Steven Bartlett Backs Pseudoscience, Time Crystals, The Yellow in Urine
Hello!
You might have heard the controversy following Dragons Den investing in an alternative medicine that claimed to relieve ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome). Steven Bartlett ultimately sealed the deal with AcuSeed’s founder Giselle Boxer.
The decision to invest in an unproven treatment has raised eyebrows and concerns alike from the medical, patient, and investment communities. At the core of this issue is the intersection of hope, desperation, and the allure of a quick fix versus the rigorous demands and ethical responsibilities of scientific validation.
Investing in such claims without the backing of solid scientific evidence not only undermines the principles of responsible investment but also risks giving false hope to those in desperate search of relief. This scenario serves as a stark reminder of the importance of distinguishing between genuine scientific breakthroughs and those that are, frankly, not science at all.
This Weeks Video
3 Things I found Cool this Week
Physicists break record in time crystal research
Physicists have achieved a significant breakthrough in time crystal research by creating a time crystal that persisted for over 40 minutes, a duration 10 million times longer than the previous record.
Alzheimer’s can pass between humans in rare medical accidents, suggests study
Research indicates Alzheimer's disease can potentially be transmitted from person to person through rare medical procedures involving contaminated human tissue, although it's not transmissible through everyday interactions.
We’ve finally found out what makes urine yellow
Scientists have solved the 125-year-old mystery of why urine is yellow by identifying a previously unknown microbial enzyme called bilirubin reductase, discovered by Brantley Hall and his team at the University of Maryland and the National Institutes of Health.
Life Updates
When asked, I always say I’ve been in Bristol, UK for about 10 years - it dawned on me today - that it’s actually been 15. Time has a way of slipping through our fingers, often unnoticed until moments of reflection bring its passage into sharp focus. Over the last three or four years, a gradual shift in my feelings towards the city has taken root. What once felt like a haven of creativity and vibrancy, now seems to constrict around me, leaving me feeling cramped and confined. So I’m off.
The decision to leave isn't made lightly. It's a culmination of years of subtle discontent and the longing for a new beginning. Edinburgh looms on the horizon, not just as a destination, but as a symbol of change and possibility.
Why Edinburgh? Perhaps it's the city's blend of historical grandeur and its reputation as a cultural hub that draws me in. Maybe it's the promise of open spaces and a different pace of life. Or it could simply be the human desire for change—to explore new environments and challenge oneself in different contexts.
This move represents more than a change of address; it's a step towards personal growth, an attempt rediscovery in new surroundings, and an opportunity to reshape my life in a city that promises a blend of beauty, history, and culture.
As I prepare to embark on this new chapter, the excitement of the unknown mingles with the nostalgia for the familiar.
As always, I hope you’re having a great week.
Dr Ben