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Subcategory: Science and Public Policy
No Gattaca Here: Genetic Anti-Discrimination Law Goes Into Effect
Nov 17 2009 - Discover
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prevents both employers and insurance companies from requiring genetic tests or from using your family's medical history against you.
Global Health Alliance Targets Chronic Disease Wave
Nov 16 2009 - Reuters
An alliance of the world's top public health researchers set out plans on Monday to invest tens of millions of dollars in heart and lung disease studies in a battle against a global epidemic of chronic disease.
Scientists Want Debate on Animals with Human Genes
Nov 10 2009 - Reuters
A mouse that can speak? A monkey with Down's Syndrome? Dogs with human hands or feet? British scientists want to know if such experiments are acceptable, or if they go too far in the name of medical research.
Congress to Explore Geoengineering Next Month
Oct 20 2009 - ScienceInsider
The U.S. Congress will explore deliberate tinkering with the climate in its first-ever hearing on geoengineering early next month, ScienceInsider has learned. Congressional committees have shied away from focusing hearings on the controversial topic until now.
U.S. Physical Science Headed for Modest Boost
Oct 5 2009 - ScienceInsider
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a $33.5 billion spending bill for energy and water spending in fiscal year 2010, and Senate action could come soon. In the joint House-Senate spending bill, Department of Energy's Office of Science, which supports most U.S. physical science, was awarded a 2.7% boost.
3 Answers and 3 Questions on China and Climate
Sep 23 2009 - ScienceInsider
The biggest news coming out of the one-day UN General Assembly summit on climate change was President Hu Jintao's announcement that China will by 2020 seek to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by a "notable margin" relative to the 2005 level.
Panel Calls for $20 Billion "New Biology" Initiative
Sep 18 2009 - ScienceInsider
A group of senior scientists is calling for an ambitious new U.S. biology research initiative that would tackle broad challenges involving food, energy, the environment, and health. The advice comes from a panel convened over a year ago by the U.S. National Academies' National Research Council.
Nobelists Plead for More Money for Clean Energy Research
Jul 17 2009 - ScienceInsider
Thirty-four U.S. Nobel Laureates called on President Barack Obama to push for a steady funding mechanism in upcoming climate legislation to support clean energy research. Many billions of dollars are already flowing from stimulus funding, but in 1.5 years that will all be spent.
Rural Alabama Doctor Picked for Surgeon General
Jul 14 2009 - MSNBC
President Barack Obama nominated for surgeon general a rural family physician. Obama says Dr. Regina Benjamin is uniquely qualified to be America's doctor as his administration tries to revamp the health care system.
U.S. Stem Cell Research Rules Ease Some Restrictions
Jul 7 2009 - Reuters
The U.S. government released new rules on Monday governing federally funded research on human embryonic stem cells, loosening some ethical requirements that scientists said could have cost them a decade of work.
To Fix Health Care, Some Study Developing World
Jul 2 2009 - The Wall Street Journal
Cost-effective medical practices deployed in developing nations are delivering good results, prompting many in the U.S. to ask whether the same solutions can be done here.
House Panel Cuts DOE Education Program
Jun 26 2009 - ScienceInsider
A House of Representatives spending panel rejected a comprehensive, $115 million education initiative that energy secretary Steven Chu has touted as essential for training a new cadre of scientists pursuing basic and applied research on clean energy.
U.S. Drops Research Into Fuel Cells for Cars
May 8 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells will not be practical over the next 10 to 20 years, the energy secretary said Thursday, and the government will cut off funds for the vehicles' development.
Swine Flu Spreads, But Severity and Genetics Remain Murky
Apr 27 2009 - ScienceInsider
Although the spread of swine flu appears to be accelerating—and the virus is beginning to dominate global headlines—the World Health Organization stopped short of ratcheting up the pandemic alert level this weekend, although it may do so on Monday or Tuesday.
Obama to Address National Academy of Sciences
Apr 24 2009 - ScienceInsider
On Monday, President Barack Obama will give his first address on science and technology since taking office three months ago. The venue will be the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.
F.B.I. and States Vastly Expand DNA Databases
Apr 20 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Law enforcement officials are vastly expanding their collection of DNA to include millions more people who have been arrested or detained but not yet convicted. The move is raising concerns about the privacy of people who are presumed innocent.
National Science Board Recommends Comprehensive, Coordinated Federal Strategy to Transform U.S. Energy Economy
Apr 14 2009 - National Science Foundation
The National Science Board today released for public review and comment a draft report, Building a Sustainable Energy Future, which calls on the nation to lead the fundamental transformation of the current energy economy from one that is dependent on fossil fuel to one that thrives on sustainable and clean energy.
U.S. Making Little Progress on Food Safety
Apr 10 2009 - Reuters
Efforts to improve food safety in the United States have "plateaued," exposing the need for an overhaul of the nation's food safety system, government health officials said on Thursday.
In Full Interview, John Holdren Eschews New Nukes, Hints at Space Flight Delays
Apr 9 2009 - ScienceInsider
Three weeks into his job as head of the White House Office of Science and Technology, presidential science adviser John Holdren has laid out clear positions on myriad issues facing the Obama Administration.
UCLA Scientists Plan Counterprotest in Favor of Animal Testing
Apr 2 2009 - The Chronicle of Higher Education
A group of students and scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles will try to beat animals-rights protesters at their own game today by demonstrating in favor of using animals for research purposes, which they consider crucial to developing live-saving medical breakthroughs.
