Science alone cannot shape sustainability

Why science cannot stand alone.

In an era in which certain arenas of scientific research have become increasingly controversial, this article critically evaluates what it means to "believe in science." Many scientists today seem to claim a sovereign right to no political interference under the rubric of freedom. This article questions such a notion, and explores the dominance of science and the silencing of moral voices by un...

What Science and the Scientific Method Can and Cannot Contribute to Conservation and Sustainability

Anatomical structure alone cannot predict function

The central hypothesis of the target article that tidal waves of parallel fiber excitation precisely activate Purkinje cell spiking is hard to reconcile with recent neurophysiological and modeling data. The assumed pattern of mossy fiber input seems unrealistic, inhibition is likely to interfere with the proposed excitatory responses, and moreover, computer simulations show that the Purkinjecel...

Pay for performance alone cannot drive quality.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether aligning design characteristics of a pay-for-performance program with objectives of an asthma improvement collaborative builds improvement capability and accelerates improvement. DESIGN Interrupted time series analysis of the impact of pay for performance on results of an asthma improvement collaborative. SETTING Forty-four pediatric practices within greater C...

Diagnosis: genetic testing cannot stand alone.

Genetic testing uses advanced laboratory techniques to identify protein alterations, certain metabolites, chromosomes, or nucleic acids by which a genotype is determined or inferred. These tests provide insights into the molecular basis and physiopathology of genetic diseases, information which is critical for prevention, treatment and genetic counseling. Initiated in 1982, Cuba's National Prog...