The 'Sokal affair' takes transatlantic turn

The Latest on the Sokal Affair: Beyond Three Extremisms

After a short summary of the Sokal Affair and of the point of view of Steven Weinberg, we discuss certain aspects of the scientist ideology present in the last book of Alan Sokal Pseudoscience and Postmodernism: Antagonists or Fellow-Travelers?, published in France. The danger of the three extremisms present in our time relativist extremism, scientist extremism and its mirror-image, the religio...

Gene Amplification: Yeast Takes a Turn

The origins of gene amplifications in mammalian cells have been difficult to analyze because of secondary genome rearrangements. Recent studies in budding yeast, including in this issue of Cell, have provided new insights into the role of palindromic sequences in gene amplification.

Actin Dynamics: Cell Migration Takes a New Turn with Arpin

Accurate cell migration requires intricate control over the actin cytoskeleton. Recent work has identified an Arp2/3-interacting protein called Arpin, which restricts the rate of actin polymerization and is the latest component in the steadily expanding protein repertoire that controls cell migration.

The Alder Hey affair.

The monkey gland affair

His method of working involves very close study of the texts in order to uncover the medical concepts of their authors. For example, when he analyses the vocabulary of disease, showing how diseases are described and named, his conclusions illuminate the question of the extent to which individual characteristics ofthe patient are thought to influence the symptoms and course of the disease. One c...