Science & the Public
Where scienceand society meet
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Earth
Report of earlier, longer puberty in girls
A Danish study finds young girls are entering puberty notably earlier than 15 years ago — for reasons that remain unknown.
- Health & Medicine
Science budgets look rosy, AAAS finds
The president and Congress have collaborated in targeting substantial increases for federal investments in R&D this year.
- Humans
The boffo science budget won’t last
Enjoy the largesse that Uncle Sam is doling out for research, a budget analyst warns, because it may disappear very soon.
- Climate
On federal science — and science spending
Things you might have gleaned at the AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy.
- Astronomy
They’re calling Obama the ‘science guy’
Speakers at a science forum offered support for the thesis that researchers have found a big ally in the new president.
- Health & Medicine
Institute of Medicine takes on conflicts of interest
The Institute of Medicine seeks to divorce medical research from undue influence by the pharmaceutical and medical-device industries.
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Obama redoubles push to improve science education
To counter unimpressive student achievement in science and math, the president calls for more engagement by schools and research professionals.
- Physics
Obama pledges 3 percent of GDP for research
Pledges for big budget increases for research, permanent tax credits for reseach by industry and more were announced today.
- Health & Medicine
Obama on the swine flu epidemic
New swine flu is "cause for concern," the President acknowledged this morning.
- Health & Medicine
Birth control pills can limit muscle-training gains
Mildly 'androgenic' hormones in some birth-control pills appear to sabotage strength-building exercise.
- Humans
ED in women: Drugs for men might not help
Women can experience sexual dysfunction just as men can — and for much the same reason — but the little blue pill will likely not solve the problem, new animal data suggest.
- Health & Medicine
Mom’s exercise helps fetal lungs mature
Cardiovascular exercise appears to benefit both mom and the baby she's carrying.
