(English intro to Spanish lang post) The new government in Spain has eliminated the Ministry of Science, and transferred responsibility for scientific research to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Initially, the scientific community reacted in fury in blogposts and such avenues as social media. Fear...
Pere Estupinya's Tracker
(English intro to Spanish lang post) The new government in Spain has eliminated the Ministry of Science, and transferred responsibility for scientific research to the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Initially, the scientific community reacted in fury in blogposts and such avenues as social media. Fear were high that the new government of Mariano Rajoy is just not interested in science or related basic research. The first stories in newspapers reflected these views. But other opinions, little by little, have showed up. Some say that having a specific ministry is irrelevant. Others see the decision as an opportunity to put science in closer connection to economic growth. However, few reporters have done a good job taking all views into account.
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Jacinto Convit is one of the most esteemed scientists in Venezuela. At 98 years old, he is still doing research and leading the Institute of Biomedicine in Caracas. He’s been credited as developer of a vaccine against leprosy, has made progresses in many other diseases, and...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Jacinto Convit is one of the most esteemed scientists in Venezuela. At 98 years old, he is still doing research and leading the Institute of Biomedicine in Caracas. He’s been credited as developer of a vaccine against leprosy, has made progresses in many other diseases, and has received many awards along his career. For the last 5 years he’s been focused in a therapeutic vaccine against cancer. The approach is simple: taking cells from the patient’s tumor, combining them with bacterial proteins, and reintroducing the cells (deactivated) in the patient’s body. The hope is that the immune system creates antibodies against the original tumor cells. He’s done experiments with animals, and even inoculated 20 terminal cancer patients. He hasn’t published any peer reviewed results yet, and has not proved any efficacy. But in summer 2010 he announced important progresses in his vaccine against cancer. Some media and bloggers exaggerated...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Spanish paleoanthropologists say they have identified a new genus of primate that lived 11 million years ago, and could help to understand the origin of monkeys in Eurasia. They infer this from a mere 15 teeth discovered in the 70’s. A few stories have been published, but...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Spanish paleoanthropologists say they have identified a new genus of primate that lived 11 million years ago, and could help to understand the origin of monkeys in Eurasia. They infer this from a mere 15 teeth discovered in the 70’s. A few stories have been published, but none explains how the researchers ascertain that this is a new genus, and they don't have independent opinions of other paleoanthropologists. That’s a common pattern: we very rarely perceive skepticism in paleontological news in Spanish press.
Also from Spain, in 2007 the Department of Health commissioned a study to analyze the situation and efficacy of alternatives therapies in the country. The main conclusions are that there is a huge amount of unregulated therapists without any medical training, that the majority of the 139 natural therapies analyzed haven’t proved any positive effects, that acupuncture seems to work for a few specific discomforts, and...
16Dec 2011
(English intro to Spanish lang post) We often notice recurrent exaggerations in the headlines on scientific news in Latin America. The reason seems to provide a more appealing and "important" shine on the scientific research. But sometimes the result can be distortion. We find illustration in the several...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) We often notice recurrent exaggerations in the headlines on scientific news in Latin America. The reason seems to provide a more appealing and "important" shine on the scientific research. But sometimes the result can be distortion. We find illustration in the several stories about vaccines published this week inEl Universal (México). We focus on them to analyze that while the contents are fine the titles are not. For example, we read the assertion “new vaccine against cancer is created” (when it refers only to experiments in mice). We also read “a Mexican scientist identifies a protein that makes tumors disappear” (cell culture studies). And a categorical “the vaccine against malaria doesn’t immunize”, regarding the promising results of the Glaxo/Gates foundation vaccine presented last October after a phase III study in Africa. These three titles are misleading. The vaccine’s week in El Universal has two more stories: one about a new...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Spanish reporters are in love with the LHC at CERN and its search for the Higgs Boson. Yesterday’s non-announcement has been covered with great joy. “We are closer to it!” exclaimed some as if these were big news. Even when the accident at LHC, and the rumors that LHC costs...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Spanish reporters are in love with the LHC at CERN and its search for the Higgs Boson. Yesterday’s non-announcement has been covered with great joy. “We are closer to it!” exclaimed some as if these were big news. Even when the accident at LHC, and the rumors that LHC costs compromised the budget for other scientific projects of the EU, there’s never been critical angles towards this unquestionably fabulous scientific enterprise. The positive consequence is that Spanish readers are in love with LHC too. The story about the conference at CERN explaining that Higgs should be -if it exists- in the range on 115-130 GeV, it’s been for several hours the most read story in the online edition of El País. ABC wrote 4 different online stories, and all of them were in the top ten. Similar in other newspapers, like El Mundo. One interesting observation is that when several stories are published, the ones explaining the fundamentals about what is the...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Different levels of skepticism in the Spanish speaking press, regarding the success in Durban. In El Universal (Mexico) we read that “it is an historical agreement”, in El Espectador (Colombia) that “Kyoto’s survival is assured”, and in El Nacional (Venezuela) that...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Different levels of skepticism in the Spanish speaking press, regarding the success in Durban. In El Universal (Mexico) we read that “it is an historical agreement”, in El Espectador (Colombia) that “Kyoto’s survival is assured”, and in El Nacional (Venezuela) that “this is no way a renewal of Kyoto Protocol”. Argentinean “La Nación” says that “the conference has been saved”, Hoy (Ecuador) that “the conference saved UN’s image but not the Earth”, and La Razón (Bolivia) that “US is the only country that can leave happy”.
