prostate gland cells, implant them in mice, and they grew into a complete gland. The researchers claim that this technique will help them gain better understanding of prostate diseases such as cancer.I . . . . Continue Reading »

This column in the Guardian (by college lecturer Dylan Evans) about the supposed inevitability of transhumanism is, I think, overly pessimistic. Evans worries that the social pressures set in motion by transhumanist technologies will one day force most people to enhance their children genetically . . . . Continue Reading »

The venerable political columnist John Leo has weighed in on a favorite pet peeve of mine; the ubiquitous use of euphemisms rather than accurate descriptive language to describe facts or actions that are controversial or disturbing. He speaks of euphemisms used in areas as far ranging as plane . . . . Continue Reading »

There is a big furor in California over whether doctors should participate in executions. Many in bioethics and the media claim that it is unethical for doctors to cooperate in executions, since killing is not a medical act.I have great sympathy for that view. But if that is true, it should go . . . . Continue Reading »

In the summer of 2001, I toured Australia criticizing the “Down Under” Dr. Death (Phillip Nitschke) for his advocacy of assisted suicide, even for troubled teens. It was one of my most successful advocacy ventures. For two weeks I was at the epicenter of a media firestorm, resulting . . . . Continue Reading »

This is a story too infrequently told: Of people cruelly victimized by the terrorists of Stop Hungingdon Animal Cruelty and other such radical extreme animal rights/liberationist terrorists. And if you don’t think that terrorists is precisely the right word, read the following quote (and then . . . . Continue Reading »

A side note on the post below: The only reason we know that bone marrow stem cells might one day be able to be used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s is due to animal experimentation. In this particular case, mice were genetically altered, they were caused to have Alzheimer’s disease, they . . . . Continue Reading »

We must be wary of making too much of this story since it is early research, but it could be very good news. Bone marrow stem cells may be able to treat Alzheimer’s, according to mouse studies. If so, all we can say is, wow!I have been very critical of cloning and ESCR boosters for almost . . . . Continue Reading »