Part the First: If You Stretch Biomedical Science Too Far It Breaks, Every Time. Gene editing using CRISPR technology has made possible great leaps in biomedical science, and Emanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna were rightly awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for it in 2020. The prospects for CRISPR in therapy for tractable genetic diseases […]
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Friday, August 7, 2026
Coffee Break: Gene Editing Gone Wrong, Plants that Eat Animals, and a Neanderthal Gene that Makes a Difference
Topics: Coffee Break, Curiousities, Health care, Science and the scientific method, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by KLG at 2:00 pm | 1 Comment »
The Floods of the Future Won’t Come One at a Time
A dangerous collision of storm surge, torrential rain, and sea level rise threaten overwhelming floods, endangering large sections of the US
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Environment, Global warming, Guest Post, Real estate, Risk and risk management, Science and the scientific method
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 4 Comments »
Links 8/7/2026
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 50 Comments »
Iran War: Heads Explode Over Iran Draft Terms for Strait of Hormuz; Ansar Allah Strike on Saudi Forces, Killing Over 50
Today’s Iran war news: Iran’s draft to Parliament re operating the Strait gives new meaning to the word maximalist as Ansar Allah ramps up.
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Media watch, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 50 Comments »
The Donroe Doctrine Just Went Fully Live
And if you blinked, you probably missed it.
Topics: Guest Post
Posted by Nick Corbishley at 6:45 am | 13 Comments »
Why “Albert Einstein’s ‘Why Socialism?’”?
On Einstein’s important essay “Why Socialism?” along with his considerable involvement in politics and some of his important initiatives.
Topics: Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, Privatization, Social policy, Social values, The destruction of the middle class, The dismal science
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:00 am | 4 Comments »
The Ceuta Psyop Shows the Seams of the European Far Right
Far-right hysteria labeling the 70,000 border crossings an ‘invasion’ is part of the psyop—and it reveals the limits of their narrative.
Topics: Coffee Break, Europe, Income disparity, Politics, Social values
Posted by Curro Jimenez at 2:00 pm | 17 Comments »
Senate Dems Push GOP to Divulge Secret Plan to ‘Attack Earned Benefits Like Social Security’
Republican plans to gut, erm, “reform” Social Security must be brutal since they insist on hiding them till after the midterms.
Topics: Economic fundamentals, Guest Post, Health care, Income disparity, Politics, Social policy, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 29 Comments »
Links 8/6/2026
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 88 Comments »
Iran War: Iran Agreement With Oman Will Not “Open” Strait of Hormuz as Trump Hypes Non-Existent Talks; Ansar Allah Threatens Red Sea Escalation; Trump-Hegseth Row Over Weapons Shortages
Today’s Iran War news: Over-selling of Iran-Oman Hormuz pact as US arms shortages lead to doctrine change: liberal use of tactical nukes
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Media watch, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:16 am | 144 Comments »
Trade Liberalization Never Lifted All Boats
While selective trade liberalization has benefited powerful corporate interests and some others, most have lost out.
Topics: Africa, Agriculture, Commodities, Economic fundamentals, Free markets and their discontents, Globalization, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, Social policy
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:15 am | 1 Comment »
Science, Religion, and Political Omens: The Meaning of Eclipses in Ancient Rome
Eclipses have long caused fear and wonder, and became focuses for divination.
Topics: Curiousities, Guest Post, Science and the scientific method, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 2:29 am | 17 Comments »
El-Sayed on Track to Win US Senate Primary, Overcoming AIPAC’s $30 Million Onslaught
Abdul El-Sayed’s opponents, with substantial AIPAC funding, outspent him 11 to 1 but still lost. Israel support is becoming a scarlet letter.
Topics: Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Middle East, Politics, Social policy, Social values, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 46 Comments »
Links 8/5/2026
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:59 am | 82 Comments »
Iran War: US Again Fabricates Talks On, “Deal Is Nigh” As Reuters Reports Even Greater Weapons Depletion; Iran Debunks Media Reports on Oman Negotiations v. “Opening”
Today’s Iran war news: Disappointingly, more commentators are repeating Trump bogosity as the weapons and real economy crunch worsens.
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Media watch, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:51 am | 115 Comments »