Bill Gates, China Join Forces Against TB
Apr 1 2009 - CBS News
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is teaming with the Chinese government in a $33 million project to test new ways to diagnose drug-resistant tuberculosis, as well as assess new treatments and better ways to track patients.
Ya Can't Make It Up: House Praises Pi
Mar 13 2009 - Politico
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution Thursday to designate March 14 as Pi Day. Informal celebrations have been held around the country for at least 20 years, but Thursday’s 391-10 vote is the first time Congress has joined the party.
Reports: Margaret Hamburg to Head FDA
Mar 12 2009 - ScienceInsider
The Obama Administration has chosen a new chief to head the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to media reports. She's Margaret Hamburg, 53, the New York City health commissioner in the 1990s and later an official at the Department of Health and Human Services, where she specialized in bioterrorism and planning a response to a potential flu epidemic.
Obama Reverses Bush-Era Stem Cell Policy
Mar 9 2009 - MSNBC
President Barack Obama has ended former President George W. Bush's limits on using federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research, sending a clear signal, according to advisers, that science—not political ideology—will guide his administration.
2010 Science Budget ... Big But Sketchy Numbers
Feb 26 2009 - ScienceInsider
In a decidedly old-school style for the digitally minded Obama Administration, this morning the Government Printing Office released a booklet on the 2010 budget. Initial results, although sketchy, suggest more boosts for science in 2010, pending, of course, lawmakers' considerable input.
Hefty Health Spending in Stimulus Bill
Feb 18 2009 - Web MD
The economic stimulus bill signed by President Obama contains more than $140 billion in healthcare spending, designed mostly to ease the recession's effects on workers and also to boost long-held goals of improving the nation's health information infrastructure.
Science Headed for Big Stimulus Boost
Feb 12 2009 - ScienceInsider
After years of flat budgets, U.S. scientists have been hoping for the federal government to boost their prospects in a rough economy. If a fact sheet released late yesterday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is accurate, the stimulus package that House and Senate leaders agreed upon yesterday will be manna from heaven.
House Passes Kids' Health Insurance Bill
Feb 4 2009 - Yahoo! News
The House overwhelmingly approved a bill extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children, giving President Barack Obama a much-needed win on health care and taking a first step toward his promise of universal coverage.
Child-Health Bill Advances
Jan 30 2009 - The Wall Street Journal
The Senate voted Thursday to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, one in a series of early steps Congress is taking on health care. These early efforts are serving as a warm-up of sorts for the broader debate coming over an overhaul to the health system.
Obama and Science in Developing Countries
Jan 13 2009 - ScienceInsider
While some fear that the scientific and technical assistance programs to Africa and other developing regions may suffer as a result of the economic downturn, Harvard University's Calestous Juma, an expert on the topic, believes it may have the opposite impact.
A Wolfe in Regulator's Clothing: Drug Industry Critic Joins the FDA
Jan 9 2009 - The Wall Street Journal
To the consternation of the drug industry, drug-safety crusader Sidney Wolfe has been appointed to a key FDA committee. The outsider is going inside, mirroring a larger shift in the Washington pendulum toward tougher company regulation.
And They Say Jobs for Journalists Are Scarce These Days
Jan 7 2009 - ScienceInsider
The Obama White House has reportedly signed up a nominee for surgeon general—CNN commentator and celebrity doc Sanjay Gupta, according to the Washington Post. Gupta, who has not commented on the report, served as a policy fellow in the Clinton White House nearly a decade ago.
Sources: John Holdren to be Nominated as Obama's Science Adviser
Dec 19 2008 - ScienceInsider
Strong indications are that President-elect Barack Obama has picked physicist John Holdren to be the president's science adviser. A top adviser to the Obama campaign and international expert on energy and climate, Holdren would bolster Obama's team in those areas.
Vilsack: Some Hard Choices on Ethanol
Dec 18 2008 - Time Magazine
Viewpoint: Obama's choice for Agriculture Secretary has been a supporter of environmentally destructive biofuels. But he could see the light.
EU Leaders Reach New Climate Deal
Dec 12 2008 - BBC News
European Union leaders have reached a deal on a package of measures to fight global warming. The plan sets out how 27 member-countries will cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels. But critics said concessions made to some nations and sectors would lessen the package's long-term impact.
Protecting Organ Recipients—From Donors
Dec 11 2008 - The Wall Street Journal
Donated blood, organs, and human tissue can be the gift of life. But they can also bring life-threatening risks. Now, the CDC is teaming up with a coalition of private blood banks, tissue banks, and organ-donation groups to develop a national "biovigilance" network.
Researchers: Study Results Should Be Given to Participants
Dec 9 2008 - USA Today
When patients enroll in clinical trials, they do so with the knowledge that their own health might not benefit and could even be compromised. So the least researchers could do is reveal the results to them, a study concludes.
Environmentalists Win Big EPA Ruling
Nov 17 2008 - Time Magazine
A new decision by the EPA's Environmental Appeal Board means America's new coal plants need to figure out how to get their emissions down—if they're going to go up.
Scientific Advisers Criticize FDA's Exoneration of BPA
Oct 29 2008 - The wall Street Journal
The latest bombshell in the rolling controversy over the chemical bisphenol A comes from a panel of scientific experts convened by the FDA. In a report posted on the FDA's website, the experts conclude that "the Margins of Safety defined by FDA as 'adequate' are, in fact, inadequate."
