The Home Science Labs of English Noblewomen
In the eighteenth century, elite women with a scientific bent often turned to distilling medicines, a craft that helped them participate in experimentation.
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Scientists Are Trying to Teach AI How to Smell
A team from the US taught a neural network how to map and describe popular smells, with the hopes of digitizing them someday.
The Slippery Slope of Scientific Ethics
A new biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer emphasizes the personal and political over the scientific, missing an opportunity to deeply engage with scientific ethics.
Comparing Data Policy Priorities Around the World
There are important differences in how countries treat and value data. This report compares key data policies in China, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Betting Against Worst-case Climate Scenarios is Risky Business
How much change can human systems tolerate before society collapses?
Plan S: Stay the Course
Five years after launching, the Plan S open-access initiative must retain its founding principles.
Austrian Minister Calls for Science to Be Better Conveyed to Public
Austrian Minister Calls for Science to Be Better Conveyed to Public
Austria's Martin Polaschek pushes for move to combat public scepticism.
U.S.-China Tensions Could Complicate Effort to Renew Key Research Pact
U.S.-China Tensions Could Complicate Effort to Renew Key Research Pact
Rising tensions between the United States and China could derail the renewal of a 44-year-old agreement on scientific cooperation between the two countries. Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden invited China to spend the next 6 months discussing changes to the broad agreement, first signed in 1979, that enables joint research.
Closer ties for German U15 and Canadian Unis
The German U15 group of research-intensive universities has signed a long-term agreement to support closer ties between researchers and universities at its Canadian counterpart, U15 Canada.
The Party Rules: China's New Central Science and Technology Commission
In March 2023, the Chinese government issued the “Reform Measures of the Party and State Organizations,” which included the establishment of the Central Science and Technology Commission (CSTC).
Economist group argues for scientific experimentation in environmental policymaking
Economist group argues for scientific experimentation in environmental policymaking
The economists say more frequent use of up-front experiments would result in more effective environmental policymaking in areas ranging from pollution control to timber harvesting across the world.
Important Study Calls for Major Change in How Decision-Makers Value Nature
Important Study Calls for Major Change in How Decision-Makers Value Nature
How people value nature around the world is not properly reflected in key political and economic decisions, a new study has concluded.
No Democracy, No Academia
The assault of Israeli government on democratic institutions and principles is an imminent threat to Israeli academia, which relies on a solid democratic foundation.
Navigating Interdisciplinary Careers
Interdisciplinary research is an oft-cited, rarely achieved aim in contemporary scholarship that requires understanding the human element.
Recent Claims Cast Doubt on Legitimacy of Behavioral Science
Assessing allegations of data manipulation in psychological studies involving a Harvard Business School professor, Paul Eccleson asks whether we can trust research on behavioral science.
Chinese Academics Are Becoming a Force for Good Governance
In response to controversies such as gene-edited babies, Chinese researchers have become adept at shaping policy for responsible research.
Among U.S. postdoc applicants, researchers of color often fare worst
Among U.S. postdoc applicants, researchers of color often fare worst
Many researchers of color are at a disadvantage when applying for postdoctoral positions. That’s one of the main findings of a new study of 22,098 applications for 769 scientific postdoc positions at nine U.S. universities.
Governance of AI in Bio: Harnessing the Benefits While Reducing the Risks
To develop an overarching framework that includes addressing bio-related risks, Congress, federal agencies, and non-governmental AI stakeholders must work together.
Scientific Board to Advise UN on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the creation of a Scientific Advisory Board “to advise UN leaders on ... how to harness the benefits of these advances and mitigate potential risks.”
The Murky Waters of Publication Fraud
Scientific fraud has been a problem from the beginning of documented science - but in recent years the issue has exploded.
Karl Popper on Falsification: Science Vs. Pseudoscience
What separates science from pseudoscience, and what should a scientist be like? Karl Popper believed that the notion of falsification could help answer these questions.
Russia's Economic Issues 'Could Hamper Science Deals with Africa'
Ambition is there but resources may not be, African academics warn ahead of summit.
CERN and NASA Join Forces to Commit to a Research Future That is Open and Accessible for All
CERN and NASA Join Forces to Commit to a Research Future That is Open and Accessible for All
A summit, entitled “Accelerating the Adoption of Open Science”, took place at CERN from 10 to 14 July, bringing together representatives from 70 scientific institutions to discuss how to develop and implement open science policies across the globe.
Why Creativity in Science Matters and Three Ways to Achieve It
Creativity is critical to the future of work. The Future of Jobs Report 2023 ranked analytical thinking and creative thinking as the first and second most important skills that workers will need to have in the future.
Girls Have Overtaken Boys in Science Participation. In Workplaces, It's a Completely Different Story
Girls Have Overtaken Boys in Science Participation. In Workplaces, It's a Completely Different Story
Young women get better grades in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but progress on jobs for women in these industries has been painfully slow.
Quick Grants from Tech Billionaires Aim to Speed Up Science Research. But Not All Scientists Approve
Quick Grants from Tech Billionaires Aim to Speed Up Science Research. But Not All Scientists Approve
Fast Grants is one of many science improvement projects Silicon Valley billionaires launched or backed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Science History: In the Shadow of Oppenheimer
How popular narratives of the atomic age obscure the bomb's first victims.
How Do Plants with Seedless Fruit Reproduce?
Plants are capable of producing seedless fruit through a process called parthenocarpy, and humans have long leveraged it in agriculture.
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