Author: Mengmeng

Two years ago in May, I visited a hospice (a terminal care hospital) in Calgary. It is located in the basement of a nursing home. I was astonished by the spotlessly clean and cozy environment of it. This hospice has 26 wards as well as a study, a living room, a kitchen, a dining room, and a garden, just like a home. On the day of my visit, 25 wards were being used, so the director showed me into the only empty one. When standing there, I felt serenity and calm. I could feel every second of time passing. The director told me they hold baking parties from time to time, so the residents and their families can enjoy their last moment together. Some residents choose to die in the garden under the sunshine, so they design and decorate the lawn and garden elaborately.

When I was back from the hospice, I’ve determined that sorrow, fear, and anxiety would never be a part of my life. When dying people struggle to enjoy the beautiful things in this world, how can healthy ones waste their time in negative feelings?

There is scientific evidence for the old saying “Timing is everything!”. Researchers reported cyanobacteria takes up DNA in accordance with the circadian clock and can adapt to seasonal changes of day length.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-15384-9.epdf?author_access_token=2gousnzzVysFSY2LOSNbg9RgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0Nc8pcIcRYpgVd4ttbqvXb5MXS0MKODYOIhLGIQKIZv5Ow-j1ozo37n3k6BgZUEhCXYP-ph-YcOlHYiEHZXSlh8D2M46yMxpNzY7lyIT7dxBg%3D%3D

The internal clock allows cyanobacteria to anticipate daily changes of darkness and light, so the photosynthetic metabolism and growth can function properly.

This is an example showing scientific idea precedes evidence. Two thousand years ago, Chinese medicine have already advocated harmony between humanity and nature and asked people to keep living habit as going to work at sunrise and going to rest at sunset. Since the recent development in genetic and medical studies, people have began to seek scientific explanation for “timing” with circadian rhythm hypothesis. Researchers have also explored the convergence of environmental signals and internal circadian rhythms in photoperiodic flowering in plants, seasonal reproductive rhythms in mammals, and growth rhythms in Arabidopsis. The scientific evidence in cyanobacteria matched our expectation. However, sometimes, we see disagreement between evidence and expectation. In that case, we need to respect the evidence and re-organize expectation or hypothesis.

Anyhow, keeping a good sleep-wake habit is important to health!

“Oh Captain, my Captain!” I remember this line because it appeared as the last scene in the movie “Dead poet society”. When the English teacher was about to leave the classroom, students stood on the chairs and chanted “Oh Captain, my Captain.”

This scene reappeared yesterday, in reality. When the relieved Navy captain Brett Crozier left the USS Theodore Roosevelt, crew members sent off him with cheers and applause and chanted “Captain Crozier, Captain Crozier!”

Captain Crozier requested help to test and quarantine the sick sailors due to Coronavirus. But Defence Department said he undermined chain of commands and misjudged. If not pushed into the corner, I don’t think Captain Crozier would sacrifice his career to leak the report content. I guess he knew clearly what would lie ahead of him when he sent the pleading letter. However, he put his sailors’ life above his career. I heard the current situation is the ship will dock in American base in Japan. Crew members will land and get tested and quarantined for Coronavirus.

Salute to Captain Crozier! You saved your sailors’ lives.

pic.twitter.com/x1zo9dV6pG

— Shatterface (@Shatterface) April 3, 2020

When writing a proposal, we are often asked how your study will aid decision making. What I realized in the past was producing knowledge, publishing scientific papers, presenting during conferences …… I’ve never thought scientific evidence based decision-making can save millions of life.

This was what happened prior to Wuhan lockdown on January 23 due to COVID-19 outbreak. People were so panicked that a flu-similar pnemonia caused many people sick. The hospitals became overloaded. No one has had experience dealing with such a novel type of coronavirus. Zhong Nanshan, the top respiratory disease expert of China, confirmed to public this disease is not flu and it can be transmitted via human-to-human. Li Lanjuan, a top infectious disease expert, analyzed the confirmed cases in other provinces spread from Wuhan. She concluded Wuhan is the epicentre and it must be locked down, while other cities must be shut down, too. This was a difficult decision back then, because economic activities shut-down during spring festival means billions RMB loss and tons of unemployment population. However, thanks to the decision, Chinese governments acted quickly and decisively. China has contained the virus spread within a short time.

