Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Space Machines & Space Radiation
The U.S.'s Mars rover detected a recent large solar flare.
Russia is blaming cosmic radiation for the failure of their Mar's moon craft.
Russia is blaming cosmic radiation for the failure of their Mar's moon craft.
Contrasting Two Accident Responses In Idaho
This is an op-ed in regards to a contamination event at Idaho Nat'l Labs (a government-owned facility) and a private mining corporation.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Fukushima Frustrations
Among evacuees. The psychology behind by this statement is interesting:
" "Many residents feel that they have been forced to evacuate because of a man-made disaster, not a natural calamity," says Kanno. "Before, when bad weather or other problems occurred, everyone was on the same boat -- so people had the will to help each other. In the case of a natural disaster, people know that even if there are difficulties at the beginning, they can eventually start all over again even from scratch. However, when one is fighting against radiation pollution, starting a new life three, or even five years later is not easy. That is one of the characteristics of (the invisible damage caused by) radiation."
" "Many residents feel that they have been forced to evacuate because of a man-made disaster, not a natural calamity," says Kanno. "Before, when bad weather or other problems occurred, everyone was on the same boat -- so people had the will to help each other. In the case of a natural disaster, people know that even if there are difficulties at the beginning, they can eventually start all over again even from scratch. However, when one is fighting against radiation pollution, starting a new life three, or even five years later is not easy. That is one of the characteristics of (the invisible damage caused by) radiation."
Congrats St. Jude Researchers
For discovering the underlying mutations associated with rare brain cancers.
Loss Of Big Picture Accident
There's been some new small leakage at Fukushima.
Why is that worthy of news coverage?
Guess what? There will be lots of little leaks, small spills, puffs of contamination, etc.
That's what happens when one tries to work with the debris field that was Fukushima.
Why is that worthy of news coverage?
Guess what? There will be lots of little leaks, small spills, puffs of contamination, etc.
That's what happens when one tries to work with the debris field that was Fukushima.
Stress - Cancer - Evolution
I always get a chuckle when some LNT-denier says something like, "we've evolved in a bath of radiation...small doses stimulate the immune system and are good for us". If only I had a nickel for each time.
Yes, the bath of radiation is an environmental stress on our genes that causes genomic instability which promotes evolution.
That "stimulated immune system" is accompanying a reduction in genomic fidelity which leads to cancer. Cancer is just evolution of somatic cells in the body's microenvironment.
Here's a new study which chemicals and yeast were used to test stress effects.
Yes, the bath of radiation is an environmental stress on our genes that causes genomic instability which promotes evolution.
That "stimulated immune system" is accompanying a reduction in genomic fidelity which leads to cancer. Cancer is just evolution of somatic cells in the body's microenvironment.
Here's a new study which chemicals and yeast were used to test stress effects.
Dummy & Mummy
Some researchers have found prostate cancer in a 2,200 year old mummy.
We have evidence of human cancer before that.
But the more important point is in regards to "industrial factors" as mentioned in the former article.
Cancer happens because genes are disrupted....it isn't just "industrial factors" which cause that....natural radiation does that, certain foods do that, etc. The same things which cause mutation which have given us speciation have given us cancer. They aren't necessarily "industrial factors".
We have evidence of human cancer before that.
But the more important point is in regards to "industrial factors" as mentioned in the former article.
Cancer happens because genes are disrupted....it isn't just "industrial factors" which cause that....natural radiation does that, certain foods do that, etc. The same things which cause mutation which have given us speciation have given us cancer. They aren't necessarily "industrial factors".
Sunday, January 29, 2012
I Could Only Watch Part 1
To reach the conclusion that this guy is a dangerous quack.
Oh, and he's selling a book.
Oh, and he's selling a book.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Grape Seed Extract A Cancer Killer
In head & neck squamous cell carcinomas, though still need to test on humans.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Nukespeak
Here's a video hosted by anti-nuclear propagandist Karl Grossman with his guest, the author of a book about the language of what he calls "Nukespeak". The author makes some valid points but engages in his own "anti-nukespeak".
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tumors Are Like Climate
Climate is the macroscale outcome of numerous underlying phenomena. It takes mathematical modeling in order to make predictions. Tumors are also the macroscale outcome of numerous underlying phenomena. No surprise that mathematical modeling is of assistance.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Nuclear Power Risk Greater Than That Of Global Warming
That's the changed opinion of a University of Tokyo professor emeritus who advised the Japanese government on climate change matters prior to Fukushima.
