Broken Beaker

Ok, Lets be Real...

2010-02-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

This site has yet to be updated in a while, and unfortunately this will continue to be the case. I am not only a full time MBA graduate student but also Vice President of the UMass Boston Graduate Business Association [Check us out here] and also a regular contributor to BeattheGMAT.com [link here]. I still intend to post cool articles when i get a chance, but updates will be sparse from now until...who knows. Many thanks to the readers who check this site regularly (ive actually gotten a few thosand hits in 6 months, which is great!), and be sure to look for my articles on Beatthegmat.com. Again, thanks for reading.

Can Free Cell Phones Be Profitable?

2009-12-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this isnt really a science post, but its cool nonetheless! Personally, im sick of paying $100 bucks a month for my iphone (which is basically a glorified mini-lapotop). This begs the question...can a company profit off a free phone? Gizmodo thinks that this is possible, and who better to do it than....Google. Thats right, Google. Read the Article! [Link]

Obama & keynesian Economics

2009-11-26T18:12:00.000-08:00

A paper I wrote for Economics about Obama, Keynesian economics, and the upcoming Green revolution.
Enjoy!

Macroeconomics : President Obama and Keynesian economics

Introduction

Barack Obama took office in January of 2009 and despite running on a campaign of hope and optimism, was already facing a mountain of economic problems. A mortgage crisis, a collapsing banking and auto industry, and increasing unemployment have plagued the Obama presidency, and have hugely influenced a lot of the decisions that the President has had to make regarding economic policy. Many Economists have argued that due to the sheer amount of economic problems that the administration has faced have led the Presidency to take a Keynesian stance towards the US economy¹. This Keynesian approach to the economy has divided not only political parties, but also the American public, and has led to a difficult start to the Obama presidency.

Background

When a candidate is running for presidency, one of the cornerstones of a presidential administration boils down to one key issue: the Economy. A president, and more broadly, the political party he is tied to, cannot make significant gains politically if there is high unemployment, high deficits, or both, and unfortunately, this has been the economic condition that Barack Obama has “inherited” from his political predecessors.

Usually the administration can choose to tackle economic problems in one of two ways; the administration can take a “hands off” approach to the economy (The Classical Approach) or it can choose to use a more Keynesian approach. Keynesians, unlike classical economists, don’t rely on the “Invisible Hand” of the free market to solve economical problems. Keynesians believe that the market is riddled with imperfections, and corrective actions need to be taken to solve problems in the short-run. Although the Obama presidency is still in its infancy, it is quite clear that the Obama White House has chosen a more Keynesian approach to the economy.

The Banking Crisis

One of the first Keynesian policies Obama enacted when entering the White House was continuing the Bush policy of investing US Tax payer dollars into US banks. Starting in 2008, nearly every U.S. bank began reporting that a lot of their mortgage-backed securities had lost a lot of value as the housing industry collapsed, and in essence, went “toxic”. This was followed quickly by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which was feared would cause a “domino effect” in the banking industry, since all of the banks in the

United States

have such an inter-dependent relationship². To curb this banking industry collapse, the federal government decided that instead of letting the free market decide the outcome of this impending financial disaster, the government would instead bail out the banks using taxpayer funds. Although free markets, reflected in Classical economic theory, are the best way to organize market activity, this is not the case when a market collapse occurs. The Federal Government feared that if the banks in trouble did not receive capital, firms affected by the crisis would not only face bankruptcy because of a lack of liquidity, but would be unwilling to give out loans to individuals and industries that needed it. Many U.S. companies rely on easy access to loans, and if banks failed and the credit markets “Froze”, that would mean a decrease in the ability of a firm to produce, leading to a decrease in the nations PPF, a decrease in GDP, and shrinkage in aggregate demand. The government facing a potential crisis, under the guidance of Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and a policy continued under Obama’s Treasury Secretary Timothy Geither, decided that the Federal government needed to “invest” $700 Billion of taxpayer money (TARP funds) into several U.S. Banks, including Bank of America, Citibank, and Merrill Lynch³. Though this act might have prevented a worldwide credit catastrophe, and helped keep the “Circular-Flow” (Figure 1) of the economy going during its darkest time, some economists argue that banks which accepted TARP money were, effectively, nationalized⁴.

Why is distribution of TARP funds considered a Keynesian economic policy? A classical economist would have refused to get involved in the crisis, and let the “invisible hand” of the free market run its course. However, with so much at risk, and facing a potential credit crisis that could lead to an economic meltdown, the Obama Administration chose to take a more Keynesian approach by lending TARP money to banks at risk, insuring that the “Circular flow” of the economy would not be disrupted.

Federal Interest Rates

The Obama Presidency, under the leadership of Ben Bernake, has also tried to increase aggregate demand for goods by lowering the Federal Reserve interest rate to historic loans since the financial crisis hit.

The Federal Reserve is the agency responsible for loaning out money to banks, and recently has aggressively brought down interest rates to historic lows in a very short time. In mid 2008, the Federal Reserve interest rates were around 4.5%, whereas now they are as low as 0% (see Figure 2). The Federal Reserve is hoping that if it can loan money to banks at a very low interest rate, banks who receive Federal Reserve money will be willing to lend firms and individuals loans at lower rates.