U.K. Approves Animal-Human Embryo Testing
Oct 23 2008 - CBS News
British plans to allow scientists to use hybrid animal-human embryos for stem cell research have won final approval from lawmakers in a sweeping overhaul of sensitive science laws. The House of Commons also clarified laws that allow the screening of embryos to produce babies with suitable bone marrow or other material for transplant to sick siblings.
China Needs More Coherent Food-Safety System: U.N.
Oct 22 2008 - Reuters
China, fighting a spreading tainted milk scandal, needs a more coherent food-safety system, with unified laws, one overarching watchdog, and faster sharing of information, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
Malaria Battle Given $3bn Boost
Sep 26 2008 - BBC News
World leaders and philanthropists have pledged nearly $3bn to fight malaria at a summit in New York. The meeting, at the UN, is looking at ways of meeting the Millennium Development Goals—targets on reducing global poverty by the year 2015. Donors hope the money will be enough to eradicate malaria by that time.
Australia Issues First License to Clone Human Embryos
Sep 17 2008 - ABC News
The Australian government has issued its first license allowing scientists to create cloned human embryos to try and obtain embryonic stem cells.
Presidential Candidates’ Positions on Science Issues
Sep 16 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Both presidential candidates have now issued answers to a series of questions about science policy, Senator Barack Obama having done so in late August and Senator John McCain on Monday.
FDA to Allow Radiation of Spinach and Lettuce
Aug 22 2008 - Reuters
Health regulators have approved the use of ionizing radiation for fresh spinach and lettuce, saying the technique already approved for other foods can help control harmful bacteria and other pathogens.
Climate-Change Program to Aid Poor Nations Is Shut
Aug 7 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
The National Center for Atmospheric Research, an important hub for work on the causes and consequences of climate change, has shut down a program focused on strengthening poor countries’ ability to forecast and withstand droughts, floods, and other climate-related hazards.
Singapore Will Study Kidney Trading
Jul 22 2008 - ABC News
Singapore is considering legalizing kidney trading to help meet demand for kidney transplants, the city-state's health minister said. The Health Ministry will examine the feasibility of providing payments to unrelated donors to augment the supply of kidneys, acknowledging that the suggestion has stirred controversy.
U.S. May Free Up More Land for Corn Crops
Jun 23 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Signs are growing that the government may allow farmers to plant crops on millions of acres of conservation land, while a chorus of voices is also pleading with Washington to cut requirements for ethanol production.
FDA Cracks Down On Unproved Cancer Cures
Jun 18 2008 - CBS News
The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on teas, supplements, creams, and other products that falsely claim to cure, treat, or prevent cancer even though they are not agency-approved drugs. All are available for sale on the internet.
NASA's Own Watchdog: Agency Misled on Global Warming
Jun 2 2008 - Yahoo-AP
NASA's press office "marginalized or mischaracterized" studies on global warming between 2004 and 2006, the agency's own internal watchdog concluded. In a report released Monday, NASA's inspector general office called it "inappropriate political interference" by political appointees in the press office. It said that the agency's top management wasn't part of the censorship, nor were career officials.
Heparin Aftermath: FDA Told More Foreign Inspections Needed
Apr 23 2008 - U.S. News & World Report
The safety of the U.S. drug supply came into question again this week amid allegations by the Food and Drug Administration that contaminated shipments of the blood thinner heparin have been linked to 81 deaths in the United States since January 2007 and many more injuries here and in 10 other countries.
In Lean Times, Biotech Grains Are Less Taboo
Apr 21 2008 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Soaring food prices and global grain shortages are bringing new pressures on governments, food companies, and consumers to relax their longstanding resistance to genetically engineered crops.
DNA Tests Offer Deeper Examination of Accused
Apr 21 2008 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
Twenty years after DNA fingerprints were first admitted by American courts as a way to link suspects to crime scenes, a new and very different class of genetic test is approaching the bench.
UN Chief: Food Crisis Is Now Emergency
Apr 15 2008 - Washington Post (requires free registration)
A rapidly escalating global food crisis has reached emergency proportions and threatens to wipe out seven years of progress in the fight against poverty, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns. He called for short-term emergency measures in many regions to meet urgent food needs and avoid starvation and urged longer-term efforts to significantly increase production of food grains.
The Economist Has No Clothes
Mar 25 2008 - Scientific American
Unscientific assumptions in economic theory are undermining efforts to solve environmental problems.
Gap in Life Expectancy Widens for the Nation
Mar 24 2008 - New York Times (requires free registration)
New government research has found "large and growing" disparities in life expectancy for richer and poorer Americans, paralleling the growth of income inequality in the last two decades. Life expectancy for the nation as a whole has increased, the researchers said, but affluent people have experienced greater gains, and this, in turn, has caused a widening gap.
Indonesia Needs Bird Flu Help
Mar 19 2008 - BBC News
Indonesia is the nation worst affected by bird flu and needs more help to rein in the virus, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. The human death toll from bird flu in the country rose to 100 earlier this year, almost half of the total worldwide fatalities. The FAO's chief veterinary expressed concerns that failure to tackle the disease could lead the virus to mutate and cause a "human influenza pandemic."
