New moral arbiters

Abstract

Meek, a former science correspondent for The Guardian newspaper, deftly handles the complex, day-to-day issues that scientists grapple with: the ethics of research; interaction with society; lab politics; and the struggle to make a mark in a difficult profession. Alex is a dreamer whose hyped Nature paper on a 'treatment' for ageing ("SCIENTIST FINDS FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH!", shrills the headline in Val's paper) transforms him into an unproductive media darling.