Forum Discussion

Afraser's avatar
Afraser
Member
8 years ago

Why I like science

So we may be able to combat superbugs by using platypus milk! Which makes you wonder how that link was made. Female platyplurals don't have teats. Milk comes through pores, a bit like sweat glands, and runs through the fur to be consumed by the young. Huge chance of being contaminated by whatever bugs may be on the body, from whatever. So the milk contains elements that protect the young from infection, evolution at work . And so is the lateral thinking that allowed someone to explore that extraordinary capacity. We may have lost Stephen Hawking but there are other minds enquiring out there. Who knows what we can do? 
research
  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    8 years ago
    Item on the news, yesterday: https://www.ctmcrc.com/adelaides-carina-biotech-makes-killer-cells-cure-cancer/

    Unfortunately, The Advertiser requires subs to access full article.  I have a login somewhere.  If anyone really wants to read it, let me know and I'll try to get the whole article and post it later.
  • Sister's avatar
    Sister
    Member
    8 years ago
    The possible connections that are investigated do make you wonder, don't they.  But for every one that shows some promise, there's many that turn out to be just flights of fancy.  I wonder how many theories that might have been promising have not been funded because they looked too ridiculous.
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    8 years ago
    It makes you wonder who thought of investigating the properties of platypus milk and how the hell they obtained enough samples to do any meaningful study. Perhaps the last bit doesn't bear thinking about.
    It is, indeed, a brave new world.