Scientists discover a new hormone that can build strong bones in mice

Animal experimentation & ethics

• Many assume the fracture-healing work required deliberately breaking elderly mice’s bones, raising ethical concerns.
• Some recount distressing animal procedures (including painful deaths) and argue such “torture” is only justifiable when rigorously necessary and not redundant.
• Others note lab mice are highly inbred for consistency, so “rounding up wild mice” wouldn’t work scientifically.
• A few admit moral outrage at lab experiments but none at killing household pests, highlighting inconsistent intuitions.

Height and bone length

• Several ask if CCN3 could be used to lengthen bones and increase adult height for status/dating advantages.
• Others point out that once growth plates close, long bones no longer lengthen; the hormone seems more relevant to healing/strength, not cosmetic height changes.
• Concerns are raised about a height “arms race” among the rich and possible systemic strain (e.g., cardiovascular).

Breastfeeding, calcium, and osteoporosis

• Thread discusses whether breastfeeding harms maternal bone density.
• Some studies (linked in comments) suggest density may temporarily drop then rebound post‑weaning; parity may blunt full recovery.
• Debate over daily calcium supplements: some see them as low‑risk insurance; others warn about poor bioavailability, mineral absorption competition (e.g., with zinc), constipation, and supplement quality.

Spaceflight implications

• Commenters connect bone‑loss therapies to long‑duration spaceflight and Mars plans.
• Microgravity bone loss is much faster than on Earth; unknowns remain about 1/3 g on Mars.
• Suggestions: combine such drugs with resistance exercise and artificial gravity; others argue radiation and broader physiology remain bigger blockers.

Therapeutic promise, safety, and commercialization

• Enthusiasm that this could become a major treatment for age‑related bone loss and osteoporotic fractures.
• Noted that CCN3 (NOV) exists in humans; natural sequences may limit patentability, possibly making generics easier if efficacy is shown.
• Strong caution about tumor risk (e.g., osteosarcoma) when stimulating growth in aged tissues; many early candidates fail on safety.
• Disagreement over whether high drug prices mainly reflect genuine R&D difficulty or patent games and market power.

Hormones, HRT, and lifestyle

• Several stress estrogen’s central role in bone formation and lament underuse of HRT for postmenopausal women.
• Others counter that certain HRT regimens increase cancer or clot risk, though newer views differentiate by molecule and route (oral vs transdermal).
• Lifestyle factors: strength/weight‑bearing exercise is repeatedly cited as beneficial for bone density; commenters note women often under‑utilize strength training due to fears of “looking masculine,” which others call biologically unrealistic.

“In mice” and perception of science

• Late addition of “in mice” to the HN title sparks debate.
• Some argue it unfairly trivializes a significant mechanistic discovery, given many mouse findings translate or at least illuminate human biology.
• Others see it as essential precision and note that omitting species encourages overhyping.
• A few point out “in mice” has become a rhetorical cudgel in some circles to dismiss biomedical research wholesale.

Other questions and tangents

• People wonder if CCN3 might help connective tissue or teeth; another link mentions an unrelated tooth‑regrowth drug entering human trials.
• Concerns raised about exacerbating Paget’s disease or cancer; answers are speculative and unresolved.
• Meta‑discussion: requests for HN‑like venues for science/biomed news; several sites and feeds are suggested.
• Numerous jokes about super‑strong mice, cats enjoying crunchier prey, fictional “malk,” and unsupported claims about mangoes strengthening bones.