Harald zur Hausen on the value of phantasy in science

I have to post this thought of Harald zur Hausen, a scientist I feel proud of working in the same institution as him. He had a life-long battle to convince people of the consequences he had found in his research: the potential of human papilloma virus (HPV16 and HPV18) to induce cervial cancer. Nowaday it is obvious that 90% of this tumor type, and about 20% of larynx and pharynx carcinoma are a direct consequence of chronic HPV infection. Nowaday, young woman can get vaccination (free of charge) to protect them from the virus, and thus minimize their tumor risk by a factor of 10. With an annual incidence of about 8 cases per 100.000 females, the HPV vaccination (introduced 2006) might have saved already thousands of woman from developing this cancer. It would be nice to grant Harald zur Hausen a bonus payment for every life that was saved thanks to his discovery. For today, I'd like to express my gratitude by citing his scientific precept:

The fear of following a speculative, risky approach that is beyond our current textbook wisdom is detrimental to any further progress. Real discoveries were never achieved on a path via established paradigms and fear of conflicts

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 I shall mention that I need some mental support from a person like him, since on Monday I have to presnt something on my work on our annual institutes retreat. I already know that this whole event will go exactly along mediocre, established concepts of science.          

Erection lasting for 90 million years suggests ancient super-Viagra

Researchers of the Berlin Museum for Natural Science have made a discovery that challenges the value of the pharmaceutically produced Viagra or Sildenafil. Wheras their efficiancy to treat erectile dysfunction usually lasts only a few hours, a moskito like insect in the collection of the Museums has a hard time that lasts already for 99 million years.

A description of the fossil has been published in The Science of Nature, explaining that several of the arachnid's features, such as slender legs, crossed-eye view and a pink-red neck region shows all the features also known in modern men after consuming Viagra. However, the morphology of the penis is unlike that of your husbands one-eyed trouser snake, since it shows a shimmering appearance that would make it  suitable to be weared as a jewelery on a necklace.

The ancient harvestman – otherwise known as a daddy longlegs – has surely broken the record for the longest sustained erection in history, and researchers are confident that by carfully analyzing all the different comnpunds in the amber block around it will help them to discover the magic drug.

 

The penis has been described as having a “slender, distally flattened truncus, a spatulate heart-shaped glans and a short distal stylus, twisted at the tip,” marking it out as unique within the Dyspnoi suborder.