Logo

We're Limited by Our Need to Wander Off Topic

Aug 28, 2008

Pawe³ Szczêsny has a blog post at Freelancing Science about the extent to which online collaborations can replace real-life interactions in science. In wondering "why people who live, breathe and do research online still need to meet in person to plan and discuss some stuff," Szczêsny concludes that the value of real-life meetings lies in "the possibility of discussing things not directly related to [a particular] project." Because of that, he says online research collaborations will work to a point, but won't fully replace in-person meetings. 

Breaking News
The Scan

Pig Organ Transplants Considered

The Wall Street Journal reports that the US Food and Drug Administration may soon allow clinical trials that involve transplanting pig organs into humans.

'Poo-Bank' Proposal

Harvard Medical School researchers suggest people should bank stool samples when they are young to transplant when they later develop age-related diseases.

Spurred to Develop Again

New Scientist reports that researchers may have uncovered why about 60 percent of in vitro fertilization embryos stop developing.

Science Papers Examine Breast Milk Cell Populations, Cerebral Cortex Cellular Diversity, Micronesia Population History

In Science this week: unique cell populations found within breast milk, 100 transcriptionally distinct cell populations uncovered in the cerebral cortex, and more.