This is a fantastic example about how scientific evidence based decision can aid public policy and save life. Two months later, other countries followed China’s steps and began their shut-downs. There is no doubt that shut down is a huge blow to economy. But economy can be rebuilt, life can’t.

As many other topics in Science, virus is used as a weapon to attack the enemies by politicians. U.S. president bashed China for secretly hiding the pandemic information from other countries. Chinese diplomats criticized U.S. for introducing the virus to China, indicating the virus is bio-weapon made by U.S. Along with this, politicians argue and criticize each others around economy policies, health care insurance — It sounds like: it is all your fault! High officials try to get rid of the responsibility. I also read report that some drug companies were asked to not share the antibody information with certain countries. Politicians always prioritize wealth and power rather than lives. What ugly scene!

At this critical time, shouldn’t the nations in the world unite together to fight against the virus?

No news is good news. At this depressed time, watching news is a torture. Italy just reported a heartbreaking death toll due to COVID-19 pandemic. The medical facilities are overloaded. Trucks were used to transport dead bodies. Medical stuff got mentally collapsed in ICU. The origin of Renaissance became a hell. Mediterranean diet is a contributing factor for Italians’ longevity. But, during this pandemic, the virus mainly took these elders away. They should have enjoyed many years ahead, watching their grandchildren grow up, enjoying a peaceful retirement life.

In New York city, the situation is doomed, too. What’s worse than Italy is many people don’t have medical insurance. Even the testing is free, the treatment charges a great amount of dollars. For any case in need of ICU care, the bill will be a horrible number. Die or go bankrupt?

I always think safety, education and medical care are three basic rights for a citizen. But sadly, some nations can’t provide these to its citizens.

“Art comes from life and goes beyond life”. I just created a screenplay in my mind.

January, 2020. Some high-level intelligence officials, senators and public health officials held a secret committee meeting in US. They were briefed about the Virus-damaged situation in Wuhan, China. There is no vaccine or treatment for this unknown virus. People are dying. Medical staff are exhausted. The whole city was in lockdown. What’s worse, this disease may evolve to pandemic and cause millions of people in other countered get infected. But these committee members decided to downplay this disease. Otherwise, the stock market will be seriously damaged. Tons of money will vanish immediately.

February, 2020. Some committee members asked their relatives to sell their stocks. At the same time, they reassured the public “We are so prepared for the virus. It is just a flu. No need to be worried.”

March, 2020. Stock market plunged. Four trade halting occurred within 10 days. Dow index fell from 30,000 to 20,000. Federal reserves reduced the interest to zero. Media has found these committee members sold their stock after the January meeting. They replied :”Those are normal transactions. Welcome for investigation!”

Ok, stop here. I apologize. I was not creating, I just repeated a news reported in the below video.

I don’t concern about American stock market until recently, the whole world have witnessed three times trade halting within ten days. Did they change the bull to bear in Wall Street?

Last time, when I took my parents to visit New York city, my parents asked me to take a photo of them with that bull statue. I guess that bull is very hurt right now.

Not only stock market, but the whole world will be entering recession. A friend who worked for oil and gas got laid off two weeks ago. The whole world is facing a war against an invisible enemy — a virus! This virus specially kills infirm and elderly, along with, snobbish and stupid.

I have no doubt that humans will get rid of this virus sooner or later. But the wound and pain will be left.

“The only certainty is uncertainty.” I learned about this view two years ago during a depressing period. Now, I’ve realized what the real uncertainty is. Any personal emotional fluctuation is just trivial comparing with a societal turmoil.

I received a message from Safeway this morning: ” In the 113-year history of our parent company, we’ve never seen so many customers visit our stores. That makes sense. Canadians have never faced anything like the Coronavirus outbreak before. And the first thing anyone thinks about in uncertain times is keeping their loved ones safe. ”

COVID-19 pandemic caused tremendous panic amongst public. People tried to stock as much food as possible. I have no doubt that this uncertain times will be over sooner or later. I am more concerned that what we can learn from this experience as a person, or as a country. Can humanity make progress after this pandemic?

If I had superpower, I wish I could have treatment for human stupidity. It is not boosting IQ. It is simply something that help people be freed from bias, arrogance, and ignorance, so that they can respect, accept and learn from others’ excellence. I wish this treatment could remove the superiority feeling from some people, so they can treat others with equity and justice.