From a Keynesian point of view, this is a great benefit to the economy. Why? This decrease in Federal Interest rates would help boost aggregate demand in the economy; firms, now with access to cheap capital, could hire more employees, build more factories, and increase output of goods. Hopefully, this increase of hiring and output would result in an increase in household income which would feed back into the “circular flow” of the economy, encouraging spending, and hopefully, lead to a cycle of economic growth.

If the Obama Administration and Federal Chairman Ben Bernake did not take an aggressive stance towards cutting Federal Reserve Interest rates, it could have led to a longer credit crisis. With a higher interest rate, Banks, even with TARP funds, would have been hesitant to lend money to individuals and firms.

“Green Industry”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment act⁵ was another attempt by the Obama administration to spur economic growth through reinvestment of US funds into industries that are expected to grow in the future. These industries are mostly focused on energy infrastructure and renewable energy. A classical economist would not dare interfere with the free market, however the Obama administration feels that this is a necessary step to not only increase “green” production output of energy in the United States, but also decreasing potential frictional unemployment by subsidizing job-training related to renewable energy . Essentially, the government is acting as a large household in the “Circular Flow” of the economy so that it can purchase a massive amount of goods and services, in this case, renewable energy. The government is also investing heavily into its most vital source, labor, by spending over 600$ million dollars to train a “Green” workforce. Investment in labor is one of the best ways that a society can increase its PPF model and also, with time, it’s GDP.

Conclusion

The fact that America faced such a huge financial crisis in such a short time pushed the Obama Administration to choose a more Keynesian economic policy to alleviate the escalating economic problems faced by the U.S. Keynesian policies, although they interfere with the free market, are necessary to correct market imperfections, especially in the short run. However, after writing this essay I am faced with an interesting question; if this mortgage crisis was tackled from a “free market” policy, would the US have been able to recover from this financial crisis? If the Obama administration would have taken a “Classical approach”, would the U.S. be stuck in an economical Catch-22, where banks would be unwilling to lend money because of a lack of available capital to the point that, eventually, the “Circular Economic Flow” would collapse? Also, does the recent bank bailout, coupled with soaring national debt and a reliance on consumer credit for economic growth mean that the Federal Government can no longer take a classical economical view because, in essence, the Federal Government is now a major investor in U.S. Banking firms? Is Classical Economic policy, from a federal standpoint, dead?

References

Main Article

1. National Public Radio – Obama gives Keynes his first Real-World Test

January 29^th, 2009

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100018973

Supplementary Articles

2. Frontline PBS – Breaking the Bank

June 16^th, 2009

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/breakingthebank

3. CNN Money, Bank Bailout: Change is coming

January 18^th, 2009

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/18/news/economy/bank_rescue/index.htm

4. Washington Post, Stressing Solvency

Februrary 26^th, 2009

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022503349.html

5. The White House Energy & Environment

March 19, 2009

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/energy-and-environment

Young CEOs

2009-11-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

Think your too old to start your own company? Well, heres a list of 13 CEOs who started under the age of 30 and turned their ideas into multi-million dollar companies. The list ranges from titans such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to Good ole' Hugh Hefner! Hey who knows, maybe your idea could be the start of something big...

[Link]

MBA in...Healthcare?

2009-10-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Thats right, the MBA is no longer just for people who want to do finance or accounting based careers as you might believe. Actually I just read an interesting article that talks about Healthcare (an ever popular topic nowadays) and how recruiting for Healthcare managers has continued to grow even in The Great Recession. Healthcare in general has continued to grow (and will continue to grow) becuase, simply put, we have a generation of baby boomers that are heading into their 50's and 60's, and with an increasing life-expectancy that can only mean one thing...tons of doctors visits. Not only that but Hospitals and Biotechs are increasingly looking for people who have a healthcare and business background, which has lead to an increasing demand for Healthcare Management MBA's. Harvard, Duke, Northwestern, UCSD, and UMass Boston are a few Universities that offer a Healthcare Management MBA. Check out the Article to read more. [Article]

Prepping for Winter...Geek Style

2009-10-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so now that BB has moved from Southern California to Boston ive realized 2 things. 1) Boston has these things called "seasons", unlike SoCal, and 2) Winter in Boston = not too fun. Whats a Business savy executive or Lab Geek to Do? Read LifeHacker of course! Life hacker has posted an article about keeping up productivity during a snow-day, and will also be posting articles relevant to you geeks out there who want to make sure you keep busy with projects during those cold winter months. Check out Lifehacker this month for cool (wait..or Hot?) Winter tips...[LifeHacker] [Snow Day Productivity]

Dell goes a bit Green...

2009-10-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well, environmentally that is. Apparently, the hip new thing to do for tech companies is to go green, and Dell is no exception! Dell has cleverly installed Solar Panels in their parket lots, not only shading cars from the blistering Texas heat (Have you guys been to Texas? You could fry an egg on the sidewalk), but also generating 160 kW of power! Not only is it offsetting power costs for Dell, but its also utilizing space that the company already owns...a parking lot. There no reason any company with an outdoor parking lot shouldnt be doing this. Good move Dell! Now if you would only improve your shoddy tech support, I would be a bit happier...[Article]

Cleantech Needed in the U.S.?

2009-10-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well, Obama just gave a speech at MIT and he agrees with Broken Beakers previous article... Clean tech is the way to go! Obama just spent 20 minutes lecturing (and praising) MIT efforts to go green, and discussed that this nation NEEDS to pursue clean energy, not only because the world might depend on it, but because its a 2 TRILLION dollar industry (and i think republicans AND democrats can agree we could use that money right about now). Read the story here. [Article 1]

Cleantech...the answer to economic recovery?

