research
Tag archives for research
OAS Wednesday – Activating immunity to suppress autoimmunity.
Posted by Kevin Bonham on May 15, 2013 Every time I see an ad for some remedy that “Helps BOOST the Immune System!” I die a little inside. It’s not just that these products are often homeopathic bull*, but (as I’ve mentioned before), boosting the immune system can actually be a terrible idea. The immune system is a finely tuned instrument, and too much can…
Technology and Intent
Posted by Kevin Bonham on May 12, 2012 No technology is inherently good or evil, it’s the use of that technology that determines its value. A blade can be used in surgery to save a life, or as a weapon to take one. The ballistics that enable missiles to destroy enemies also enables the launch of communication satellites and exploration of other worlds.…
Fuel from Seaweed
Posted by Kevin Bonham on January 26, 2012 I grew up on the coast of California, and I loved to surf. At my favorite break, Pleasure Point, the best waves were often at low tide, but low tide also meant seaweed. Lots of seaweed. [Source] The giant kelp of Monteray Bay is an astonishing organism. It’s not actually a plant, it’s a brown…
Instructions for a retrovirus vaccine? Not really
Posted by Kevin Bonham on September 13, 2011 When folks in my lab think about biological problems, we think about basics. A pathogen has some molecular component that trips a sensor on the outside of a cell. That sensor (the receptor) grabs on to some adapter proteins and starts a cascade of chemical reactions catalyzed by various enzymes, which eventually leads to the…
