Aggregated News

In an effort to bring clarity to one of the most controversial and confusing scientific findings in recent memory, three Japanese scientists have released a detailed protocol explaining step by step how to create stem cells with a simple acid bath. A leading stem cell scientist at Boston Children’s Hospital is working directly with the scientist who led the work to try and repeat the technique.

The surprising report in January by Boston and Japanese scientists that stem cells, with the ability to develop into any cell in the body, could be created with the seemingly straightforward technique sparked a raging and very public debate in the scientific community.

Within a month, a problem with images in one of the papers was revealed, which the scientists have said will be corrected. Other possible problems have been pointed out on online forums. An investigation by the Japanese scientists’ institution has been ongoing, spurred by questions raised by outside scientists.

What can be easy to forget is that it is not unusual for a new technique that upsets conventional...