Science & Society

  1. Science & Society

    Cancer research scores big at Intel ISEF

    An innovative statistical analysis of cancer-promoting genes earned a 15-year-old the top prize — and $75,000 — at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2014.

    By Sid Perkins
  2. Science & Society

    One of the best ways for kids to learn science: by doing it

    A biodegradable Band-Aid. A low-cost, ultrasonic guide to parallel parking. A reinvention of the toilet. These were among the nearly 1,400 science fair projects on display at the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Science News’ parent organization, the Society for Science & the Public, has run the annual event since 1950.

    By Eva Emerson
  3. Science & Society

    Top 10 things everybody should know about science

    Much of scientific knowledge can be condensed into a few basic principles that every educated person should know.

    By Tom Siegfried
  4. Health & Medicine

    Massachusetts insurance mandate lowers death rate

    Since “Romneycare” was phased in, mortality fell by 2.9 percent.

    By Nathan Seppa
  5. Science & Society

    Polls don’t identify the real science education problem

    Concerns that Americans do poorly when quizzed on factual scientific knowledge don’t address deeper issues of scientific understanding.

    By Tom Siegfried
  6. Science & Society

    Anti-leukemia vaccine reported hope of future

    Fifty years ago, Science News Letter reported on the promise of a vaccine to prevent leukemia. No preventive vaccine has come to pass, but leukemia vaccines as treatments has yielded promising results.

    By Science News Staff
  7. Science & Society

    Students retain information better with pens than laptops

    Compared with typing on a laptop, writing notes by hand may lead to deeper understanding of lecture material.

    By Laura Sanders
  8. Quantum Physics

    Shor’s code-breaking algorithm inspired reflections on quantum information

    Twenty years ago, physicists met in Santa Fe to explore the ramifications of quantum information.

    By Tom Siegfried
  9. Tech

    To do: Exhibits to explore this May in D.C. and New York

    Events include a celebration of science and original watercolor paintings from John James Audubon.

    By Science News Staff
  10. Quantum Physics

    Quantum experts discuss the measurement problem: A transcript from 1994

    A fairly complete transcript of a discussion about quantum physics on May 19, 1994, the last day of a workshop in Santa Fe, N.M., evolves into a more general discussion of the interpretation of quantum mechanics and the quantum measurement problem.

    By Tom Siegfried
  11. Quantum Physics

    Robert Redford film foretold Shor’s quantum computing bombshell

    Twenty years ago, Peter Shor showed how quantum computers could break secret codes, turning the movie Sneakers from fiction to fact.

    By Tom Siegfried
  12. Health & Medicine

    Surgery museum holds wonders for the brave

    Anatomical displays sit alongside art depicting medical history at the International Museum of Surgical Science.

    By Sid Perkins