SunSeeker
SunSeeker's JournalNeil deGrasse Tyson answers Summers
To set the scene, the (poorly posed) question is referring to comments made by former Treasury Secretary and Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, who suggested that genetic differences could explain why there are fewer girls in science. Yup, he really was Treasury secretary and president of Harvard.
Neil deGrasse Tyson's answer is, um, out of this world. There, I said it. Let me have this one.
http://www.upworthy.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-reveals-that-hes-been-black-his-whole-life-hilarity-and-wisdom-follow?c=reccon1
Scroll to the last 4 minutes of the video at the link for Neil's answer to the audience question. He recounts the struggles he faced as an African American wanting to be an astrophysicist and states that we first must create a system of equal opportunity before we can even ask the question of whether genetics play a part. The rest of the hour-long video has a pretty brilliant, humorous discussion of the issues involved in getting people engaged in science.
Measles outbreaks in NYC, Orange County spotlight risks even for vaccinated
Two measles outbreaks are occurring in major metropolitan areas at opposite ends of the country, putting the spotlight back on a once virtually-eliminated disease.
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In the California outbreak, none of the children had been vaccinated, but 10 of the adults said they received an MMR (measles mumps and rubella) vaccine, while six had an unknown vaccination status.
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The CDC says more than 95 percent of people who receive a single dose of the MMR vaccine are immune against measles, and a second dose gives immunity to almost all of those who don't respond to the first dose.
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"The issue there from our side as I see it is not an issue of the vaccine, but the number of people exposed in a health care situation," he said. "When you have that many exposed, even if the vaccine is 99 percent effective, you're going to have breakthrough cases. "
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-outbreaks-new-york-orange-county-spotlight-risks-even-for-vaccinated/
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So the folks not getting their kids vaccinated are even endangering us folks and our kids who do get vaccinated, since the vaccine is only 95-99% effective.
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