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L.A. Times - Science

Researchers produce blood in lab from stem cells
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The discovery marks a technical advance but has a long way to go before it can be considered an alternative to donor blood. Scientists said Tuesday that they had devised a way to grow large quantities of blood in the lab using human embryonic stem cells, potentially making blood drives a thing of the past.
Scientists elaborate on the case against Bruce Ivins
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
One revelation is that, contrary to what some officials had claimed, the mailed anthrax had not been 'weaponized.' Scientists behind the case against Bruce E. Ivins, who federal officials allege was solely responsible for the deadly anthrax mailings of 2001, publicly described their work for the first time Monday and said the spores had originated from a flask linked by investigators to the deceased Army scientist.
Hospitals fined for violations
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
State acts against facilities -- five in O.C. -- for incidents that placed patients in serious jeopardy. Eighteen California hospitals have been fined by the state for violating laws regarding quality care for patients, the state public health department announced Monday.

Reuters: Science News

"Bigfoot" was rubber gorilla costume
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:51:41 -0400
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - No wonder Bigfoot failed a DNA test. Researchers said on Tuesday the hairy heap claimed by two men to be the corpse of the mythical half-ape, half-human creature was actually a full-body rubber gorilla costume.
Stem cells could allow "blood farms," company says
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:37:02 -0400
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Embryonic stem cells can be used to grow vats of red blood cells, which could lead to the creation of "farms" that could provide limitless sources of blood, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
Stem cell test to help treat bowel cancer
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:18:33 -0400
LONDON (Reuters) - Stem cell scientists have developed a new and more accurate way of spotting aggressive forms of bowel cancer, allowing for tailored treatment that should improve patients' chances of survival.

AP Top Science News At 2 a.m. EDT

NASA fixes moonship shaking with shock absorbers
BY SETH BORENSTEIN Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:01:28 -0000
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A space-age version of the rusty springs under old pickup trucks will help NASA fix the most pressing technical problem with its high-tech new rocket to send astronauts back to the moon....
Stem cell advance may help transfusion supplies
By MALCOLM RITTER Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:13:47 -0000
NEW YORK (AP) -- Scientists say they've found an efficient way to make red blood cells from human embryonic stem cells, a possible step toward making transfusion supplies in the laboratory. The promise of a virtually limitless supply is tantalizing because of blood donor shortages and disappointments in creating blood substitutes....
Group says climate resolutions increase
By TIM HUBER Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:58:27 -0000
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Support for climate-change proposals may be growing among investors in big U.S. companies....

NOVA scienceNOW | PBS

NOVA scienceNOW: Phoenix Mars Lander
NOVA Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0500
NASA's latest robot has already found frozen water and is looking for more signs that the Red Planet could support life.
NOVA scienceNOW: Brain Trauma
NOVA Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0500
Even so-called "mild" head injuries turn out to be anything but.
NOVA scienceNOW: Mammoth Mystery
NOVA Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0500
A pair of mammoth skeletons is found locked together by their tusks. What happened?

Newsweek Technology Headlines

Of Sludge and Salad: Wastewater Greens the World's Gardens
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:14:52 -0000
You might want to hold your nose for this one.
1-800-CALL-DAD
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0000
A new service lets other motorists notify parents how their teens are driving.
Digital Hide and Seek
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0000
Are you ready for social mapping?

Innovation

Google and Apple climb the customer-satisfaction polls
cgaylord Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:56:24 -0000
Google and Apple are at the top of their game and rising even higher, according to a survey of American attitudes toward brands. The University of Michigan posted its 2008 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) this morning. Among the six manufacturing and e-business industries, Google and Apple hovered above the competition. In the search-engine category, Google scored [...]
Back-to-school laptop report card
cgaylord Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:25:59 -0000
Unlike most electronics, laptop computers enjoy two big retail seasons: the usual winter holidays and a bigger bump during the back-to-school weeks. PCs are a crucial tool for many college kids. And the ability to throw a cheap but powerful laptop into a book bag and head to the library (or at least escape a [...]
US to convert coal for jets
at-a-glance Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:12:03 -0000
Click on the thumbnail to see the full image. . . . . .

Science News - UPI.com

Swiss researchers develop stem cell line
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:24:56 -0400
GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Researchers in Switzerland have developed a line of stem cells, using a window provided by the legislature for research involving human embryos.
FDA tests 'personalized medicine'
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:54:49 -0400
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Medco Health Solutions is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine how a patient's genes determine reactions to medicine.
Early rising creates Japanese nationalism
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:05:00 -0400
CAMBRIDGE, England, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A British study suggests a Japanese government-supported trend for arising early each day might be symptomatic of a revival of nationalism.

 

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Technology - Journal published by the National Academy Press (U.S.) - Publicly available archives going back many years from influential people in US government science policy.

Assessment Center - This Georgia Institute of Technology Center engages in interdisciplinary research and analysis of technology-intensive issues occurring at the interface of engineering, management and technology policy.

Humanities - Promoting scientific excellence, providing advice to the government on scientific issues of national importance, maintaining scientific relations with similar bodies worldwide, and publishing scholarly works.