Pharmaceuticals Lurking in U.S. Drinking Water
Mar 10 2008 - MSNBC
A vast array of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers, and sex hormones, have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an investigation shows. To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. And, utilities insist their water is safe.
Extended Daylight Saving Time Not an Energy Saver?
Mar 10 2008 - National Geographic
This year is the country's second consecutive year of extended daylight saving time. The change, adopted into law last year, was touted as a way to save energy. But some studies suggest the move actually has consumers using more power and paying bigger energy bills.
State of the Science Debate
Mar 6 2008 - MSNBC
Prospects for a presidential debate focusing on science and technology next month are on the upswing, thanks in large part to the fact that the Democratic nomination is still in play. Debate organizers say all three major candidates (Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democrats as well as the GOP's presumptive nominee, John McCain) are thinking about attending the tentatively scheduled April 18 event.
Americans Say "No" to Nano
Feb 27 2008 - ABC News
If scientists could produce a tiny robot that could travel through your body and heal damaged tissue, eradicate disease-carrying microbes, and even wipe out a cancerous tumor, would you support their efforts? Maybe not, especially if you are an American. Skepticism of experimental science is rampant, and scholars across the land are struggling to understand why, and what they can do to change attitudes.
South Africa to Allow Elephant Killing
Feb 26 2008 - National Geographic
South Africa will reverse a 1995 ban on killing elephants to help control their booming population, the country's top environment official said, drawing instant outrage from animal-rights activists.
Pandemic Hot Spots Map a Path to Prevention
Feb 25 2008 - Scientific American
A new study maps out areas of the world that researchers think are most likely to breed the killer diseases of the future, and the highlighted countries are not the ones getting most of the resources for disease prevention. The analysis is part of a budding effort to identify emerging viruses in particular and prevent future pandemics from reaching their full potential.
Your Steak--Medium, Rare, or Cloned?
Feb 20 2008 - TIME Magazine
Last month the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the sale of cloned meat in the U.S., having determined that products from cloned cattle, pigs, and goats are as safe to eat as meat from their naturally reproduced brethren. But although 89% of consumers say they would prefer that cloned foods be distinguished with labels, the FDA does not require labeling if there are no food safety issues.
Philippines to Ban Incandescent Bulbs
Feb 5 2008 - TIME
The Philippines will phase out incandescent bulbs by 2010 in favor of more energy-efficient fluorescent globes to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and household costs. Acknowledging similar moves in Canada and Australia, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called for a ban on incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs need just 20 percent of the electricity that incandescent bulbs use to produce the same amount of light. They also last six to ten times longer than the average incandescent bulb.
U.S. Scientists Weigh Up Election Results
Nov 9 2006 - NewScientist.com
Science educators can find a summary of how the election outcome is predicted to affect science–related issues in this article.
Scientists Form Group to Support Science-Friendly Candidates
Sep 28 2006 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Several prominent scientists have formed an organization dedicated to electing politicians “who respect evidence and understand the importance of using scientific and engineering advice in making public policy.” Organizers of the group, Scientists and Engineers for America, noted the organization would be nonpartisan, but said in interviews that Bush administration science policies had led them to act. In developing a bill of rights for scientists and engineers, the group noted that the government should not support science education programs that “include concepts that are derived from ideology.”
Ethics Code Seeks to Regulate Science
Jan 5 2006 - The Guardian (London, England)
The Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of science, has proposed an ethical code for scientists that would enable junior staff to blow the whistle on unethical behavior and help promote science in schools. The new code calls for rigor, honesty, and integrity among scientists, as well as respect for life, the law, and public good. Scientists would also be responsible for informing the public of scientific issues and listening to the aspirations and concerns of others.
Nobel Winners Slam Bush on Science
Dec 8 2005 - CBS News
Two American Nobel Prize winners say they are worried about President Bush's attitude toward science and have accused his administration of ignoring important research findings. One of the winners also noted that some U.S. Congress members are more concerned about the political consequence of research projects than their scientific importance when they decide where to allocate money. Administration officials have dismissed such concerns as “misguided” and accuse some scientists of playing politics, of attempting to undermine Bush administration policies by claiming they are based on bad science.
Universities Say New Rules Could Hurt U.S. Research
Nov 26 2005 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
American universities are warning that rules proposed by the Defense Department and expected soon from the Commerce Department could hurt research by limiting the ability of foreign-born students and technicians to work with sensitive technology in laboratories. Universities have submitted hundreds of comments criticizing the proposed rules. They argue that tight restrictions on research by foreigners could backfire and actually hurt national security by hindering scientific progress.
The Scopes Trial, 80 Years Later
Jul 11 2005 - NSTA
Sunday, July 10, marked the 80th anniversary of the Scopes Trial. Here is a roundup of selected news stories.
Allegations of Fake Research Hit New High
Jul 10 2005 - Yahoo! News - AP
Allegations of misconduct by US researchers reached record highs last year as the Department of Health and Human Services received 274 complaints - 50 percent higher than 2003 and the most since 1989, when the federal government established a program to deal with scientific misconduct. Research suggests this is but a small fraction of all the incidents of fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. In a survey published June 9 in the journal Nature, about 1.5 percent of 3,247 researchers who responded admitted to falsification or plagiarism. (One in three admitted to some type of professional misbehavior.)
