Posts Tagged Science

By Chloe Angyal • 10 years ago

Quick hit: How sequestration screws over breast cancer researchers

At TPM Cafe today, there’s a great piece about how sequestration cuts are making it harder for scientists to do research on lifesaving medical treatments:

The sequester was supposed to be so draconian that it would drive politicians to accept some alternative budget compromise. Unfortunately compromise seems to be a dirty word in Washington, and it has become almost dogma for some that any government spending is inherently wrong and should be opposed on principle. But does that really extend to scientific biomedical research that can save lives?

Some types of government spending are crucial and necessary. These investments include not only breast cancer research, but all avenues of basic scientific research funded by agencies such as the National Institutes ...

At TPM Cafe today, there’s a great piece about how sequestration cuts are making it harder for scientists to do research on lifesaving medical treatments:

The sequester was supposed to be so draconian that it would ...
By Sesali B. • 10 years ago

The effects of unchecked criminalization: Teen charged with felony for science experiment

When we talk about the criminalization of communities and people of color, especially African Americans and Latinos in America, we often talk about the criminal justice system in America that disproportionately targets those communities.Schools are often the major accomplices in making this system run with the school to prison pipeline. Nothing exemplifies this more than what is happening to 16 year old Kiera Wilmot in Florida. According to the Miami New Times,

 “7 a.m. on Monday, the 16 year-old mixed some common household chemicals in a small 8 oz water bottle on the grounds of Bartow High School in Bartow, Florida. The reaction caused a small explosion that caused the top to pop up and produced some smoke. No one was hurt ...

When we talk about the criminalization of communities and people of color, especially African Americans and Latinos in America, we often talk about the criminal justice system in America that disproportionately targets those communities.Schools are often the major accomplices in ...
By Katie Halper • 11 years ago

Daily Feminist Cheat Sheet

Arizona introduces bill to prosecute transgender people for using the “wrong” bathroom.

Esquire editor says women are “ornamental” and like “cool cars.” But it’s cool, because they feature old women like Cameron Diaz.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus explains that his party lost the women’s vote because they didn’t reach out to “emotional” voters. Thanks. I think I’m going to cry now.

More stories from survivors of sexual assault in the military.

Why support for marriage equality has risen so quickly.

A 13-year-old girl was raped by two football players. Now she’s being bullied online.

Meet 29 amazing women in STEM.

Hey! Maybe Pope Francis only hates gay people half as much as we thought!

Did ...

Arizona introduces bill to prosecute transgender people for using the “wrong” bathroom.

Esquire editor says women are “ornamental” and like “cool cars.” But it’s cool, because they feature old women like Cameron Diaz.

Republican National Committee Chairman ...
By Anna • 11 years ago

The Feministing Five: Reshma Saujani

“We live in a society ashamed of failure.” Those are words from Reshma Saujani, who’s fighting to change that norm and leading by example. She’s founder of Girls Who Code, an organization helping girls in low-income neighborhoods succeed in technology and engineering. She was also the first Indian-American woman to run for Congress, with her 2010 bid for a seat in the House of Representatives in New York’s 14th congressional district. She didn’t win, but she’s not taking “no” for an answer. She believes: “If you haven’t failed yet, you haven’t tried anything.” And they’re not empty words. She’s running in this year’s race for New York City Public Advocate.

Did I mention she’s also a Next MAKER? It’s ...

“We live in a society ashamed of failure.” Those are words from Reshma Saujani, who’s fighting to change that norm and leading by example. She’s founder of Girls Who Code, an organization helping girls in low-income ...
By Katie Halper • 11 years ago

Breaking news: HPV vaccine does NOT make you more “promiscuous”

Why would anyone oppose a vaccine that could protect people from the human papillomavirus and, ultimately cervical cancer? Well, there’s intellectual heavy weight and amateur scientist Michele Bachmann, who claims the vaccine causes mental retardation. But a more widespread fear among some conservatives is that it will lead to “promiscuity.” And at the end of the day, having a lot of sex with a lot of people is way worse than dying of cancer.

Of course, the science proves, once again, that there is no correlation between the HPV vaccine and sexual behavior. A new study looking at a sample of nearly 1,400 girls, found no evidence that those who were vaccinated beginning around age 11 went on to engage ...

Why would anyone oppose a vaccine that could protect people from the human papillomavirus and, ultimately cervical cancer? Well, there’s intellectual heavy weight and amateur scientist Michele Bachmann, who claims the vaccine causes mental retardation. But ...
By Vanessa • 11 years ago

RIP, Sally Ride

“All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.”

As you’ve probably heard, Sally Ride passed away yesterday at the age of 61 due to pancreatic cancer. Ride was not only the first U.S. woman to enter space, but the first LGBT American (she actually came out in her obituary) and the youngest astronaut to enter space at the time. “Groundbreaker” almost seems like an understatement.

She was also a staunch advocate for girls’ and women’s involvement in science, setting up programs across the country to urge girls to get involved in STEM. She is survived by her childhood friend turned partner of 27 years, Tam O’Shaughnessy, her mother Joyce and her sister Ms. Scott, who is known as Bear.

We ...

“All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.”

As you’ve probably heard, Sally Ride passed away yesterday at the age of 61 due to pancreatic cancer. Ride was not only the first U.S. woman to enter space, ...
By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

The Wednesday Weigh-In: Male birth control edition

It’s no secret that dudes love to talk about hormonal birth control. But until now, their more direct involvement, namely, being able to take it themselves to effectively prevent against unwanted pregnancy, has been somewhat limited, as there are no options for male hormonal birth control out there just yet.

Well to all my sistas tired of being the only ones to shoulder the burden of taking hormonal birth control, Christmas may have come early this year. The LA Times is reporting that a method of birth control targeted for men is showing some strong potential:

“A birth control gel for men sharply lowered sperm counts with few side effects, researchers reported Tuesday. The gel, containing ...

It’s no secret that dudes love to talk about hormonal birth control. But until now, their more direct involvement, namely, being able to take it themselves to effectively prevent against unwanted pregnancy, has been somewhat ...
By Samhita • 11 years ago

The morning-after pill is not an abortion pill

That’s just some outdated medical information that is repeated on practice, but has never been scientifically proven. According to investigation by the New York Times–the morning-after pill doesn’t stop the fertilized egg from implanting but instead slows down ovulation, before the egg is even fertilized.

It turns out that the politically charged debate over morning-after pills and abortion, an increasingly sensitive issue in this election year, is probably rooted in outdated or incorrect scientific guesses about how the pills work. Because they block creation of fertilized eggs, they would not meet abortion opponents’ definition of abortion-inducing drugs. In contrast, RU-486 is an abortion pill because it destroys implanted embryos, terminating pregnancies.

The implantation idea stems from the Food and Drug Administration’s decision during ...

That’s just some outdated medical information that is repeated on practice, but has never been scientifically proven. According to investigation by the New York Times–the morning-after pill doesn’t stop the fertilized egg from implanting but instead ...

Load More