science

Interesting (and long) article about the use of mice in science...

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_mouse_trap/2011/11/...

Cool result on origin of pinwheel maps in V1:

"A new analysis of the U.S. research base by Thomson Reuters points to an increasing concentration of academic research. The report, the latest in a series of such assessments of individual countries, examines both the share of scientific papers written by researchers at a particular institution and the impact of those papers, as measured by the average number of citations per publication.

"The pressure to publish has created a ghostwriting boom. Nearly 1 billion yuan (more than $145 million) was spent on academic papers in China last year, up fivefold from 2007, a study by Wuhan University professor Shen Yang showed.

One company providing such a service is Lu's, in Liuzhou, a southern industrial city. His Lu Ke Academic Center boasts a network of 20 to 30 graduate students and professors whose specialties range from computer technology to military affairs.

"Speaking at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC on Monday, the president pledged to raise total US spending on research and development by government and industry to 3% of GDP – up from the current figure of around 2.6%.

"To put a concrete number on it is terrific," says Lesley Stone, executive director of the advocacy group Scientists and Engineers for America.

Bush administration twisting science to their own ends?  I'm shocked!  SHOCKED I tell you!

Another busy week, Obama's been limiting use of signing statements (and interpretation of Bush's):

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/us/politics/10signing.html?hp

"Agencies will be expected to pick science advisers based on expertise, not political ideology, the memorandum said, and will offer whistle-blower protections to employees who expose the misuse or suppression of scientific information. "

Reintroducting science into policy making:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/us/politics/10obama.html?hp

Scientists excited for an end to Bush's science policies:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=6193389&page=1

Mainly looking forward to cabinet level science advisor, change in stem cell policies and environment, and a new Chief Technology Officer position for the US.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/30/polar.warming/index.html
 
Article "Attribution of polar warming to human influence" Nature Geoscience, authors looked at data from poles and performed simulations - were unable to expalin data by natural effects alone, only by factoring in human activity.