Scientists Get Closer To Replicating Human Sperm (engadget.com)

Rachel England reports via Engadget: Scientists have taken an important step forward in recreating the way the human body makes sperm, which could one day mean creating artificial sperm and eggs for infertility treatment. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge's Gurdon Institute, are thought to be the first team to have reached the "halfway point" -- a significant milestone -- on the path between stem cells and immature sperm. This pathway -- which the team are attempting to track and understand -- involves embryonic cells turning into immature sperm via a series of complex steps known as meiosis. Cells follow the same journey for around eight weeks, before taking different directions depending on whether they're to be sperm or eggs. Previously, the team had managed to track this pathway to the four-week mark. Now, using new technology in the form of miniature artificial testicles (called "gonadal organoids"), it's on track to pass this point and gain new, deep insight into the process of sperm creation. Further reading: The Guardian

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Re:open a box of chocolates

[hey!]

Well, for instance?

Here's the thing: everything you've ever heard about feminists is true... of some feminist somewhere. It's also false. Just like everything you've ever heard about Trump voters is true ... of some Trump voter somewhere. It's also false.

Some mens-rights advocates have, in response to the whole sexual harassment thing, pointed out that women sometimes sexually harass men too. They were roundly mocked by feminists, but it turns out those mens-rights types have a surprising ally in their point of view: other feminists. The jargon those feminists use might sound foreign (essentialism) but they're making exactly the same point: being a woman shouldn't automatically make you a victim and being a man shouldn't automatically make you a victimizer.

That's because any large group of people (like "all men" or "all women") is bound to have people who aren't very much alike. That's even true of people who identify with some kind of ideological label like "conservative" or "environmentalist". If there's enough of them it's always easy to cherry pick viewpoints to suit your purpose.

People across the political spectrum love them their stereotypes and straw men, because it makes it easy to feel like you're right all the time. But this violates the most basic principle of civilized behavior: the golden rule. That's not how you want your views to be treated.