This is a photo of my beagle: I spend a lot of down time trying to figure out whether he has higher cognition.

I’ve always been quite interested in Einstein’s biography. Some new primary material is now available (click on the link): letters from 1915 when he was working on the general theory of relativity.

Jim

Former Harvard President Lawrence Summers has a very interesting Op-Ed in today’s Financial Times. It’s a link that’s open to subscribers only, but here’s the money quote:

If the 20th century was defined by developments in the physical sciences, the 21st century will be defined by developments in the life sciences….Life science approaches will lead to everything from further agricultural revolutions to profound changes in energy technology and the development of new materials. The “drugs that help you study” that are now pervasive on college campuses are just a precursor of developments that will make it possible to alter human capacities and human natures in profound ways.

Summers may have lost his job at Harvard, but he sure hasn’t lost his intellectual edge. I think he’s spot on here.

Jim

In this week’s SCIENCE–researchers at Iowa and USC find that individuals with focal stroke injuries to the insula suddenly lose all interest in their smoking addictions. I haven’t seen the actual article yet, just the news reports (I link to the NY Times article), but I’m always cautious about such discoveries which purport to link a part of the brain to some salient aspect of human mental experience (e.g. the pleasure center). Nora Volkow, director of NIDA at NIH calls the discovery “mind-boggling”.

Jim

I commend to you the very interesting debate going on in the blogosphere between neuroscience doctoral student Sam Harris (author of The End of Faith) and Andrew Sullivan (famed of The New Republic). Click on the link at the top for the latest from Sullivan.

Jim

I had the pleasure of walking through the new Krasnow expansion today on a tour with one of our faculty-position finalists. It was incredible to see all the wonderful new space for research!

And our finalists themselves so far are so very impressive! Three new PI’s will join Krasnow in the Fall!

Jim

This afternoon, snow is finally falling here in Washington. Tomorrow the Spring semester officially begins at George Mason University where I work. It’ll be nice to see the students back, although I must say the traffic situation around campus this past month has been delightful. As the new term begins, I am reminded of how as an undergrad at Amherst College, I loved flying from Los Angeles, back across the United States into the snowy winter of western Massachusetts because of the promise of a new beginning and the excitement of learning new things.

Here at Krasnow, we’re looking forward to the new term and the promise of learning new things also.

Jim

I have long been interested in the science of biologicals (organic chemicals that occur naturally in biological systems) as therapeutic agents. Over the years there have been many such stories–probably the strongest evidence is found in the fish oil story within the context of cardiovascular disease. But here (click on the link above) is a new/old wrinkle: turmeric (think mustard and Indian food) as a preventative for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Jim

Today we commence the Krasnow interview portion of the simultaneous searches that are underway for junior-level faculty neuroscience positions at George Mason. I’m really looking forward to spending some time with the first of our candidates.

There are also some potential opportunities for more senior investigators here given the new expansion space and I’d informally urge individuals who may be interested to contact me directly.

Jim

The Chronicle flames the new US government grants portal. Lots of good points in my opinion.

Jim