Author Archives: Steve Caplan

About Steve Caplan

I am a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska where I mentor a group of students, postdoctoral fellows and researchers working on endocytic protein trafficking. My first lablit novel, "Matter Over Mind," is about a biomedical researcher seeking tenure and struggling to overcome the consequences of growing up with a parent suffering from bipolar disorder. Lablit novel #2, "Welcome Home, Sir," published by Anaphora Literary Press, deals with a hypochondriac principal investigator whose service in the army and post-traumatic stress disorder actually prepare him well for academic, but not personal success. Novel #3, "A Degree of Betrayal," is an academic murder mystery. "Saving One" is my most recent novel set at the National Institutes of Health. Now IN PRESS: Today's Curiosity is Tomorrow's Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research (CRC PRESS, 2021). https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B006CSULBW? All views expressed are my own, of course--after all, I hate advertising.

Life in the Middle West

Posted on 12 May 2014 by Steve Caplan

I’m watching the storm predictors on the news, with tornado reports and wall clouds about 30 miles to the southwest, and bemoaning our decision to miss our daughter’s Carmina Burana performance with 350 vocalists at Omaha’s Holland Performing Arts Center. … Continue reading →

Posted in Carmina Burana, hail, lightning, Music, performing arts, severe weather, thunderstorms, tornados, warnings, weather | Comments Off on Life in the Middle West

OMICS, in your face…

Posted on 5 May 2014 by Steve Caplan

Before you can say “endocytic recycling,” there it is, OMICS strikes again with its ridiculous ‘in-your-face‘ attempts to hoodwink researchers into submitting manuscripts (and money). I am glad to be an “eminent, efficient and supportive adept,” but: 1) I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in am I stupid?, BS, fed up, in your face, OMICS, Research, researcher, Scam, science, what | Comments Off on OMICS, in your face…

What makes a dog tick? No pun intended…

Posted on 4 May 2014 by Steve Caplan

Having adopted Ginger as a 4 year old Vizsla-Labrador retriever mix less than a year ago from an animal rescue organization in Nebraska, I cannot even remember what life used to be like pre-arrival of my loyal retriever-pointer-and all around … Continue reading →

Posted in animal behavior, anxiety, canine, dog, dog sense, dogs, education, Ginger, jealousy, john bradshaw, labrador, pointer, Research, retriever, science, training, vizsla | Comments Off on What makes a dog tick? No pun intended…

The ease of publishing does not reflect the realities of science

Posted on 24 April 2014 by Steve Caplan

Almost every day I am besieged through email to either join editorial boards of new ‘up-and-coming’ journals or submit manuscripts to them. Neither is a trivial matter for me. A submitted manuscript often comes after several years of research by … Continue reading →

Posted in article, fly-by-night, humor, journals, online, Open Access, paper, Research, science, Submission, waste of time | Comments Off on The ease of publishing does not reflect the realities of science

Why this night is no different than any other – vile anti-semitism persists

Posted on 15 April 2014 by Steve Caplan

Tonight, I know, is the first night of Pesach-Passover, the Jewish festive celebration of the historic/mythical tale of escape from slavery in Egypt. Being an atheist with a complete lack of interest in any religious or pseudo-religious customs, Passover has … Continue reading →

Posted in antisemitism, Jew, Jewish Community Center, Kansas City, murder, Nazi, Passover, Pesach, racist, treason, white supremacist | Comments Off on Why this night is no different than any other – vile anti-semitism persists

On the connection between (April) fools and trolls

Posted on 12 April 2014 by Steve Caplan

Trolls seldom have anything worthwhile to say. They twist, bully, rant and rave and insult, putting forth their worst drivel to provoke a response. All behind a cloak of anonymity. That is the nature of a troll; inevitably a loser … Continue reading →

Posted in April Fools, education, grant, humor, laboratory, proposal, Research, science, students, training, troll | Comments Off on On the connection between (April) fools and trolls

Volcanoes

Posted on 5 April 2014 by Steve Caplan

Many geologists and climatologists believe that global warming aside, the next major global climate issues are most likely to come from the explosion of a super-volcano; after all, just look at what an isolated Icelandic volcano did to air traffic … Continue reading →

Posted in Arena, Costa Rica, eruption, La Fortuna, science, supervolcano, Tabicon, tragedy, volcano | Comments Off on Volcanoes

Costa Rica: Part 2- river adventures (“Don’t cross the river, if you can’t swim the tide…”)

Posted on 30 March 2014 by Steve Caplan

No visit to Costa Rica would be complete without visiting the fascinating rivers than run through the luscious rain forests. However, there are a wide variety of river adventures, some of which I would warmly endorse, whereas others – well … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, Costa Rica, flowers, river, science, travels, wildlife | Comments Off on Costa Rica: Part 2- river adventures (“Don’t cross the river, if you can’t swim the tide…”)

Costa Rica – Part 1: The Tree House

Posted on 21 March 2014 by Steve Caplan

Our Casa de Rana (frog) Tree House, recently Costa Rica is an incredible country, often described as the “Switzerland of Central America” (apologies to my UK friends, but Ben Nevis and the Munroes don’t quite compare with the Alps…). A … Continue reading →

Posted in Arenal, armadillo, birds, coffee, conservation, Costa Rica, ecotourism, education, guides, hummingbirds, rain forest, science, Tree House, tropical paradise | Comments Off on Costa Rica – Part 1: The Tree House

Surfacing from the jungles of Central America

Posted on 16 March 2014 by Steve Caplan

Following my 3rd trip to Central America in the last 10 years, and my second visit to Costa Rica, I have returned from the rain and cloud forests invigorated by the immense diversity of flora and fauna, with the spectacular … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, birds, blue crowned motmot, fauna, flora, hummingbirds, science, wildlife | Comments Off on Surfacing from the jungles of Central America