2009-10-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

An article at CNN talks about how Cleantech is supposed to become "The next big boom", and I agree! The article focuses on how new companies which focus on environmental concerns are getting a lot of money thrown at them by Venture Capitalists... similar to what happened to the computer industry in its early days! The article also mentions GreatPoint Energy, a Cambridge based company which focuses on converting biomass and coal into natural gas! Pretty good read, check it out here. [Article] [GreatPoint Energy]

Rise of the Robots

2009-10-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, i am now convinced that we will all be replaced by robots one day. Yamaha has just built a robot with a voice synthesizer that can sing pitch-perfect. Not only that but it looks VERY similiar to a real human being. Scary. On the bright side, if these robots become standard in the music industry they can avoid embarissingly akward moments like this one. [Article Link to Robot Voice! Robot voice! All the kids love...the robot voice!]

The Fall of Bob.

2009-09-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard of Bob, the guy in all those Enzyte commercials. Enzyte made a huge impact on the herbal supplement market, making millions of dollars in sales its first couple of years due to its wide-spread marketing and exploitation of men with small, *ahem*, well you know. Well guess what, Enzyte CEO Steve Warshak is now facing prison time for defrauding thousands of customers. "Waaaayyyyy to go Bob!" Full Story here. [Article]

Big Bada-Boom!

2009-09-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

So what happenes when you put a bunch of undergraduate chemists in charge of making methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MCMT, a gasoline additive)? Only one of the largest explosions to be investigated by the Federal Chemical Safety and Hazard Board. Yes, this lab explosion was so large that it actually managed to throw debris a mile away! Readmore about it here! [Article]

Were Back! JIT For Fall!

2009-09-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

So fall has arrived, and Broken Beaker is now in Boston! Our first story is about...Fashion. Hey, i told you well cover EVERYTHING relating to the science world. Yes, Boston magazine has done a pictorial on the upcoming fall fashion trends using nothing but scientists! Some of the items in the article are rather pricey (featuring designers such as Yves Saint Lauren and Roberto Cavalli), but that should be no problem for you Biotech dynamos. Get some fashion tips form it, and see what the CEO's and Managers at biotech SHOULD be dressing like. [Article]

Broken Beaker moving to Boston!

2009-08-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, Broken Beaker is moving to Boston, home of the Bruins, Celtics, and Har-vuhd! It will take me a couple of weeks to get settled into my new home (and Grad-student life) and updates will be rare until mid September, but rest assured we will be back online reporting from the hub of bio-tech in North America!

Stylin Sonar Panels

2009-08-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Solar Panels are starting to get a bit more fashionable, thanks to SRS Energy, which has designed solar panels which can integrate seamlessly with Spanish tile. Along with being fashionable, the average homeowner will produce 860 kwH per year! [Article]

DNA Sequencing...Half off!

2009-08-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Well, not really, but researchers at Stanford have figured out a really cheap (and effective) method for sequencing the human genome. The entire process only required 3 researchers and less than $50,000! Countdown until health insurance companies require a submission of its customers entire genome starts now! [Article Link]

Wyeth Under Fire

2009-08-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Wyeth (Just purchased by Pfizer for a whopping $68 Billion) is, well...screwed. Reports have surfaced today in the New York Times that claim Wyeth has been paying "Ghostwriters" to basically write articles for scientific journals saying how great Wyeth-produced horomones are. I guess thats not a big deal, except for the fact that, well, thats kind of a conflict of interest. Not to mention kind of illegal. Oh and did I mention that Wyeth has been caught up in a class action lawsuit? By whom you may be asking? Well, by the 8000 women who used Wyeth horomones such as Premarin and Prempro and said it made them sick. Well see how this is going to pan out, and maybe the allegations are un-founded, but my guess is that Wyeth is going to eat it on this one. [NYT Article Link]

Wanna Build A Startup?

2009-08-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

Need a little inspiration to start up your own Biotech? An article over at Inc Magazine talks about 7 startup started by ordinary people, who, through hard work, innovation and a little bit a cash, grew their companies to be worth millions! I know, its a little more cost-intense to start a biotech, but there's definitely something to take away from this article! Check it out! [Link]

Big Pharma vs Generics, Round 2

2009-08-04T13:02:00.001-07:00

Man, are generics becoming a hot topic or what!? The Associated Press has released a new article about the battle heating up between generic drug-makers and Big Pharma (Amgen, Pfizer, etc). In case your unfamiliar with whats going on right now (and you definetly should be, it effects anyone in the healthcare industry), Obamas recent push for Healthcare reform has riled up the big pharmaceutical companies, because theyre afraid that to cut down on costs, generic drugs will be allowed to be made sooner than later (Lower patent time = lower profits). Big Pharma is asking for a 12-year generic ban, while generic drug makers are pushing for a 5 year cap. Congress has voted on a 12 year ban on generics, but will it pass the Senate? What about the threat of a presidential veto? And how will this effect the stock-market, since recently a lot of the healthcare companies have been carrying a lot of the rallys occuring recently on Wall Street? Read the full article. [AP Article] [Past Broken Beaker Article]

BMS Future rests...on Mice?