In Spain (coincidence or not) newspapers considered leftist are a bit more critical that the right ones. And they have paid more attention to the conference too. From the main newspapers, only El Pais and Público have sent reporters to South Africa. They have done an excellent job. None of the two is happy with the result: they welcome the agreement to work towards a new treaty, but both emphasize...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) This is excellent reporting on health. The National Children’s Hospital in San Jose (Costa Rica) accounts for 6 times more deaths of infants after cardiovascular surgery than world’s average data. An independent report concluded that this is not due to wrong diagnoses,...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) This is excellent reporting on health. The National Children’s Hospital in San Jose (Costa Rica) accounts for 6 times more deaths of infants after cardiovascular surgery than world’s average data. An independent report concluded that this is not due to wrong diagnoses, neither inadequate postoperative cares, but due to systematic malpractices during the surgeries. This is serious stuff. The story began internally in 2005 when some medical doctors denounced an apparent increase in mortality after surgery. Then in 2006 an Argentinean specialist detected failures in some surgical techniques. And in 2009, a group of experts from the US visited the hospital and prepared a report that confirmed the use of “inappropriate techniques in cardiovascular surgeries in infants”, and even recommended “to change the leading surgeon in order to improve results”.
Luis Eduardo Díaz, a reporter from La Nación has been following the case since...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) When Ollanta Humala was still a candidate for the Peruvian presidential elections, he visited Cajamarca region and asked in a meeting: “Do you want to sell your water?”. All the attendants shouted “Nooooo!!!”. He continued: “Water is more important than gold, because you don...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) When Ollanta Humala was still a candidate for the Peruvian presidential elections, he visited Cajamarca region and asked in a meeting: “Do you want to sell your water?”. All the attendants shouted “Nooooo!!!”. He continued: “Water is more important than gold, because you don’t drink gold. Your cows drink water to produce milk and cheese. And it’s needed for agriculture. I commit to respect your will regarding the mining industry”. He was referring to the project that aims to empty four lakes in Cajamarca region and to open mines to extract the gold residing in their subsoil.
Now the president, Humala has changed a bit. He declared that both gold and water are important, and that mining revenues could help develop the area. Two weeks of bitter protests in the area have led him to declare state of emergency.
It’s a extremely delicate matter that has occupied all the national media for the last 2 weeks....
(English intro to Spanish lang post) In Spain, some Universities used to host external pseudoscientific courses when offered by associations defending astrology, radiesthesia, Qi-gong therapies and some other esoteric practices. The courses' organizers gained credibility in being hosted by an academic...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) In Spain, some Universities used to host external pseudoscientific courses when offered by associations defending astrology, radiesthesia, Qi-gong therapies and some other esoteric practices. The courses' organizers gained credibility in being hosted by an academic institution, and the University received revenues. But a few months ago some members of the Spanish skeptic circle started internet campaigns denouncing Universities that lent their names to pseudoscientific activities. As a result, some of these courses have been cancelled. A brave story in Público summarizes the situation. It starts with the sentence “what reason could not do is achieved by action on the internet”.
Elsewhere, no big news yet from Durban. And no interesting coverage in Spain either, where the main newspapers are using information from wires. The exception is El Pais, where an experienced reporter is in Durban publishing very pessimistic views of...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) An FAO report this week said that satellite data reveal deforestation globally is 30% less than expected. At the same time, the rate in South America is high. Four of the 5 million hectares deforested each year are from South America. Many newspapers covered this news. In...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) An FAO report this week said that satellite data reveal deforestation globally is 30% less than expected. At the same time, the rate in South America is high. Four of the 5 million hectares deforested each year are from South America. Many newspapers covered this news. In Colombia the Ministry of Environment adds more data saying that 10% of the national forests there have disappeared in the last 20 years. Whikle deforestation is slowing down in the country, it is still and “atrocity”, minister said. In Paraguay, a newspaper called ÚltimaHora publishes pictures of a national park being destroyed by illegal wood dealers, local farmers, and indigenous people. An online story after the main article says that government is going to pursue those responsible. And a great story in Mexican ¿Cómo Ves? about the most important mangrove area in northern pacific says it isendangered by the possible construction of an hydroelectric facility and a huge...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) In 2005 an ambitious biomedical research center was inaugurated in Valencia (Spain). Now, with the economic crisis in Spain and the short views of our politicians, half of the scientists in The Príncipe Felipe Research Center have been fired, and 14 of 26 labs closed. Some...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) In 2005 an ambitious biomedical research center was inaugurated in Valencia (Spain). Now, with the economic crisis in Spain and the short views of our politicians, half of the scientists in The Príncipe Felipe Research Center have been fired, and 14 of 26 labs closed. Some newspapers have been more critical than others with the extreme cuts. But all reflect the letter of support signed by 3000 scientists around the world.