Scientists Say They Often Self-Censor
Feb 10 2005 - MSNBC
A new report suggests that some scientists are thinking twice about conducting or reporting certain research because of political and social controversies, as well as legal restrictions. “It appears that controversy shapes what scientists choose to study and how they choose to study it, and we need to look a little bit more closely at the effects it might be having,” observed Joanna Kempner, a University of Michigan researcher who co-authored the study. Further information about the report, titled “Forbidden Knowledge,” can be found in the journal Science.
U.S. Is Losing Its Dominance in the Sciences
May 3 2004 - New York Times (Requires free registration)
Federal and private experts warn that the United States is losing its worldwide dominance in critical areas of science and innovation. Experts claim evidence of this trend can be found in the decreasing number of patents being developed, papers published in scientific journals, and prizes awarded to American scientists. Analysts say the American decline is also “an inevitable result of rising standards of living around the globe.” John Marburger III, the president’s science advisor, noted the “the sky is not falling on science” and that the United States has the power to deal with these challenges.
Group: Bush Ignores, Manipulates Research
Feb 18 2004 - Yahoo News/AP
The Union of Concerned Scientists contends that the Bush administration distorts scientific findings and seeks to manipulate experts' advice to avoid information that runs counter to its political beliefs. In a report released today, the group said "the scope and scale of the manipulation, suppression and misrepresentation of science by the Bush administration is unprecedented." White House science advisor said the report is is "evidence we are not communicating with [the science community] as we should and I'll have to deal with that."
Researchers Make Cloning Breakthrough
Feb 12 2004 - Yahoo News/AP
Researchers in South Korea have become the first to successfully clone a human embryo and then cull from it master stem cells that many doctors consider key to one day creating customized cures for diabetes, Parkinson's, and other diseases. The announcement immediately revived controversy over whether to ban all human cloning, as the Bush administration wants, or to allow this "therapeutic cloning" that might eventually let patients grow their own replacement tissue.
Public Backs Peer Review
Feb 2 2004 - Nature News
A new poll shows that 40 percent of adults want a more rigorous system of replicating and confirming scientific results by other scientists before they are made public. Ten percent of adults, however, believe scientists should release their work directly to the media before it is peer reviewed. Commissioned by the Science Media Centre and the journal Nature, the survey of 1,000 adults was conducted by the London-based market research company MORI.
Britain Urged to Ban Non-Medical Gender Selection
Nov 12 2003 - Yahoo - Reuters
Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Wednesday urged the government to regulate sex selection techniques so that people cannot choose to have a boy or a girl for social reasons. A social scientist and bioethicist at the University of Newcastle commented: "By deciding to prohibit sex selection, the HFEA will have reassured society that reproductive technologies can be effectively regulated, and that appropriate boundaries can be set to the exercise of individual choice. Children should be seen as a gift, not a commodity."
Science, Nature Journals Eye Tightening Disclosure Policies
Sep 3 2003 - Boston Globe
Complaints have prompted editors at two scientific journals to review their editorial policies. Critics argue the editors at Science and Nature published material by researchers with undisclosed financial interests in their research fields. Editors at both publications claim the articles in question consist of editorials, commentaries, and data reviews of other scientists’ work, which typically are not covered by disclosure policies. Donald Kennedy, editor in chief of Science, described the complaint as a “useful reminder from responsible critics.” Charles Jennings, executive editor of Nature publications, said he plans to consider changing Nature’s disclosure rules and noting in print, which contributors decline to answer disclosure questions.
Scientific Research Put Under Spotlight
Aug 10 2003 - BBC News
Representatives from Britain’s Academy of Science plan to investigate how scientific research is made public. The effort stems from published studies that were based on false or poorly interpreted data. The group plans to examine how scientific information that could influence public opinion and policy is checked. After the organization completes its inquiry, a list of best practices might be developed for scientists.
Evolution Flap Centers the Legal Realm
Jan 30 2003 - MSNBC News
Federal officials are investigating a Texas Tech University biology professor accused of religious discrimination, after he refused to write a letter of recommendation for a student because they didn’t believe in evolution. Michael Dini said he was unaware of the federal probe. Micah Spradling, a creationist who filed a complaint against Dini, said evolution is “a theory.” He added that he could explain the process but could not have admitted to believing in evolution.
Bush Legislation Raises Science Spending
Dec 19 2002 - Yahoo-Associated Press
Science spending will now be on the rise, thanks to legislation signed by President Bush. The president recently signed a bill that gives the National Science Foundation the power to more than double its budget by 2007. Specifically, the measure will give the research agency more funding for mathematics education, scientific and engineering research, information technology, and other programs.
Scientists Sound Alarm over World's Plants
Nov 1 2002 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
According to a new study, the Earth is losing plant diversity faster than previously thought. "We're probably going to lose things that haven't even been named and for which we have no idea what their utility for mankind might be," said George Schatz, a botanist at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Why are so many plant species threatened with extinction? The main reason is human destruction of their habitats.
9/11: One Year Later
Sep 11 2002 - Scientific American
The editors of Scientific American online have pulled together articles from the past year, grouped in the following topic areas: Antiterrorism Technology; Biological and Chemical Weapons; The Psychology of Terror;
Readers' Reactions. Not all the articles directly address the events of September 11, 2001, but they are all relevant and thought-provoking.