2009-07-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

Bristol Myers Squibb recently purchased 90% of the shares of a company called Medarex. What does Medarex do? Well, they make it easy for pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs from mice for use in humans. Why should you care? Well, it just so happens that many of the blockbuster drugs manafactured by Novartis, Amgen and BMS are manafactured by "humanizing" antibody-excreting mouse cell lines, and if Mederex's method of doing this, dubbed UltiMab, proves effecient enough, it could speed up the development time for BMS drugs, giving them a head up on the competition. Why else should you care? Well, It should also be noted that pharmaceuticals derived from cell lines are the exact same drugs being targeted by the 12 year "generic ban" being talked about in the Senate nowadays (and that weve talked about in previous articles), so any new drugs developed from cell lines will be exclusive to the company that develops it for a long time, meaning big money for the pharmaceutical companies. BMS stock is only $20 a share, now might be a good time to buy...[Article Link] [UltiMab Link]

The Zen of Zappos

2009-07-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

What does Zappos, an online shoe retailer and Amazon.com have anything to do with Biotech or Business? Everything. I read this article a couple of months ago about Tony Hsieh, and how his unique management style has pushed Zappos to the top of its game in online shoe sales. I was really intrigued about how he employs unique ways of keeping his employees motivated and making sure they are dedicated, such as offering new trainees $2000 to walk away from the company (read the article to find out why). Every company should read this article (especially Biotechs, which are plagued with antiquated management systems) and really re-evaluate their management style, maybe they can learn a thing or to from Tony. Apparently Amazon.com thought Tonys method of management was so intriguing and worked so well that they bought Zappos for $900 million dollars., yet will let it remain an independent company, which is pretty rare for a buyout. [Link]

Shocking Facebook News

2009-07-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

I love those studies that prove something that 99% of people already knew, like the fact that Facebook sucks up worker productivity. The people at Nucleus Research published a study that says that workers check their Facebook an average of 15 minutes a day, resulting in a loss of 1.5% productivity. If i were a betting man, i would wage that the actual number is even higher! BusinessWeek argues that it may be that instead of taking "real breaks", people now take "virtual breaks". [Link]

How to leave your job...gracefully.

2009-07-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

Considering the tumultuous economic environment we live in, a lot of you have either been laid off recently or have been hired by another company. Here's an article that talks about the best way to leave a company, and leave your ex-employees and managers happy. No matter how much you would love to tell off your boss, kick over your cubicle, or steal the office fax machine and smash it in the park, its probably better you dont. You never know, the Manager of the company that fires you today could be the CEO of the company that hires you in 5 years...Check out the article. [Link]

Virus Batteries, wave of the Future.

2009-07-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Talk about cool, some MIT Graduate students have genetically engineered viruses to form batteries! The viruses (a harmless bacteriophage) are able to produce both the cathode and anode portion of a battery, and have been used by the grad students to power small LED displays. Eventually the technology could be refined to power such everyday items as TV's, Cars, etc, but how long until they are available commercially? That remains to be seen, but since this is a U.S. Army funded project, i doubt it will be available (to consumers) anytime soon. Check it out! [Article]

Exxon investing in Algae

2009-07-15T19:30:00.001-07:00

A couple of days ago we posted an article on Broken Beaker about algae possibly being an alternative source for jet fuel. Well apparently, Exxon Mobil thinks that algae derived Bio fuels could be a thing of the future, because today they announced they have $300 million dollar deal with Synthetic Genomics. What does Synthetic Genomics do? Their goal is to start looking for a genetically modified species of algae that will be able to produce commercially viable quantities of fuel. Whenever Exxon Mobil throws money at a "green energy alternative", that's a big deal. Read the article here! [Link]

Coal for the Future?

2009-07-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

At least that was what the Germans thought in the late 70's! German scientists at the time were trying to figure out a way to design a process for deriving gasoline from coal, due to fluctuating petroleum prices. The idea never really took off, but it provides a great example of how now matter how well you might think you can predict a trend (i.e. German scientists seeing coal gasoline as the wave of the future), you could be tottaly off the mark. [Link]

Cloud Computing and Biotech

2009-07-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

A lot of pharmaceutical and biotech companies require a large IT infrastructure to handle the amount of data a biotech produces, which at times, can be daunting. Experimental data, patents, complex biochemical applications all require computer usage, which can be costly for a company (buying servers, hiring IT staff, upkeep, etc.). However, some larger companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer are looking to cut those costs with cloud computing. Cloud computing basically offsets any worlkload that a computer might do locally to a server offsite. This way, a company doesnt have to worry about IT maintanace and can focus on research. Cloud computing is actually pretty affordable and scalable too. Now that larger biotechs have adopted cloud computing, can this market penetrate into low and mid-level biotechs?

Generics Drug Companies Take on Big Pharma

2009-07-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

It looks like generic drug makers and traditional pharmaceutical companies are planning to duke it out in the next couple of months, and the results could have long lasting effects on the health care industry. One of the most hotly-contested issues right now among pharmaceutical companies is the time frame for which companies can start developing generic drugs. Right now the big pharmaceutical companies like J&J, Amgen, and Pfizer are recently pushing for a 14 year(!) exclusivity for moneymaking drugs such as Lipitor and Celebrex because the companies are claiming anything less than 14 years will "crush innovation". Why? Because they argue smaller companies, before they are acquired, take many years to develop a drug. Generic drug makers are arguing that 7 years is fair for both types of pharmaceutical companies and will allow people who cant afford name brand drugs to get the proper health care they need. What do you think? Are the traditional pharmaceutical companies being to greedy, or do they have a point? [Article 1][Article 2]

Hey GPCR Researchers!

