Could More Retractions be Good?, Building a Library for the Future, and More

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Some interesting tidbits over the last few weeks in the blog-o-verse…

  • Dr. Paul Knoepfler of UC Davis asks on his blog if the large numbers of recent retractions in Nature may be a good thing. Knoepfler discusses the pattern of retractions in the journal over time, the higher numbers of retractions in the last two years, and some ideas about what could be going on.
  • Margaret Atwood is the first author to contribute a work to The Future Library Project according to this report in The Guardian. Over the next 100 years, works will be added and remain secret until they are finally read in 2114 after being printed on paper from 1,000 trees, recently planted trees near Oslo.

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MSK Collaborates on Launch of New Nanotechnology Center and more…

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Some news items mentioning MSK over the past few weeks;

  • MSK joined with 14 organizations to launch the Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology. The initiative aims to use the science of nanotechnology to develop new vaccines and drug delivery systems, as well as improved imaging technology and disease detection.
  • A study carried out under MSK’s Dr. Monica Morrow has shown that less than 42% of breast cancer survivors decide to undergo breast reconstruction following mastectomy despite mandatory coverage. Among the characteristics of patients who do not choose reconstruction are being older, being black and having a lower education level. Continue reading →