Honest Universe

Are You an Organ Donor?

Mark Hanna • Mar 08, 2016

• Andy Tookey,
• Colin Cavaghan,
• GiveLife,
• Organ Donation,
• Organ Donor

Organ donation is important. When a person dies in a way that leaves them brain dead but their other organs still viable, such as an intracranial haemorrhage in an intensive care unit, their organs can be transplanted to save others’ lives in a way nothing else can. Only a few organs, kidneys for example, can be donated by live donors. Read More

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Fun with Light

Mark Hanna • Jan 25, 2016

• Science and Society

There are lots of cool science activities you can do at home with light. Like I’ve done almost every year of my life, I spent my summer break at my family bach at Oakura. Last summer I wrote a post about a trip to the rocks and what could be found living there. This summer, on the relatively … Read More

Fun with Light

Mark Hanna • Jan 25, 2016

• Science and Society

There are lots of cool science activities you can do at home with light. Like I’ve done almost every year of my life, I spent my summer break at my family bach at Oakura. Last summer I wrote a post about a trip to the rocks and what could be found living there. This summer, on the relatively … Read More

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Nurofen: Does It Really Target Pain?

Mark Hanna • Dec 14, 2015

• Health and Medicine

Nurofen provides targeted relief from pain. Or does it? For a long time now, the pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser has sold a range of their ibuprofen product Nurofen, which are marketed for four specific types of pain: Back pain Migraine pain Period pain Tension headache Since at least 2008, Nurofen has marketed these specific pain relief products saying they “ … Read More

Nurofen: Does It Really Target Pain?

Mark Hanna • Dec 14, 2015

• advertising,
• Health and Medicine,
• Ibuprofen,
• misleading,
• Nurofen,
• Reckitt Benckiser

Nurofen provides targeted relief from pain. Or does it? For a long time now, the pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser has sold a range of their ibuprofen product Nurofen, which are marketed for four specific types of pain: Back pain Migraine pain Period pain Tension headache Since at least 2008, Nurofen has marketed these specific pain relief products saying they “ … Read More

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It’s Detox Season

Mark Hanna • Dec 11, 2015

• Health and Medicine

Summer is detox season, but beware misleading health advice. Every summer, we are bombarded with advertisements, editorials, and advertorials chastising us for all the toxins we have poisoned ourself with by indulging in fruit mince pies and Christmas ham. But it’s okay, we are told, for there is a solution to this toxic overload. And that solution is… The detox … Read More

It’s Detox Season

Mark Hanna • Dec 11, 2015

• Health and Medicine

Summer is detox season, but beware misleading health advice. Every summer, we are bombarded with advertisements, editorials, and advertorials chastising us for all the toxins we have poisoned ourself with by indulging in fruit mince pies and Christmas ham. But it’s okay, we are told, for there is a solution to this toxic overload. And … Read More

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What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

Mark Hanna • Nov 12, 2015

• Science

The New Zealand Herald has an article today about a cool and very popular image of the Moon positioned perfectly within a radio satellite, produced by astrophotographer Chris Pegman: Supermoon image goes into media orbit Image by Chris Pegman The article talks about how there has been debate online about whether or not this could … Read More

What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

Mark Hanna • Nov 12, 2015

• astronomy,
• Astrophotography,
• Science

You can learn a lot from fake astrophotography. The New Zealand Herald has an article today about a cool and very popular image of the Moon positioned perfectly within a radio satellite, produced by astrophotographer Chris Pegman: Supermoon image goes into media orbit The article talks about how there has been debate online about whether or not this … Read More

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Pharmacists Don’t Want to Sell Unproven Products

Mark Hanna • Oct 22, 2015

• Health and Medicine

The Pharmaceutical Society doesn’t think pharmacists should be able to sell healthcare products with no evidence of efficacy. Last week I wrote about the Pharmacy Council’s proposal to change their Code of Ethics, and summarised the submissions that I was aware of. One important organisation that was missing from that roundup is the Pharmaceutical Society. The Pharmaceutical Society is … Read More