2020 Science Archives
Here you’ll find all the currently existing posts on 2020 Science, in reverse date order. Feel free to browse through them, or if you’re looking for something specific, use the search box below.
Darwin, evolution, and the genesis of intelligent design
Charles Darwin has a lot to answer for. He saw the world with new eyes, fundamentally changed our understanding of nature, and upset a lot of people in the process. 200 years after his birth, Darwin’s work underpins modern biology. His findings...
Thank goodness for Sir Robert
I’ve been sitting here for over half an hour, trying to work out how to start this blog in an engaging and witty way, but have failed miserably—it’s been a long day! Instead, let me come straight to the point, because it’s quite a simple...
Managing the small stuff – a visual nanotechnology primer
Nanotechnology: What is it, what can it do, what are the downsides, and how can we ensure it reaches its full potential? http://www.youtube.com/v/JOAZwv6UJz4 Managing the Small Stuff. Also available in High Definition on Vimeo The promise and...
Revisiting the Civic Scientist
Reading through the various science and technology offerings on the web this morning, I was struck by a conversation between Houston Chronicle reporter Eric Berger and Neal Lane, former National Science Foundation director and science advisor to...
Geoengineering: Does it need a dose of geoethics?
It’s been a big week for geoengineering. First there was the news that the world’s largest geoengineering experiment to date is about to start in the Southern Ocean. Following close behind was a new study on how geoengineering projects could...
All you wanted to know about nanotechnology, from a pack of Mentos and a bottle of Coke
I spend quite a bit of my time talking to different groups about nanotechnology, including its potential and its challenges. And as a result, I’m constantly on the prowl for new ways of illustrating why nanotechnology is important. In particular,...
Asbestos-like nanomaterials – should we be concerned?
I’m afraid the “A” word just won’t go away. It seems that every time people start thinking about the possible health effects of long, thin, fibrous nanomaterials, the question pops up “is this the next asbestos?” You’d have thought that the issue...
A red-letter day for science and technology
As Barack Obama takes the oath and is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States, many are anticipating a new era of socially relevant science and technology. Having run one of the most technologically savvy campaigns in recent...
Nanotechnology, science and public engagement—lessons from the UK
Public engagement was a key feature in Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, and has been front and foremost in the transition between the old administration and the new. You only have to check out change.gov to see how ideas are evolving on...
Scientific knowledge, and the “pay to play” culture
Here’s a bit of trivia to brighten your day: Between 2000 and 2007, Chinese scientists published roughly one nanotoxicology paper for every ten million people in the country. In contrast, US scientists published twenty-five nanotoxicology papers...
Five more good books
Science gone right, science gone wrong, science gone social, science gone political—it’s all here in five off-beat book recommendations to kick off 2009. Ranging from Darwin’s Origin of Species to Sir Terry Pratchett’s Nation, the one thing I...
Biohacking—synthetic biology for the technologically marginalized
Last June I wrote a short piece on biohacking, prompted by a UK report on the social and ethical challenges of synthetic biology. At the time, I though the aspirations of the nascent biopunk community naively optimistic, but potentially worrying. ...
A "manifesto" for socially-relevant science and technology
In 2003, Harvard University’s Sheila Jasanoff wrote about what she termed “Technologies of Humility.” Recognizing the growing disconnect between technological progress and its effective governance, Jasanoff explored new approaches to...
Obama – staking out a science and technology presidency
John Holdren is confirmed as the next Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Barack Obama is serious about science and technology. It was clear in the campaign; clear in the President-Elect’s policies, and doubly clear in the speed...
Saints or synners?
Policy, public perceptions, and the opportunities and challenges of synthetic biology Synthetic biology—a supreme expression of scientific hubris, or the solution to all our problems? Like everything in life, I suspect that the answer to the...
Emerging science and technology at 700 characters per day – how was it for you?
The pains and pleasures of tweeting science and technology innovation, 140 characters at a time. Five days, 539 words and 3,447 characters later, the Twitter experiment is over. Did I succeed in communicating on emerging science and technology in...
Tough love for science and technology innovation
The National Research Council of the National Academies releases its review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research. And it’s not pretty. Most people acknowledge that...
Emerging science and technology at 700 characters per day
Getting serious with Twitter I’m gutted. I thought that blogging was where it is at—the cutting edge of the “new media” wave transforming modern communication. But I now discover that I’m at least four years behind the times—a veritable dinosaur...
Indecent exposure
Navigating the minefield of airborne nanoparticle exposure Nanotechnology—like other emerging technologies—presents a dilemma: If you're making new substances with uncertain health risks, how low is low enough when it comes to managing exposure?...
Carbon nanotubes rock—literally!
I’m sitting at my computer watching a surreal balletic movie—a sheet of highly aligned carbon nanotubes is being slowly stretched, then allowed to slowly contract. In the background is a soundtrack of traditional-sounding Chinese music. At least I...
Nanotechnology and the G20 emergency summit
As world leaders congregate in Washington DC this weekend for the G20 summit on the global financial crisis, discussions will be informed in part by what has been described as the “biggest brainstorming on the global agenda that has ever taken...
Synthetic biology: Lessons from synthetic chemistry
Looking back to chart a course to the future This coming lunchtime*, former New York Times columnist Denise Caruso will discuss the promise and pit-falls of synthetic biology with Center for American Progress senior fellow and former Washington...
Taking a fresh look at nanomaterials
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution report on Novel Materials Imagine for one naïve moment that we have a pretty good handle on managing the environmental impact of existing manufactured “stuff”. Then someone comes along and invents...
Science under an Obama Administration
Nobel Laureate Sir Paul Nurse on his hopes for the future Amidst intensifying discussions over what the incoming Obama administration will mean for science and technology, an opinion piece in today’s Telegraph caught my eye this morning. Written...
Why clever people believe stupid things
Making sense of scientific information While I was in the UK recently, I picked up a copy of Ben Goldacre’s book Bad Science on a tip from a friend. Ben is a medical doctor and writer for The Guardian newspaper—and a vociferous crusader of what he...
Nanotechnology and cosmetics
UK Consumer Organization Which? Releases New Report Who needs an emerging technologies blog when you have The Daily Mail? For those of you that missed it, Wednesday’s on-line issue of the British tabloid newspaper highlighted “The beauty creams...
Five good books
Obama and science - Essential bed-time reading for the next Administration Finally, the campaigning is over, everyone knows more about fruit flies than they ever wanted to (thank you Sarah Palin), and on an historic day America has “voted for...
Resolving the carbon nanotube identity crisis
Twelve months ago today I held a bag of multi-walled carbon nanotubes up before a hearing of the U.S. House Science Committee. I wanted to emphasize the discrepancy between the current state of the science on carbon nanotubes, and a tendency to...
Five slightly harder pieces—underpinning sound science policy
With just over a week to go before the 2008 US presidential election, there’s no shortage of opinions floating around on the key science and technology-related challenges facing an incoming Obama or McCain administration. But while advice swirls...
Shaking up the nano-food debate
Is the RBC Life Sciences® nanotechnology product Slim Shake approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? According to the BBC Radio 4 science program Frontiers—broadcast on Monday evening—there may be some doubt. But I get ahead...