In a totally different topic, Science published last week a study suggesting that (by adding more data from past events to current climate models) doubling CO2 atmospheric levels might cause less warming than IPCC predicts. One of the study’s coauthors is Spanish. We’ve read some stories about the paper, but none confronts the conclusions of the study with other climatologists that are not involved in the research.
Talking about environment, glaciers in Spain are disappearing fast and they...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Yesterday Charlie tracked about the AP and ScienceInsider stories on a phenomenal fossil whale site in the Atacama that contains one of...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) Yesterday Charlie tracked about the AP and ScienceInsider stories on a phenomenal fossil whale site in the Atacama that contains one of the world’s biggest concentrations of cetacean fossils, plus other animals. The two main lines of the stories were the mystery why all those fossils accumulated in that precise corner of the Atacama Desert, and that the team of paleontologists is in a hurry to remove the fossils and to take 3D images before the site is damaged. Checking Chilean press, we found interesting stories in Mercurio and La Tercera. None of them reflect worries because of the road construction, but to other threats. Last January 2011 La Tercera wrote a long story explaining all the history of the discovery of the site, and alerting that fossils might be damaged now that they are exposed to tough...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) The Amazon is more interesting, one may easily believe, than the universe beyond our planet but it doesn’t have NASA’s Office of Communications. There are far more potentially amazing environmental stories in Latin American forests than in US and Europe together. But they...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) The Amazon is more interesting, one may easily believe, than the universe beyond our planet but it doesn’t have NASA’s Office of Communications. There are far more potentially amazing environmental stories in Latin American forests than in US and Europe together. But they seem invisible to Latin American reporters. They are missing the opportunity to share with readers the richness of the diverse natural environment so close at hand.
Nine environmental journalists from Latin America received grants to attend the Society for Environmental Journalists (SEJ) meeting in Miami three weeks ago. The Spanish lang tracker was also there to ask them to send him stories related to the conference or are important to its topics in their countries. By far the most prolific is Costa Rican reporter Michelle Soto. In only two weeks Michelle produced original stories abou topics including the problems and solutions of jaguars and pumas...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) El Mundo's renowned health section has a special site on Sexual Health. We don’t know of any similar section in the main Spanish speaking newspapers. The health editor of El Mundo presents it as rigorous and scientific information about sexual medical conditions and...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) El Mundo's renowned health section has a special site on Sexual Health. We don’t know of any similar section in the main Spanish speaking newspapers. The health editor of El Mundo presents it as rigorous and scientific information about sexual medical conditions and treatments. He also says it’s going to avoid kinky content. For the moment they have reported about two surveys of adolescents and university students n Spain about their sexual behavior, and a paper published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine discussing simultaneous orgasms. There is also a story about the increase of STDs due to declining fear of HIV and AIDS. And a great multimedia content about erectile dysfunction. Section's stories were among the top ten most read at elmundo.es over the whole weekend.
(English intro to Spanish lang post) The Iberian lynx is a critically endangered species. It lives in very limited areas of southern Spain. So how about importing some specimens to the south of England? A British biologist says they would adapt very well to the area and it could save them from extinction. A...
(English intro to Spanish lang post) The Iberian lynx is a critically endangered species. It lives in very limited areas of southern Spain. So how about importing some specimens to the south of England? A British biologist says they would adapt very well to the area and it could save them from extinction. A reporter explains this view, and when she consults a conservationist in Spain the reply is “not a bad idea”.
Elsewhere - Nice reporting in Argentina on the 95 million year old fossils of a previously unknown saber-toothed, squirrel-like mammal that lived among dinosaurs. A Colombian journalist travels to Germany and gets a story on synthesizing plastics from carbon dioxide. In Puerto Rico is a story about coffee but it deals only with its good effects on health. In Brazil we find a very good, nicely illustrated story saying that extinction during the ice age was not as sudden as previously thought. And 2 weeks before Spain's general elections we find...
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