Coincidences Are Not Causations
More on the 14,000 U.S. deaths (which has now risen to 155,000) from Fukushima fallout "study".
"The Atomic States Of America"
Is a new anti-nuclear propaganda documentary which is pretty much like old anti-nuclear propaganda documentaries. It was covered by an anti-nuclear show called Democracy Now!
Let's dig in!
Let's dig in!
Cocoa Could Reduce Risk Of Colon Cancer
This is good news for cocoa lovers, though the study involved rats.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Ignorant Criticism Of PBS Documentary
Here's some ignorant criticism of the PBS Frontline Documentary "Nuclear Aftershocks", which aired last week (it's probably available online free at PBS, if you haven't seen it).
Let's dig in!
Let's dig in!
Anti-Vaccine Movement Similiarities To Anti-LNT Movement
Here's an abstract from an article about the anti-vaccine movement and the Internet. The AVM poses a danger to children and society at large, by exaggerating the dangers of vaccines, thereby convincing some that kids should not be vaccinated. This has lead to the resurrgence of some childhood diseases.
Of course the same concepts apply to those folks who suggest radiation is beneficial, thereby increasing the risks to the general public. It also applies to those folks who exaggerate the risks of radiation, which may lead to stress, anxiety, etc. and cause people to take actions they wouldn't otherwise take.
Of course the same concepts apply to those folks who suggest radiation is beneficial, thereby increasing the risks to the general public. It also applies to those folks who exaggerate the risks of radiation, which may lead to stress, anxiety, etc. and cause people to take actions they wouldn't otherwise take.
But It's NORMal!
NORM is the acronym for Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials.
Seems like some folks in North Dakota are learning more about them.
Seems like some folks in North Dakota are learning more about them.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
90% Increase In Childhood Leukemias Around French Nuke Plants!
That's what a recent study concluded between the years of 2002-2007. Note that the increase is not apparent over the years of 1990-2007 (which include the smaller subset). The authors are to be commended for pointing out a major weakness of these types of studies:
"Like most studies of childhood leukemia in the neighborhood of NPPs, the Geocap study did
There are other weaknesses too, pointed out by the authors:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.27425/pdf
Relax.
"Like most studies of childhood leukemia in the neighborhood of NPPs, the Geocap study did
not have access to complete residential histories, which is an important limitation for the
NPPs"There are other weaknesses too, pointed out by the authors:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.27425/pdf
Relax.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Smoothies To Reduce Radiation Effects
Quack, quack. This starts with the bogus 14,000 dead Americans from Fukushima study and gets even more ridiculous.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Fairewinds Associates Buffoonery
Was it a fool moon last night or what (just kidding)???
From the denial that radiation causes cancer by AtomicIdeologies Insights in my earlier post, to Flatulentwinds Fairewinds Associates exaggerating the radiation risks to Japanese children as a result of Fukushima.
From the denial that radiation causes cancer by Atomic
Atomic Ideologies Buffoonery
The blog Atomic Insights (which is more ideology than insight) has a post which is a discussion about whether or not radiation causes cancer. It's quite stunning to read the first paragraph where a Dr. George presents anecdotal evidence as scientific evidence. And it continues to plunge downhill from there, with a Dr. Cuttler, who is claimed to have 15 years studying the health effects of radiation, yet quotes Dr. Wade Allison, who has said he has no expertise in the field. And I have pointed out many of his scientific flaws in early posts which can be found in that last link.
Smiley Face In A Cancer Cell
Courtesy of Westmead Millenium Institute for Medical Research. The "face" is the cell nucleus. The dark areas (eyes & mouth) are areas where a particular protein (beta-catenin) cannot enter.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
What Will Become Of TVA's HLW?
Here's a follow-up from yesterday's post regarding TVA inviting the media to tour Sequoyah.
Cancers From Electromagnetic Radiation??
People get cancer. And cell towers exist. That doesn't mean cell towers cause cancer. But why let logic get in the way of fear mongering?
NCSE's Initiative On Global Warming
The National Center For Science Education is known best for their work of promoting the science of evolutionary biology (and fighting the pseudo-science of creationism and intelligent design). They have decided to become more active on the global warming front (pun intended).
