Posted inStatistics
On That New “Gay Gene” Study
First and most important point: there is no way we're going to cover in 750 words the whole of this field. Much will be left out. This small article is…
Posted inCulture Philosophy
Jerry Coyne Has A Go At Pope Francis. Shoots Self In Foot
Since it's Halloween, we may as well examine the spooks, hobgoblins, and bogeymen which taunt and haunt the minds of our public undead, which is to say, our intellectuals. Now…
Posted inPhilosophy Statistics
The True Meaning Of Statistical Models
This came up yesterday (again, as it does often), so I figure one more stab is in order. Because the answer isn't simple, I had to write a lot, which…
Posted inFun Statistics
Climate Hustle, Readers Write
Hustling along I was over at the UN yesterday and met Marc Marano, who interviewed me for his upcoming documentary tentatively titled Climate Hustle. With fedora jauntily tipped back to…
Posted inStatistics
Autism And Stem-Cell Derived Vaccines: Deisher’s New Paper
Background Stacy Trasancos asked me to review her post "Why Are Catholics Criticizing Dr. Theresa Deisher?", and in particular the paper "Impact of environmental factors on the prevalence of autistic…
Posted inStatistics
Exposure To Fracking Reduces Low-Birth-Weight Babies
Shouldn't a peer-reviewed paper which purports to tie chemicals produced in the manufacture of natural gas (fracking etc.) to birth defects actually measure exposure (of fetus carriers, i.e. "mothers") to…
Posted inCulture Philosophy
Government To Issue Baby Licenses
Regular readers will recall that I am a (self-appointed) bioethicist, a post I take on not because I need the work, but because the professionals are making such a hash…
Posted inStatistics
Ask A Scientific Ethicist: Baby Making, Auto Mishap, ISIS Attacks
This was supposed to run this morning. No idea why it didn't. This week, three letters from concerned readers. Too many babies Dear Scientific Ethicist, Hopefully this subject matter isn't…