Welcome to the 2020 Science Archive
2020 Science started life in 2007 as a nanotechnology blog written by Andrew Maynard on SafeNano. In the following years it developed into a personal blog addressing emerging technologies, responsible innovation, risk, science communication, and the intersection between science and society more generally.
Andrew made he decision to wind the blog down in 2019 as his focus and writing developed in new directions. This archive contains most of the original posts (there have been occasional clean-ups of content). For more recent articles etc. please visit andrewmaynard.net. And thanks for visiting!
BROWSE THE ARCHIVE
Are we ready for synthetic biology?
A new report looks at the challenges of regulating first generation products of synthetic biology. At the J. Craig Venter Institute, scientists are on the verge of creating a living organism from “dead” chemicals, by rebooting a microbe with a new—and completely...
Inspiring the next generation of technologists
An interview with Dr. Kristen Kulinowski, Director of the International Council On Nanotechnology Today is Ada Lovelace Day—a day when people around the world are drawing attention to women who excel in technology. Some weeks back I pledged, along with many others...
Blogging the demise of science journalism
This week’s edition of Nature includes a thought provoking piece by Geoff Brumfiel on the decline of mainstream science journalism and the rise of science blogging. The big question: Can one replace the other? It’s a sobering read: Blumfiel paints a picture of old...
Science, technology and the three “C’s:” Communication, Coupling and Control
Part 1 of a series on rethinking science and technology for the 21st century We live in a crowded, science and technology-dependent word. And things aren’t getting any better! The global population is currently around 6.8 billion. Over the next four years it’s...
Working safely with carbon nanotubes
So you want to make or use carbon nanotubes, but you are worried about handling then safely. What do you do? The good news is that the UK Health and Safety Executive has just published an information sheet that addresses just this question. Risk management of...
Rethinking science and technology for the 21st century
Like it or not, society is dependent on science and technology. The only way we can cram 6 billion people plus onto the earth and use resources at the rate we do, is through the support of scientific discovery and technology innovation. Take our technology-based...
Deconstructing the “Fry Event Horizon”
I’ve been intending writing about Ray Kurzweil and the technological singularity for some time now. This isn’t that blog—it is a Friday evening after all, at the end of a long week. But it is connected with some of the ideas behind the singularity. Instead, I’m...
Nanotechnology risk research, ten years on
Ten years ago to the month, one of the first research reports detailing the challenges of ensuring the safe use of engineered nanomaterials was delivered to the UK Health and Safety Executive. The report wasn’t for general release, and you’ll be hard pressed to find...
Science, society and the Second Enlightenment
It’s barely a month since Obama promised to “restore science to its rightful place” and already there has been widespread discussion over what this rightful place might be—spurred on in no small part by science and technology provisions in the recently passed stimulus...
In space, no one can hear you scream – unless you’re in a sci-flick!
If you want to annoy a scientist, show them a movie that gets the little details wrong—like the fact that sound doesn’t travel in a vacuum, or biologists always have a box of Kim Wipes within arms-reach. If you want to annoy anyone else, put them in the same room with...