2009-07-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

G Protein-coupled receptors. You've probably never heard of them, but around 50% of pharmaceuticals target GPCR's, making research regarding them crucial. Biocompare has a great article on where the GPCR industry is headed and some equipment to help you researchers along the way. [Link]

Is the Obama Administration reaching out to Scientists?

2009-07-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

MSNBC has an article on the Obama administration and its recent pushes for stem cell reform and "green power" initiatives. Is the so called "War on Science", which plagued the Bush presidency over? Was there even a war on science during the Bush years, or just a lack of public interest? Is the Obama Administration signalling an end between the dischord between the average American and Scientists, or will scientific theory continue to rile the public? Do Obamas effort signal a push in the scientific sector? The article discusses a lot of these points, and basically concludes the problem is a lot more complex. Its a very interetsing read. [Link]

Dark Times = New Startups

2009-07-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Bad news abounds recently. Dismal job reports, a sagging economy, and record unemployment rates have got everyone down. But fret not, for now is a great time to create a start-up! Inc magazine makes some great arguments for starting a company now-adays, even going as far to say that "there's never a bad time to start a health care company". Read the full article here. [Link]

The Nano-Space Race!

2009-07-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

Nanotech and particle accelerators could make near-light speed travel a reality one day. This article on MSNBC discusses how that one day (within our lifetimes) we could be sending tiny satellites into space capable of reaching other solar systems! Looks like nanotech has been getting a lot of media attention recently (over 4 articles have been posted here in the last month), along with space travel! Read the article here. [Link]

Google Chrome OS...how will it effect Biotech?

2009-07-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

So in a move thats sure to challenge the long dominant Microsoft Windows (and irk Google ally, Apple), Google has officially announced the Google Chrome OS. Why should Biotechs care? Because every Laboratory uses computers to some extent, and a lot of those computers use Windows. Also, because every single PC needs its own copy of Windows XP/Vista/7, most companies are going to fork out a lot of cash for a Windows upgrade every couple of years. Whats different about Googles Chrome OS? Well, at first it will only be targeted at netbooks (i.e. a stripped down OS), but if my assumption is correct, like most other software from Google. Chrome OS will most likely be free. Yes free. And that means a lot less money spent on Windows upgrades, and more money spent on R&D. Do you think Googles Chromes OS will be able to handle the needs of most low to mid-level biotech companies? [Link]

What came first, the chicken or the...T-Rex?

2009-07-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

This months Wired has an interesting article on the battle between biologists and geneticists when in comes to interpreting genetic information found in fossils. Apparently, a biologist had discovered that once run through a mass spectrometer, T-Rex collagen had matched the collagen present in chickens, and had an article published in Science magazine with his discovery. This lead to a huge uproar from people in the field of bioinformatics who said that Asara's paper did not include enough statistical data to back up his claim. Who knew there could be so much drama in science? I wont ruin the ending, but the story is great, and people are arguing its giving a lot of credibility to the field of bioinformatics. Read it here. [Article]

Solar Power catching on to cargo ships!

2009-07-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

A solar powered cargo ship, the M/V Auriga has been unveiled! A joint effort between NYK Lines and Toyota, the M/V Auriga can generate as much as 10% of the ships power! This is a great first step for solar enthusiasts and environmentalists, as shipping is one of the most pollutant industries. If this is the start of a trend, I would like to know where NYK buys its solar panels (and invest in that stock...). [Article]

Algae powered F22 raptors...coming soon?

2009-07-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

An article over at MSNBC talks about the future of Biofuels, and algae could be powering military vehicles soon. A Utah university is growing algae in huge batches to see if the lipid excreting creatures can make a suitable replacement for gasoline, which is problematic for many reasons (supply is limited, and as we saw last summer the price of gasoline can skyrocket). So far, results are promising, and blends of algae and gasoline have even been used in commercial jets! Could this be the start of a new industry? [Article]

What the hell is going on at NASA?

2009-07-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

Chances are you know 2 things about NASA...they landed a man on the moon in 1969, and...well actually that might be all you know about NASA. Ever since that historical moment in the summer of 69', Americans (and the world) sort of lost that sense of wonder that space travel used to offer, and have really not paid attention to the American space agency. (Keep in mind NASA drove the tech behind advanced devices such as cell phones and GPS). Well hopefully, public opinion is starting to turn. There is a whole article in this months GQ that sums up the answer to the question that most taxpayers (who spend around $18 Billion a year keeping the program afloat) are asking, "What the hell is NASA doing now?" In short, some pretty cool stuff, like setting up a colony on the moon, and hopefully, a manned trip to Mars. Does this mean a renewed interest in space? Will the Obama administration throw more money at NASA, and thus, more money for aerospace contractors like Lockheed-Martin and Boeing? [Article]

Tax Breaks to the Rescue?

