Category Archives: research

A pinch of salt in the lab

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Ever see those amazing deaf-defying (thank you, Grant!) death-defying feats and the announcer at the end says: “Do not attempt to do this at home?” Well, do not attempt to do this in your lab. I don’t know why I … Continue reading →

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It is what it is

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Steve Caplan

As a scientist who spends a lot of time looking at data, I sometimes feel that we venture into an area where we are in danger of over-interpreting our results. On the one hand, it is a perfectly natural and … Continue reading →

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Where have all the good times gone?

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Steve Caplan

I recently spent a wonderful vacation in Washington, DC–replacing a planned driving trip to Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado and some of the nearby parks in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. All because of a pain in the neck, that … Continue reading →

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Mr. President, can you save science, please?

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Scientists love to complain. That is not to say that they enjoy the situation that they are complaining about, but to me it seems as though in the US there is a level of fatalism that translates into inertia. And … Continue reading →

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Bathroom breaks and other news of the day

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Steve Caplan

I’ve come to the realization that a little chronic pain can be good for the soul. That is, if the chronic is not too chronic. Readers of this blog may remember my whining and complaining about neck pain—a recovery and … Continue reading →

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Best Protein Names–the winners!

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Recently, we announced a competition for the best/funniest protein names. Now, after great debate among the professional judges, I am proud to report the winning protein names for this year’s contest. Drumroll, please… First Place: INDY–I’m not dead yet from … Continue reading →

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What’s in a name?

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Steve Caplan

What a great way to begin a blog–scooped before I’ve even started! I started with this great–and not so original idea, apparently–of having a little contest: everyone is invited to send in their all time favorite names of proteins. In … Continue reading →

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Out of context!

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Steve Caplan

It’s time for some self promotion coupled with the release of frustration. Back in December, at the Annual American Society for Cell Biology meeting in Philadelphia I met Jenny (Rohn) and suggested an idea for something that might be of … Continue reading →

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Use it or lose it?

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Ever wonder what the effect of technology is on our developing brains? This is something that I’ve been thinking about for some time now. I recently put some of these thoughts into words in my blog entitled: “PhD survival: is … Continue reading →

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A shocking business

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Steve Caplan

Some recent repairs that we had done on our home, coupled with Henry’s recent post “Build” led me to recall an odd event that occurred in my home some years ago. We were new in the city of Omaha, and … Continue reading →

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