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General Science / What was the purpose of therapeutic apparatus called Dr Scott's Improvement?

« on: 12/10/2021 11:52:47 »

Hello everyone,

I'm doing research for the Paralympic Heritage Trust at Stoke Mandeville Stadium and we have photographs of equipment called Dr Scott's Improvement. What would be good resources to consult about it and what it was for?

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Physiology & Medicine / What are the causes of and evidence-based therapies for tinnitus?

« on: 24/12/2020 09:06:59 »

Have a safe and happy Christmas to all at the Naked Scientists. Really informative and reassuring stuff.

At the moment, tinnitus is treated using psychological and listening therapies. Has anyone investigated the factors behind the constant ringing and has gained a greater understanding of them so that a cure could be found in the not too distant future?

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Physiology & Medicine / Why this happened; could it be done deliberately?

« on: 16/12/2020 10:48:46 »

The BBC in 2012 reported this story. Any idea why it happened and could it be done deliberately.

Yet consultant neuro-psychiatrist Dr Sudad Jawad has worked with young people who have had strokes and has come across a similar case in his practice of a man whose sexuality changed from homosexual to heterosexual.

"Just like a stroke can change you as a person, your behaviour, your personality, the way you think, why not sexual orientation, it is part of the personality of the individual," says Jawad.

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Physiology & Medicine / Why can vets operate on humans but not the other way around?

« on: 15/09/2020 10:37:55 »

During coverage of Crufts on Channel Four, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick talked about the need for human medicine and veterinary medicine to collaborate for the betterment of both humans and animals. He has set up a charity to advocate for that collaboration, the Humanimal Trust.

Animals have been our companions for thousands of years. I wonder why the two practices divulged as they did.

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New Theories / Attraction Expansion Technology

« on: 11/09/2020 17:27:23 »

The term cosmetic neurology was invented in 2004 by Professor Anjan Chatterjee, a neurologist. It refers to interventions that individuals would use to improve themselves; not treat ailments or diseases. This paper refers to a theoretical, attraction expansion technology and it was published last month. titled Expanding the Romantic Circle written by Tena Thau and published by Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. Is this kind of technology ethical to research and scientifically plausible?

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General Science / Gabriel Weston's education and career

« on: 10/09/2020 13:32:55 »

As many did, I greatly enjoyed Gabriel Weston's BBC series Incredible Medicine.  What is also interesting is her education. She studied for an MA in English Literature at Edinburgh University. Afterwards, she studied at medical school in London in 1993 and qualified as a surgeon and ENT specialist.  She has an O Level in Biology.

Could someone be accepted in medical school now if they had an GCSE subject in Biology and an unrelated university degree?

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Just Chat! / Artificial virus

« on: 24/02/2020 17:39:21 »

Could humans engineer a virus that would create new genetic material once injected into an individual?

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Just Chat! / Cryostasis

« on: 19/02/2020 10:41:51 »

At the moment, freezing a person alive is illegal. What do members think of the prospects of revising the law so that persons still alive can go into cryostasis like in films Demolition Man and others. Enable a person to safely sleep.

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Just Chat! / New book and sexual orientation

« on: 18/02/2020 16:07:15 »

There is a new book out there called Love Drugs: The Chemical Future of Our Relationships by Brian Earp and Julian Savulescu.

One chapter that I expect will be controversial is titled Avoiding Disaster, mentioning theoretical high tech methods of which an individual could alter sexual orientation.

Methods suggested by others have been: neuropharmacology, deep brain stimulation, germ line engineering and brain surgery.

I accept that the topic has stigma.

What do members think of the legitimacy of enabling someone to expand their sexual orientation so they're attracted to more people? Call it modification, not cure.

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New Theories / Altering humans' inner nature

« on: 14/12/2019 20:44:53 »

What do scientists consider ethical to research to alter in humans? One aspect could be sexual orientation and I know Ann Widdecombe caused controversy this summer with her remark during her Sky News interview science could enable people to switch sexuality.

11

New Theories / Will we discover pharmaceuticals that could alter romance?

« on: 14/12/2019 20:08:38 »

Hello everyone,

There is an upcoming book that is titled <<advertising removed>>. It will discuss how pharmaceutical interventions that could alter romantic/sexual feelings.

I expect the most controversial chapter in the book will be Chapter 11: Avoiding <<spam>>. Spam that could alter spam orientation through high-tech interventions.

What do scientists consider ethical to alter in humans?