The article by Barry A. Palevitz and Ricki Lewis, "Show Me The Data: A Nobel Lesson In The Process Of Science" (The Scientist, 11[24]:8, Dec. 8, 1997) is excellent. The day before I got my hands on the article, I discussed with my colleagues at Tulane University Medical School how Peter Duesberg's recent visit to our institution left me with an empty feeling about the power democracy bestows upon those who have much to say with little to prove. I listened attentively to Duesberg's seminar and m

It was refreshing to read T.V. Rajan's Opinion in the April 29, 1996, issue of The Scientist ("Cause Of Current Funding Crisis May Lie In De-emphasis Of Scholarship," page 10). Most impressive is to see someone with enough guts to admit and detail some of the problems already outlined by many of us. The situation hurts us all, and one way or the other I am sure opinionated investigators will be punished for opening their big mouths, even in this free society. However, anyone with a clear consc

The power bestowed upon the reviewers to disqualify new ideas based on "unpublished" observations has to be removed from the process, unless applicants ignored peer-reviewed-published information. An example of weakness in a summary statement: "Therefore, it is unlikely that the proposed project will lead to new technologies or applications of knowledge that contribute . . . to the mission or health and welfare of the American people." The RFA did not state this condition, and the aims and hypo