2009-07-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

A recent article in Business Week talks about State Tax Incentives, and how they actually dont help the national economy very much, because usually states that offer tax incentives for a corporation are pretty much just stealing jobs from another state. If you guys recall, a couple of days ago I posted an article about Michigan building a huge GE plant (which will employ a lot of engineers and scientists) and I asked if you guys thought that this would be a trend in Biotechs, i.e. Jobs moving from expensive states that are traditionally Biotech Hubs (San Francisco, Boston, San Diego) to cheaper states (i.e. Michigan). Well apparently, this article thinks so. Check it out here! [Article]

Scientists and Investors Clash with C.E.O.'s

2009-07-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

A new article in the Wall Street Journal talks about the next sector to be hit by "Bonus hungry CEO's"...Biotechnology. After the banking, auto-industry, and hedge-fund sectors fell to much public scrutiny for its bordering-on-insane executive bonuses, investors are looking at some executive payouts for Biotechnology, and seeing the same trends. The WSJ article even talks about some executive payouts for small pharmaceutical companies that representeded over 10% of the companies market-cap. Shouldnt these companies be spending the vast majority of their money on R&D, and less on executive bonuses and marketing? Check out the full article, and tell us what you think. Do these executives deserve these payouts, or is it a load of BS? [Link]

Your Next Meal Could Be...Grown in a Petri Dish?

2009-06-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

Can meat be grown in cell culture labs? This article discusses the future of genetically modified food, and whether products like chicken, beef and pork can be modified so that they are healthier to eat (imagine beef GM'ed to contain less cholesterol). The article discusses taking this idea one step further and scientists growing "meat like slurry" (Yum!) in lab like facilities instead of slaughtering animals to produce the meat, possibly so that meat producers can crack into the Vegetarian market. So what do you think? Will "meat slurry" be a future food staple? My guess is GM food producers such as AquaBounty are going to have to put some major marketing muscle behind the idea to sell it to consumers...that or at least think of a new name. [Article]

Art and Science make gorgeous images

2009-06-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Meet Robert Buelteman, a guy who uses fiber optics, high voltage, and a scalpel to make incredible images that otherwise couldn't be captured on camera. His images are absolutely stunning and really vibrant, and he is incredibly meticulous about the procedure used to produce these images. Maybe more artists will start using electricity or other chemical processes to try to mimic his work. So tell me, is this guy an artist or a mad scientist? [Article]

Nanotech Drug Delivery Coming Soon?

2009-06-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

This article on ScienceDaily talks about the future of drug delivery, and apparently nanotechnology has the potential to replace traditional pharmaceuticals...well at least hopefully one day. Although the technology is still in its infancy, scientists have been able to engineer lipid containers the size of a virus that can be used to deliver the drug into the bloodstream, and proteins called selectins can help the lipid containers target specific cell types in the body. Nanotechnology has been getting a lot of attention recently (especially in Biological applications), so much so that major universities such as UCSB have recently built entire buildings devoted to this niche field. Even the government has hopped on board with a lot of funding for Nanotech initiatives and a website. Check out the article for more info. [Link]

Geeking it up...iPhone style!

2009-06-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

So you want to take your science geek-dom mobile to impress your friends, or, more likely, keep them away? No problem iPhone users, because Wired has an article on the top 22 Science Apps for your iPhone. Anything from Prescription drug doses to Constellation Maps, the iPhone has an app for it. the coolest? Definetly the Genetic Decoder. Check the full article here. [Link]

Slumdog Chemist

2009-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Heres an article that is pretty inspirational. Guy come from India, gets his PhD, works as a chemist for 6 years while scrimping and saving everything he has, and decides on a whim one day that hell crack open a phone book to buy a 3 person chemical company so that he can build the company up. That 3 person company is now Chemair, a Chemical manafacturing company that employs 350 people. Oh and about the title, the guys from India, its a sort of rags to riches tale, so I tried forever to come up with a clever title. This is all I could come up with. You know...like the movie? Ok, forget it, just check out the Article. [Article]

Time for a Biorector?

2009-06-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

So what do you use in your cell culture lab? Do you handle your cell lines manually or do you use a bioreactor? Can you afford the additional costs that come with a bioreactor? Do you grow enough cell lines to justify the additional cost? This article attempts to answer that question, with links to many Bio reactor vendors. Personally, our lab is so tiny that I find it hard to justify the costs associated with a bioreactor (rarely do we grow more than 1 Liter of cells + media at a time), but maybe its time for your lab to ask itself the same question. [Link]

Genius idea?

2009-06-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

Funny little thing I saw on Wired. The future of Birth Control? Maybe. Hilarious/Genius concept? Absolutely. Whoever could be able to make this a reality would be a billionare, guaranteed. [Link]

As Auto-makers Collapse in Michigan, High Tech Rises...

2009-06-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Michigan, whose state economy has been crippled by the outflow of jobs as a result of the auto industry collapse, may see a ray of light. GE has announced that they will be building a high-tech engineering/scientific plant in Van Buren Township, Michigan. Michigan is probably giving them huge tax incentives to build a plant there, and its probably going to be a good PR strategy for GE. My question is...could this be a trend for Biotechs? Will more Biotechs move from expensive states like California and Massachusetts for states like Michigan? Is this the beginning of a trend for Biotechs to move to cash strapped Midwestern states?
[Article]

High-Altitude Wind Farms set to take off?

2009-06-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

According to a new study which mapped out wind "hot spots", Tokyo, NYC, and Sydney could be the sites of some new high-altitude wind power generators. More and more buzz is surrounding the whole "High altitude wind farm" idea as more and more articles are being published about it. Does High altitude wind power have a chance? Is there a real business opportunity here, or is high-altitude wind power just a lot of eco-driven hype? [Article]

Healthcare-Tech still hot!