Study Deals Blow to Abilities of Adult Stem Cells
Sep 6 2002 - Scientific American
Stem cell research has been hampered by the ethical issues surrounding their source. To date, the best stem cells have come from fetal tissue. Some studies have shown limited success in coaxing adult stem cells to become different cell types. But a new study indicates that adult stem cells may prove even less useful than previously hoped. According to the lead researcher, the "plasticity" of these cells is "not as robust as it is claimed to be."
Earth Summit Pact Gets Mixed Reviews; U.S. Role Criticized
Sep 4 2002 - Yahoo -- Reuters
As the U.N. World Summit in Johannesburg comes to a close today, many governments are giving a cool welcome to the summit's blueprint to tackle global problems such as AIDS, poverty, clean water, and the need for renewable energy supplies. Environmentalists have been particularly forceful in their rhetoric, slamming the summit for setting few firm targets and for failing to raise aid. Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed delegates, using the occasion to stress the United States' commitment to the environment and the developing world. Click above to see what he had to say and how his speech was received...
World Summit Delegates Get Down to Business
Aug 26 2002 - Yahoo -- Reuters
The United Nations' World Summit on Sustainable Development opened today in Johannesburg, attracting delegates from nearly 200 governments. Building on the pledges made at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the 10-day summit will focus on how to increase prosperity worldwide without doing further harm to the environment. In particular, the meeting is expected to tackle issues related to clean water, renewable energy, health care, agriculture, and the biodiversity of species. Click above for the news article, or track developing news at the summit's official website: www.johannesburgsummit.org/
Economic Interests Keep Drive for Renewable Energy Stuck in Neutral
Aug 21 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Despite concerns over the environmental problems associated with fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, such as the sun and the wind, account for just 1 percent of the world's supply. In contrast, fossil fuels, which are much cheaper than renewables, provide about 85 percent. What can be done to increase the rate at which renewables are developed and used? As the above article reports, that's a question that the major energy companies, even as much as many environmentalists, are taking very seriously.
Study Adds Up Economic Benefits of Conservation
Aug 20 2002 - National Geograhic News
Conservation pays, concludes a new study, which assigned dollar values to the ecological and social benefits of preserving large tracts of wild nature. These benefits include climate regulation, soil formation, flood protection, the sustainable harvesting of wild species, and aesthetics. In fact, the authors estimate that an annual investment of $45 billion in nature preservation would yield an astounding 100 to 1 return on the investment. Why, then, aren’t entrepreneurs rushing to put their money into conservation? Read more…
Survival by Fire: Study Finds Some Trees Will Disappear Without Fire
Aug 5 2002 - ABC News.com
This summer has been witness to an unusually intense wildfire season, sparking renewed debate around a contentious question: What's the best way to manage wildfires? As the above article reports, new research suggests that in some cases, allowing small, controlled burns might be the best way to prevent massive fires down the road. Still, not everyone is convinced. Read more...
Keeping Foreign Critters at Bay: Countries Struggle to Fend Off Invasive Species
Aug 2 2002 - Christian Science Monitor
While the northern snakehead fish has become the latest poster child for invasive species (see previous story), variations of the tale are being repeated worldwide, the above article reports, as countries struggle to fend off and control nonnative organisms. For example, it is estimated that in the U.S. alone, some 50,000 invasive species cost the country $137 billion a year. What's the best strategy for dealing with this problem? "Prevention, prevention, prevention," experts say, because once nonnative organisms become established, they're almost impossible to get rid of.
Mail-Order Molecules Brew a Terrorism Debate
Jul 17 2002 - Washington Post
Last week's announcement that scientists had used mail-order molecules to make polioviruses from scratch (see previous story) is raising questions about whether the DNA synthesis industry warrants closer oversight, the above article reports. At the very least, scientists say, it shows that the time is ripe for a public discussion about how best to prevent the use of biotechnology for nefarious purposes.
Navy Gets OK for Controversial Sonar
Jul 17 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
National security vs. environmental protection. That was the difficult tradeoff facing the Bush administration when it recently approved the Navy's request to use a powerful low-frequency sonar that supporters say is crucial to detecting super-quiet submarines. Environmentalists, however, fear that the sonar will endanger whales and other marine mammals, who rely on sound for communication, feeding, mating, and migration.
Scientists Create Polio-Causing Virus from Scratch
Jul 12 2002 - Washington Post
Researchers in New York have created infectious polioviruses from scratch, marking the first time that a working biological entity has been made from inert chemicals. The achievement is raising a host of concerns, including whether other viral ailments can be manufactured from raw materials, perhaps for bioterror purposes. "What they've done is demonstrate a potential that's very alarming," one biologist said. "It really challenges the notion of what 'extinct' means." Other scientists went further, suggesting that the work might have been better left unpublished.
Bioethics Panel Recommends a Moratorium on Cloning Research
Jul 11 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Cloning for therapeutic purposes should not be banned outright, but rather prohibited during a four-year moratorium, according to a long-awaited report by President Bush's bioethics advisers. In a dissent, 7 of the panel's 18 members went even further, recommending that cloning research (which many believe could lead to treatments and cures of diseases) proceed under government regulation. The panel, however, unanimously called for a ban on using cloning to produce babies that are genetic copies of adults, saying that such an approach would be unsafe and unethical.
