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
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 still challenge,...
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 one—please read Sir Robert...
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 challenges of...
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 President Clinton. ...
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 potentially impact...
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, I’ve been keeping my...
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 would have been...
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 times—possibly ever—Obama’s...
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 soliciting and evaluating...
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 for every ten...