2009-06-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

Inc. Magazine has released a top 10 of "Best Industries for Starting a Business" and #3 on the list is Healthcare tech! The only problem is that Health-care tech companies are not only very expensive to start-up (Have you looked at the cost of scientific equipment these days?) but its hard to fill it with talent since less students are interested in science and engineering. On top of that, Healthcare tech companies usually have to be FDA approved to be considered reputable, which is usually a time/labor intensive and costly procedure. What do you think? [Link]

New class of Anti-cancer drugs brings hope?

2009-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

The New England Journal of Medicine has recently reported that use of PARP inhibitors with patients who have prostate cancer has proven to be extremely successful, with most of the 60 patients involved in the study experiencing tumor shrinkage, with few, if any, side effects. Its believed that PARP inhibitors may regulate the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, the 2 genes primarily responsible for breast cancer. So what do you guys think? 60 patients is an extremely small study, do PARP inhibitors have a future in cancer research, or is this study a fluke? Could PARP inhibitors be the next big thing for the pharmaceutical companies?[Article]

Are you an underpaid Scientist or Engineer?

2009-06-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Could you benefit by moving to another location? Since scientists are usually under-paid and biotech is a huge sector in most cities (Austin, San Francisco, Boston) This salary calculator will tell you if you get more bang for your buck if decide to move to a different city. I was actually shocked to learn that living expenses in Boston, MA compared to Orange County, CA are actually 40% cheaper! Check it out, you might be surprised at what you find... [Link].

Hey You, Pathologist? Need a Book?

2009-06-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Elsevier Health, makers of ridiculously huge & expensive (albeit very detailed and helpful) Pathology and Immunohistochemistry reference books, are offering 10-20% discounts off some of their books (if you order 2 or more) for a limited time! Just use Promotional code DM94861 (for people who attended USCAP). Offer applies until July 18th. [Link]

Bill Nye is Back!

2009-06-24T11:37:00.001-07:00

Bill Nye the science guy takes a second to explain how the new iPhone 3gs screen actually repels oils from your skin to make your iPhone look fingerprint free for longer. I know, i know, you guys are probably sick of all the iPhone 3GS articles, but this one has Bill Nye...and who doesnt love Bill Nye? [Article]

China Energy company "All in" on Solar Energy

2009-06-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems as though China power company GCL-Poly is attempting to overtake its US competitors in Solar power, to the tune of 3.4 billion dollars! The interesting thing about this deal is that GCL-Poly is buying Jiangsu Zhongneng PV Technology Development (yeah, try saying that 5 times fast). Why is this interesting? Because JZ PVT builds solar panels, and this deal will allow GCL-Poly to control the whole process of solar power manafacturing, from building solar panels to putting them into a functional power grid. Smart move, because not only will GCL-Poly be able to control their product, but it cuts down on costs for the company since they wont have to outsource the building of the panels to another company (and hopefully, means lower costs for the consumer). Lets see if US companies can play catch-up to GCL-Poly's power play.

Synthetic Trees? Why not plant real ones?

2009-06-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

Theres an article at CNN.com about how scientists have developed a synthetic tree that actually absorbs 1000x more carbon than an average tree. I read the article and it seems like an interesting idea, but with the cost that goes into developing and upkeeping one of these, my guess is you could probably plant over 10,000 real trees. So...yeah.
[Article]

Whiz Kids Documentery

2009-06-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

America is lagging behind most of the industrialized western nations when it comes to science, but this documentary aims to cast a light on a couple of American high-schoolers who think they might have a shot at earning the pinnacle or nerd-om for high-schoolers; 1st prize of the Intel Science Talent Search. Sounds really interesting, if it becomes a hit maybe us sceintists can get some attention for once and get some of that federal money Obama's been throwing around lately!
[Link]

Obama loans $500 million to Tesla, denies my request for Ham sandwich...

2009-06-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

Car enthusiasts everywhere are probably excited to see that the Obama Administration has lent out $500 million for Tesla to develop its new Model S. My question to you guys is, do you feel that the Obama Administration is blurring the line between private industry and government, or is this a much necessary infusion of capital into the Car industry? Is this really a benefit for science (more eco-effecient cars on the road = less CO2) or is this a loan to save the auto-industry under the guise of environmental protection? [Article]

Worlds Largest Solar Plant Planned...

2009-06-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

...for the Sahara desert around 2020! This solar plant could potentially power all of Europe, if not the world. Whether it will be completed or not is another matter, but this raises a huge question...will projects like this help make solar energy as our primary source of fuel a reality, or is it just wishful thinking? How will these Solar plants be maintained (i.e. how are you going to find thousands of engineers in Africa to build/maintain this kind of project?). Maybe it will put the pressure on PG&E to finish its solar power plant in the Mojave. [Article]

Nanotech + Antibodies = Clean Blood!

2009-06-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Check out this article which talks about how iron-beads covered with antibodies helped remove Candida albicans from a blood sample. Fungal infections are extremely difficult to treat with anti-fungals such as Amphotericin B, could this present a viable alternative to using pharmecueticals for fungal infections in the future?
[Article]

How do Companies Innovate?