U.S. Officials Weighing Responses to Potential Smallpox Attack
Jul 9 2002 - Yahoo -- Reuters
U.S. health officials are struggling with the agonizing dilemma of how to protect the country against a potential smallpox attack, the above article reports. At issue is whether it is better to immunize a lot of people with a vaccine that can have side-effects (including, in very rare instances, death) or to vaccinate fewer people (for example, first responders only), thus limiting the risk of side-effects but leaving more people vulnerable to infection. A final policy decision is expected within a few weeks.
Top Scientists Urge Terrorism Defense
Jun 26 2002 - National Academies
The United States should take advantage of its scientific and engineering strengths to detect, thwart, and respond to terrorist attacks more effectively, says a National Academies report that was released yesterday. "Our report gives the government a blueprint for using current technologies and creating new capabilities to reduce the likelihood of terrorist attacks and the severity of their consequences," one of the authors said. Click above for the Academies' press release, or click here to go to the full report.
Lawyer Wants to Extend Basic Rights to Some Animals
Jun 5 2002 - Washington Post
Over the last decade, researchers have shown that some animals, such as chimps and dolphins, seem to possess a strong "sense of self," including the ability to convey complex emotions, act intentionally, and communicate using language. But does being "almost human" mean that animals should be granted some of the same legal rights as humans? Long-time animal rights lawyer Steven Wise thinks so, and his views on the subject are gaining an audience. But what rights would apply, what animals would be covered, and what would be the implications for major medical research? The above article explores these difficult questions...
Climate Changing, U.S. Says in Report
Jun 3 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
In a sharp contrast to previous statements on the matter, the Bush administration has sent a climate report to the United Nations detailing the far-reaching effects that it says global warming will inflict on the American environment. But while the report mostly blames humans actions (e.g., the burning of fossil fuels) for recent global warming, it does not propose any major shift in the administration's policy on greenhouse gases, an omission that has reportedly irritated many environmental groups. Click above for the New York Times article, or click here to read an online version of the report.
Colin Powell To Discuss Role of Science and Technology in Foreign Policy; Live Webcast Scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, at 10 a.m. EDT
Apr 29 2002 - NSTA
Make a note, and spread the word to colleagues. On Tuesday, April 30, Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to address the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on the role of science and technology in foreign policy. The public will be able to listen to his remarks via a live audio webcast on the NAS website (www.nationalacademies.org), beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Offshore Harvest of Wind is Proposed for Cape Cod
Apr 17 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Wind-power proponents are itching to build the nation's first offshore "wind farm" off the coast of Massachusetts. They say the wind park will generate nearly half the electrical supply for Cape Cod and nearby islands, all while protecting the environment and easing dependency on foreign oil. But critics of the plan are skeptical, expressing fears that the turbines will harm birds and sea life -- or just be loud and ugly. As the above article notes, the result has been a fervent debate about how and where to harvest the wind.
Idaho, U.S. Battle Over Nuclear Waste Dump
Apr 4 2002 - National Geographic News
From 1954 to 1970, the federal government buried thousands of pounds of radioactive nuclear waste in shallow pits and trenches at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, the above article says. For years now, the state of Idaho has been pressuring the Department of Energy (DOE) to remove the waste, fearing that radioactive elements such as plutonium will leach into the nearby 10,000 square mile Snake River aquifer. DOE, however, is thinking about leaving the waste where it is, setting up a federal/state showdown that could have implications for how the problem of buried waste is handled nationwide. "We just want DOE to make the right decision...," one activist said. "The time is now, the place is here."
Japanese Scientist Makes Frog Eyes
Mar 27 2002 - Yahoo - AP
Some three decades after starting research on organ regeneration, Makoto Asashima last year successfully transplanted an eye formed in a test tube, restoring the sight of a blinded tadpole. Technology that Asashima is developing could eventually help doctors use stem cells from humans to regenerate or replace damaged or destroyed human organs, eliminating the need for donor transplants. But Asashima concedes it's a big step from regenerating frog organs to doing the same for humans. Frogs produce many more embryos than humans - the number of stem cells available for research on humans would be more limited. Another factor is political opposition to research using human stem cells.
Science and Public Policy: A Look at Global Warming
Feb 26 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
On Feb. 14, President Bush outlined a new environmental plan that relies on voluntary efforts to slow, but not halt, the growth in emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. In doing so, Bush reiterated his position that there is no scientific justification for the mandatory emissions cuts set forth in the Kyoto Protocol, an international climate treaty that the Bush administration rejected last year. Is the administration right? What does the most recent scientific research say about the relationship between greenhouse gases and global warming? Click above to find out more...
Bush Offers Alternative Plan on Greenhouse Gases
Feb 14 2002 - Reuters
Offering an alternative to the Kyoto Treaty, President Bush today proposed a set of voluntary measures and tax incentives aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Environmentalists immediately criticized the plan, however, arguing that it will have a negligible effect on the growing problem of global warming. Read more...
Is Logging Bane or Balm? Plan Stirs Debate
Jan 29 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
In Montana, immense fires from the summer of 2000 have blackened the dense forests on the Bitterroot Mountains. Under a proposed plan, the United States Forest Service wants to cut and sell many of the burned trees, arguing that careful logging is not only benign, but critical to the forests' recovery and protection. Some environmentalists, however, take a different view, claiming that logging could exacerbate the damage; it's better to let the forests recover naturally, they say. Who's right? The above article examines the debate...
