From Science News: He made beer that’s also a vaccine. Now controversy is brewing.
Chris Buck stands barefoot in his kitchen holding a glass bottle of unfiltered Lithuanian farmhouse ale. He swirls the bottle gently to stir up a fingerbreadth blanket of yeast and pours the turbulent beer into a glass mug.
Buck raises the mug and sips. “Cloudy beer. Delightful!”
He has just consumed what may be the world’s first vaccine delivered in a beer. It could be the first small sip toward making vaccines more palatable and accessible to people around the world. Or it could fuel concerns about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Or the idea may go nowhere. No matter the outcome, the story of Buck’s unconventional approach illustrates the legal, ethical, moral, scientific and social challenges involved in developing potentially life-saving vaccines.
Doin' the Lord's work, right there! Can I have all my vaccinations in beer, please?
I loved this! It reveals so much about how knowledge is created, shared and valued. It is also provides some interesting insight into the role of regulatory bodies and made me whether they help or hinder the process of innovation. Thank you for sharing this!
P.S. I'm very glad to see the 'reboot' of your blog towards the end of last year and hope you keep sharing your finds. I've been following your blog for about 20 years now!
Thank you, Henry! It is always a treat to see you here.