2009-06-22T09:52:00.001-07:00

This article attempts to solve the long-unanswered question of "Where do good ideas come from?" in a company. It talks about several companies that have sprung up, such as Innocentive, a website dedicated to helping companies find people who can solve problems. Interesting read, but im a big believer of the 80-20 rule, where 20% of the people in a company come up with 80% of the ideas.

The financial crash a blessing in disguise?

2009-06-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

I just got the July Issue of Wired in the mail (in newsstands in the next couple of weeks) and it talks about how the recent financial collapse will actually benefit us in the long run, and I honestly agree. Allow me to elaborate. The article mentions that ever since 2000, college graduates majoring in business typically earned more than the average engineering or science major. This trend (which began right before the dot.com bubble burst in 2000) led to a large amount of students applying for business and finance jobs after college. Not only was this huge influx of young business people driven by the now defunct financial institutions such as Lehman Brothers or Bear Sterns agressive recruiting practices, but also of the lure of easy money that these financial institutions offered (When your $50,000 in debt after college, more money is always nice). Now that these financial institutions are in the crapper, the article argues that more people (especially younger students out of college) will be intrigued to join more science/engineering/government firms, which will be better in the long run for not only our economy but America in general. Even President Obama acknowledged this fact in a speech at Georgetown University in April [link]. So what do you think? Will this collapse create a boom of scientists and engineers?[No article available...yet]

Even Doctors can be bought...

2009-06-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Apparently an ex-army Doctor has been accused of accepting an $800,000 bribe from Medtronic (a medical device company) for fudging experimental data to help Medtronic sell one of their spine products. Interestingly enough, this is NOT the first time Medtronic has been accused of shady practice. There is even a whole website devoted to lawsuits for Medtronic products. My question is, how often do you think this kind of stuff happens amongst the scientific community that we havent found out about yet? Article

Your next Doctors visit could be at a ....

2009-06-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

Walmart? Yes, apparently Walmart is breaking into the health care industry (sort-of) and setting up small medical clinics inside some of their flagship stores! Apparently, instead of full size clinics, Walmart is renting out spaces to Nurse practioners and Physicians Assistants whilst offering Menu-style treatments for common ailments, ranging from $45 to $75 dollars. Is this the free-market solution to cheaper healthcare? Or is Walmart out to make a quick buck? I dont know if I should be scared by Walmart offering basic healthcare or...ok no im definetly scared! I cant wait until they start offering 2 for 1 colonoscopys! Article

Biotech's Merger Madness!

2009-06-17T08:02:00.001-07:00

So just in case you haven't heard, basically every Biotech company has been bought out by a larger Biotech. Ok lets see how many i can come up with off the top of my head...Roche bought Ventana which bought Spring Bioscience, Thermo merged with Fisher Scientific (and managed to buy Lab Vision somewhere along the line), Leica bought Novacastra, i mean, the list goes on. My question is, i just read a Wired article on"The New Economy" that is supposed to arrive after this recession is over, and it talks about how in the future the most profitable and successful companies will be those that ha ve a niche market. Does that mean these ultra-huge biotechs that are emerging are doomed? Is the era of corporate Pac-man over?

15 minute IHC?

2009-06-17T07:42:00.001-07:00

So anyone who works in a pathology lab or runs any IHC's knows that it pretty much takes the whole day for you to do an experiment. Most of the reagents take between 15-45 minutes to bind. However Celerus, a California start-up says that they can do IHC experiments using standard reagents in about 15 minutes. Im skeptical, but has anyone heard of this machine or used it? Last time i checked at the 2009 USCAP conference, I was told this machine costs around $40,000 (yikes). Sure its cheaper than buying a 140,000 Autostainer that coverslips for you, but its probably more cost effective to have a lab-rat manually stain your slides.

The Internets is making us dumberer (or something like that)

2009-06-16T22:57:00.000-07:00

So read this article and tell me what you think...Is the Internet really changing the way we think and process information? Is it for better or worse? Article

Running out of Space on Your Whiteboard?

2009-06-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

The good people at IdeaPaint.com may have a solution! Apparently they produce a paint that allows you to turn ANY wall into a whiteboard! Pretty cool if you ask me. Check it out, it might be a great solution for your office, especially if some whiteboards are running for $20 and up just for a tiny one.

Sw-uite Office (get it?)

2009-06-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Thinking of setting up a new home office? Lifehacker found a great article about someone who decided to take their office down a notch, with great results. Sure, its not very science-centric, but its still cool!
Article

Recession? "Hah!" Says the Biotech industry...

2009-06-15T20:13:00.001-07:00

Recession be damned, it seems as though Medical device companies are STILL fetching top dollar. Inc.com (makers of Inc. magazine) recently did a study and of the 10 most expensive businesses to buy right now, and 2 of the 10 are medical device manufacturers. Both are in the top 3, with Electro-medical device suppliers selling for an average of $117 million bucks. Not too shabby. Article

Thinking of starting a new lab? Fisher will help...for a price!

2009-06-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Fisher Scientific has a new lab start-up program for you hungry PhD Students who just got your grant for studying the feeding habits of the extinct Dodo (Or whatever it is you PhD people study :) ). My question is this...How much will i really save vs. shopping around? Fisher seems pretty vague on their website. Anyone ever try this program? Link

And you thought YOU took long naps...

2009-06-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

According to MSNBC a microbe was able to divide after being "awoken" by scientists...after 120,000 years! Wow.
Article