The Unsung Hero of Science

In my journey as a scientist, I recently started questioning myself. How necessary is animal sacrifice in order for us to conduct research? The conflict arises because I know the benefits of using mice for research, but at the same time, I understand the ethical dilemma. What difference is there between millions of bred mice … Continue reading The Unsung Hero of Science

The Trouble with Joe Exotic’s American Individualism

During this crazy period, many of us have had more time than ever to watch whatever digital content we desire. And never in history has there been so much to choose from. What does it mean, then, that the #1 TV show on Netflix right now is an outrageous docu-series entitled “The Tiger King: Murder, … Continue reading The Trouble with Joe Exotic’s American Individualism

A Modest Proposal for Babycakes

How would you solve world hunger? Jonathan Swift’s 1729 essay “A Modest Proposal” has an answer, but it might not be one you’d expect. In what is one of the most renowned and outrageous works of satire in the English-speaking world, Swift modestly proposes that for Irish babies to be “beneficial to the publick,” 20% … Continue reading A Modest Proposal for Babycakes

“Blackfish” and the Politics of American Consumerism

When the documentary “Blackfish” came out in 2013, SeaWorld was a well-known and beloved attraction visited by thousands of families each year. Kids eagerly begged their parents to take them to see the iconic orca show starring Shamu at one of SeaWorld’s 11 different locations. But during the year that the film aired, the stock … Continue reading “Blackfish” and the Politics of American Consumerism