A fascinating study from Oikos: The Journal of Ecology finds that research output and number of citations (aggregate and per-paper) are inversely correlated with per-capita beer consumption. That is, where beer consumption rises, research productivity falls, as measured by papers published and subsequent citations. Coverage in the New York Times seems to miss the population … Continue reading
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US (the CDC) has always been a network. It’s role is important and impressive. But can disease surveillance be accomplished in new ways? An interesting site is http://www.whoissick.org, where people stricken by illnesses major or minor can register their conditions. Not every individual report is reliable, … Continue reading