I could use their help on the health physics front too.
I could use their help on the health physics front too.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Does The AAPM Understand Risk?
It doesn't sound like it, based on their recent statement.
We know that every dose of radiation has the potential to contribute to carcinogenesis. That doesn't mean every dose will. There's simply a risk that it will.
How can they say, "Risks of medical imaging at effective doses below 50 mSv (milliSieverts) for single procedures or 100 mSv for multiple procedures over short time periods are too low to be detectable and may be nonexistent," said the statement released by the AAPM. "Predictions of hypothetical cancer incidence and deaths in patient populations exposed to such low doses are highly speculative and should be discouraged."?
Why, using modern epidemiology to devise these risks, are the risks "highly speculative" and why should they be discouraged? What is the AAPM offering in return for our ignoring the science??
Nothing.
With all that said, most of the time the cancer risk associated with diagnostic imaging is less than the risk of not getting the information offered by the imaging. But not always, sometimes doctors make mistakes.
We know that every dose of radiation has the potential to contribute to carcinogenesis. That doesn't mean every dose will. There's simply a risk that it will.
How can they say, "Risks of medical imaging at effective doses below 50 mSv (milliSieverts) for single procedures or 100 mSv for multiple procedures over short time periods are too low to be detectable and may be nonexistent," said the statement released by the AAPM. "Predictions of hypothetical cancer incidence and deaths in patient populations exposed to such low doses are highly speculative and should be discouraged."?
Why, using modern epidemiology to devise these risks, are the risks "highly speculative" and why should they be discouraged? What is the AAPM offering in return for our ignoring the science??
Nothing.
With all that said, most of the time the cancer risk associated with diagnostic imaging is less than the risk of not getting the information offered by the imaging. But not always, sometimes doctors make mistakes.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Where Crazy Interviews Crazy
Where else but the Alex Jones show? His guest was Dr. Doug Rokke, who is an "expert" on depleted uranium.
At about 8:05, Rokke calls Fukushima, "Fukiyama"...HA! HA!
You won't learn much about depleted uranium in this video, but you will learn about schizo-paranoia.
At about 8:05, Rokke calls Fukushima, "Fukiyama"...HA! HA!
You won't learn much about depleted uranium in this video, but you will learn about schizo-paranoia.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
TSA Folks To Wear Dosimeters
Seems like a waste of money, so it's probably appropriate.
Here's more info on the backscatter machines.
Here's more info on the backscatter machines.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria From Fukushima?
Well, at least he's not proposing Godzilla. The answer is no. Bacteria enjoy mutations a' plenty. Fukushima isn't going to impact that significantly. The antibiotic resistance originates when those bacteria exposed to an antibiotic survive and proliferate, whereas the non-mutants die. There may be plenty of antibiotic bacteria in the environment, but we're not aware of them until we expose them to antibiotics. Similarly, there are plenty of radiation sources, but there's no evidence that antibiotic resistant bacteria proliferate from around them.
Immune Cell Can Trigger Skin Cancer
The immune system seems able at times to help defeat and promote cancer. Here's another example.
Nuclear Power: Considerations Post-Fukushima
This is a bit long and a bit old, but interesting. You can skip the first 10 minutes unless you enjoy intro's. It seems to me the first speaker makes a big mis-estimate on 10 years for the Fukushima cleanup. It partly depends on what "cleanup" means, of course.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Kashiwa Incinerator Bloated With Ash
Too much waste from Fukushima, running out of storage space for ash.
Fibroblasts Contribute To Melanoma
Not a surprise. Here's a new blood test using photoacoustics that can measure melanoma cells in the blood.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Radioactive Seaweed
This video illustrates the radioactive contamination from Fukushima. It's very interesting to see the general public make their own measurements and draw their own conclusions and make those conclusions publicly available. For example, the person in the video concludes that it's "dangerous to be ingesting that". Is it?:
Happy Anniversary! (Better Late Than Never)
On January 1, 1971 the last cigarette commercial aired on television. It was for Virginia Slims (I don't know if the clip represents the last commercial). We've come a long, long way!:
Researchers Treat Lethal Doses Of Radiation
Or what was once lethal in mice. Similar to this study I posted a couple of months ago.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
More Fukushima Perspective From Japan
Citizens are taking matters into their own hands thanks to the internet and inexpensive monitoring equipment.