U.S. In Fusion Rethink
Jan 25 2002 - BBC News
Fusion energy, which is produced by forcing together atoms at very high temperatures, offers a potentially attractive energy source that would avoid the greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel and the radioactive waste produced by current nuclear fission stations. But exploiting fusion power has not been easy, and many technical problems remain. To tackle some of these challenges, an international consortium has been formed to build an experimental fusion reactor--probably in Canada or Japan. But as the above article notes, a big question remains: Will the U.S. join the project?
Experts Urge Ban on Cloned Babies, But Back Embryo Research
Jan 22 2002 - Washington Post
In a report released last week, the influential National Academy of Sciences concluded that human reproduction by cloning should be illegal because it poses a high risk of injury or death to the clones and to the women who would bear those clones. At the same time, the group said that Congress should not interfere with the production of human embryo clones for stem cells, which many scientists hope will lead to treatments for a variety of life-threatening diseases. The full report, which looked only at scientific issues and not ethical concerns, can be read online at www.nas.edu.
A Look at Wind Power
Jan 16 2002 - National Geographic
Is the answer (to our energy needs) blowing in the wind? Proponents of wind energy say that it is an emissions-free, quiet, and renewable source of energy. Currently, Europe leads the world in the use of wind power, with Ireland on the verge of building a giant 200-turbine wind farm that will generate about 10 percent of the country's energy needs. In contrast, wind supplies less than one percent of the United States' energy needs. But wind power may be gaining popularity in America, albeit slowly. Click above to learn more...
Joy in Rwanda: Signing on With the Gorillas
Jan 16 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
The above article profiles Drs. Bill Weber and Amy Vedder, a husband-wife conservation team who helped found the Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda in the late 1970s. The pioneering eco-tourism effort is designed to attract visitors willing to pay hundreds of dollars to see the free-ranging gorillas, and thus to make the preservation of gorilla habitat at least as profitable as clearing the land for farming and cattle grazing. So far, the undertaking has paid off, with the gorilla population in Rwanda climbing from about 250 to 360 in the past 25 years. Given the warfare and poverty that Rwanda has endured in recent years, "it's a [conservation] model for the rest of the world to aspire to," Dr. Vedder said.
Underground Coal Fires Menace Land and Climate
Jan 15 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
From Pennsylvania to Mongolia, underground coal fires are burning at an alarming frequency, experts say, pumping large amounts of toxic gases and heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. For example, it is estimated that fires in China's rich northern coal belt produce nearly as much carbon dioxide as is emitted each year by all the cars and small trucks in the United States. And while scientists and government agencies worldwide are stepping up efforts to map and extinguish the fires, their work confronts a harsh reality: Once these fires get going, they're extremely difficult to stop.
Whales' Deaths Linked to Navy's Sonar Tests
Jan 3 2002 - Washington Post
According to a newly released government report, the mass stranding of 16 whales (of which at least six died) in the Bahamas in March 2000 was caused by U.S. Navy tests in which intense underwater sounds were generated for 16 hours. Experts said the study places the Navy on notice that it will have to balance more carefully its need to conduct underwater sonar tests against the need to protect marine mammals.
Controversy Over Cloning Reignites in Congress
Dec 18 2001 - New York Times (requires free registration)
The recent announcement by a biotechnology company that it is trying to clone human embryos for stem cells (go to previous story from the Washington Post) has reignited a controversy in Congress over the ethics of embryo experiments. As the New York Times article above notes, "At the heart of the debates over stem cells and cloning are questions that politicians cannot settle: When does life begin, and what is the moral status of the human embryo?"
To Help Land, Australians Rethink Role of Kangaroos
Dec 17 2001 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Would you eat kangaroo meat? That question is on the minds of a growing number of Australian scientists, ranchers, environmentalists, government officials, and others, who are pondering the idea of harvesting Australia's 25 million-strong kangaroo population as one of the many long-term actions needed to halt chronic soil degradation and diversify sources of farm incomes. At the same time, the proposal is renewing debate among Australians over the value and treatment of the nation's most famous animal.
Take NSTA's Quick Poll: What's Your Opinion on Efforts to Clone Human Beings?
Nov 27 2001 - NSTA
Claims by a private lab that scientists there successfully cloned a human embryo (see yesterday’s story in the Washington Post) have renewed a fierce debate over the ethics of human cloning. What’s your opinion? Do you think the federal government should continue to allow private (non-government-funded) labs to pursue human cloning efforts, either for medical (stem cell) or reproductive purposes? Click here to
take NSTA’s Quick Poll, and let your voice be heard.
The Biology of Cheese: Ripe for Controversy
Oct 22 2001 - Discover
Cheese is milk that has been curdled and fermented by microbes. Today, most cheese is made from pasteurized milk, but cheese artisans, of whom there are many in France and a growing number in the United States, continue to make cheese from raw milk, arguing that its rich natural microflora adds flavor to the cheese. But that may soon change, as the FDA is considering an outright ban on raw-milk cheese. All of which, of course, raises an important question: Can cheese be both delicious and safe?
Alien Invasion: Exotic Species Sow Destruction Across the Atlantic
Sep 27 2001 - National Geographic News
What do zebra mussels, America's western corn rootworm, and the Australian melaleuca tree have in common? These pests are all prime examples of how global trade has spread invasive species around the world, sometimes grossly upsetting the balance of nature. Read more about the economic damage and the menace to indigenous species caused by these alien invaders--and learn what you can do to help contain the problem.
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