Meanwhile, the government vows a return to normalcy.
Meanwhile, the government vows a return to normalcy.
AntiEstrogen Therapy May Reduce Melanoma Risk
Some breast cancers are estrogen-receptor positive. If you give them anti-estrogen (aromatase inhibitors) those cancers shrink. A new study shows that melanoma risk may be reduced as well.
Hormesis & Right Wingers
Here's a book review on a book about radiation hormesis by someone affiliated with the Heartland Institute. The HI is a right wing "think tank" which conducts public relations campaigns targeted at minimizing the role of government. No surprise the review is favorable, since the ploy is that if radiation isn't bad, there's no need for government regulation. The review ends with:
"No honest individual with an IQ above plant life could fail to see the terrible malfeasance of science regarding the LNT after reading this outstanding book."
At about $1 per page, the malfeasance is clearly with the author and publisher. No way I would buy it just to refute it. But I'll rebut some of its facets based on the review. Let's see who has the IQ above plant life.
"No honest individual with an IQ above plant life could fail to see the terrible malfeasance of science regarding the LNT after reading this outstanding book."
At about $1 per page, the malfeasance is clearly with the author and publisher. No way I would buy it just to refute it. But I'll rebut some of its facets based on the review. Let's see who has the IQ above plant life.
Exercise May Cut Bowel Cancer Risk
According to this study. Yet, one has to be cautious with studies in which participants self report information. A stronger study would have actually measured the level of exercise. In any event, there are plenty of other of benefits to working out as well, so keep at it!
3-D Genome Map Created
This is wonderful! The genome which represents not just the linear DNA sequences on chromosomes but how the DNA is wrapped around the chromatim and how all that structure sits in 3-D can now be mapped.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
First Anti-Nuke Rant Of 2012
Anti-nuke propagandist Harvey Wasserman has a piece in the Huffington Post, based on earlier propaganda and exaggerations. He makes many points as to why 2012 is the end of nuclear power.
If he's wrong, will he put an end to his propaganda?
If he's wrong, will he put an end to his propaganda?
French Nuke Plants Need To Beef Up Safety
Read more here. Predictably, the anti-nukes say it's not enough. The pro-nukes say it's costly.
More New Year's Good News
A new agent has been found to help stop breast cancer from metastasizing to the brain.
The Complexity Gets More Complex
I am not surprised by this study which shows that cell signaling is also involved with regulating chromatin around which DNA molecules wrap. In this way cell signaling can influence gene expression. Now what if radiation can interfere with cell signaling, thereby changing gene expression, thereby promoting carcinogenesis?
Storing Solar Energy After Dark
Here's a good description of salt technologies being employed to store solar heat.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy Anniversary War On Cancer!
I should have posted this last year (as in last week), but we've just celebrated the 40 year war on cancer.
This NPR article provides a great overview of the "war".
Dr. Harold Varmus (the interviewee) isn't only in charge of the National Cancer Institute, but he won the Nobel Prize for figuring out that some oncogenes (genes that can contribute to cancer if mutated) have their origins with RNA viruses. Those viruses, called retroviruses, become incorporated into their host cells' DNA and use the host to replicate. About 5% of the human genome contains retrovirus DNA.
We've made some terrific progress over 40 years, but most people living in the 1970's would have expected more, I suspect. That's because rather than being a single disease with a single cause, cancer is a fundamental, but very complex phenomenon associated with evolutionary biology and life itself.
In 1900, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death followed by pneumonia in the U.S. By 1940, heart disease was first followed by cancer. And that's the rankings today.
This NPR article provides a great overview of the "war".
Dr. Harold Varmus (the interviewee) isn't only in charge of the National Cancer Institute, but he won the Nobel Prize for figuring out that some oncogenes (genes that can contribute to cancer if mutated) have their origins with RNA viruses. Those viruses, called retroviruses, become incorporated into their host cells' DNA and use the host to replicate. About 5% of the human genome contains retrovirus DNA.
We've made some terrific progress over 40 years, but most people living in the 1970's would have expected more, I suspect. That's because rather than being a single disease with a single cause, cancer is a fundamental, but very complex phenomenon associated with evolutionary biology and life itself.
In 1900, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death followed by pneumonia in the U.S. By 1940, heart disease was first followed by cancer. And that's the rankings today.