Public Policy - Join the GPP List Serve or Geology in Government Mentor Program. Be a Congressional Science Fellow. Read congressional and federal actions which affect the geoscience community.
Meta Description: [ The GSA Foundation exists to fund those education, research, publications, student support, public outreach, and other geoscientific programs of the Geological Society of America. ]

Technology - Reports focus on research and development policy changes and trends in Europe and the U.S.

the Future Toolkit - A resource for students, teachers, and anyone else interested in how technology and society are shaping each other and our future.
Meta Description: [ A resource for students, teachers, and anyone else interested in how technology and society are shaping each other and our future. Bookstore. Links page. Tech Tidbit of the Week. ]

AAAS Directorate for Science and Policy Programs - Programs devoted to activities in realms where science, government and society intersect, to further the work of scientists, promote of human welfare, and foster scientific freedom and responsibility.

AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships - Provide opportunities for accomplished postdoctoral to mid-career scientists and engineers to contribute to the public policymaking process.

ACM Public Policy Office - Statements of goals, position papers, letters and testimony to Congress and other government bodies.
Meta Description: [ USACM is the U.S. Public Policy Committee of the Association for Computing Machinery. The ACM Office of Public Policy works with USACM to assist policymakers and the public in understanding information technology issues and to advance a policy framework that supports innovations in computing and ... ]

American Geophysical Union: Science and Policy - Upcoming legislation and government regulations that have implications for the geophysical sciences, and position statements on policy-related topics.

Association for Politics and the Life Sciences - Interdisciplinary association of scholars, scientists, and policymakers concerned with problems that involve politics or public policy and one or more of the life sciences.

Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy, National Academy of Sciences - Integrates understanding of scientific, technological, and economic elements in the formulation of national policies affecting the economic well-being of the United States.
Meta Description: [ Science technology economic policy STEP Board's objective is to integrate understanding scientific, technological, economic elements in formulation of national policies affecting the economic well being of the United States., National academies STEP Board , Step board, STEP , step, Homepage, Poli... ]

Bringing science back to life - thoughts on goal-oriented science funding.

Center for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology Policy - The Center for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology Policy is a private, non-partisan research and advisory organization focused on information, technology, and national security policy and related issues.
Meta Description: [ The Center for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology Policy is a private, non-partisan research organization focused on information, technology and national security policy and related issues. ]

Center for Science, Policy, and Outcomes - A non-profit think tank that works with the U.S. Congress on issues involving science policies and their effects on society. Includes issues papers and analyses on current topics.

404 Conseil de la science et de la technologie - Science, technology and innovation policy. Many publications available online. Advisory agency to the Québec government.

Ecological Society of America - Public Affairs - Information and position statements on environmental policy.

Federation of American Scientists - Involved in a variety of projects, including monitoring arms sales and weapons development, cyberstrategy, intelligence reform, military analysis, nuclear weapons, space policy, and monitoring emerging diseases.
Meta Description: [ The Federation of American Scientists World Wide Web homepage hosts its various projects such as Arms Sales Monitoring, Biological Weapons, CyberStrategy, Intelligence Reform, Military Analysis, Monitoring Emerging Diseases, Nuclear Weapons, Secrecy and Government and Space Policy. It also has li... ]

Foresight: Making the future work for you - The UK Foresight programme is managed by the Office of Science and Technology and brings together key people, knowledge and ideas to look beyond normal commercial time horizons to identify potential opportunities from new science and technologies and actions to help realise those opportunities.
Meta Description: [ Foresight ]

FYI -- Bulletin of Science Policy News - American Institute of Physics publication that summarizes legislation and science policy developments in Washington DC.
Meta Description: [ FYI summarizes science policy developments in Washington affecting the physics and astronomy community. Summaries are approximately one page long and are issued two or more times every week. FYI e-mail subscriptions are free; they are provided by the American Institute of Physics as a service to ... ]

Gender, Science and Technology Gateway - Global web portal presented by the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD). Policy recommendations and resources pertaining to sustainable development that addresses gender inequality.
Meta Description: [ The home page for the Gender, Science and Technology Gateway, a clearinghouse on resources and information on gender, science and technology for sustainable and equitable development. ]

Information Technologies and Social Development - UNRISD project exploring how new information and communications technologies can be used in developing countries. Events, publications, unpublished papers, and researcher profiles. Some content in French.

Institute for Science, Engineering and Public Policy - An instutute in Portland Oregon, that attempts to develop the local dialogue on science, technology and society issues.

Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation - Provides advice to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on key national and international issues.

Joint Global Change Research Institute | University of Maryland - Publications and information from a joint Pacific Northwest Lab/University of Maryland institute dedicated to examining the problems associated with global climate change.

Koshland Science Museum - Museum of the National Academy of Sciences, focusing on science behind the headlines, in particular current and sometimes controversial policy issues.
Meta Description: [ The Marian Koshland Science Museum reveals the science driving today's headlines and affecting our daily lives. ]

Nanodot - A Foresight Institute web site - Nanotechnology Foresight focuses on nanotechnology and public policy surrounding it.

404 National Science Board - The National Science Board is the US science policy advisor to the President and the Congress. Their homepage contains many documents on the US science and technology policy.

OAS - Office of Science and Technology - Science and technology policy statements from the Organization of American States(OAS).

Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) Legacy - Topical reports on numerous subjects in science and technology (1974-1995).

Optical Society of America - Policies - OSA promotes the generation, application and archiving of knowledge in optics and photonics and disseminates this knowledge worldwide.
Meta Description: [ OSA encourages its members and all those in the science community to become informed about public policy issues and get involved in the legislative process. ]

Preeminent Scientists Protest Bush Administration's Misuse of Science - Some leading scientists issued a statement to Bush administration urging them to apply good scientific analysis to policies in regard to environmental, pharmacology, food safety, health issues, human services, agriculture and defense. From the Union of Concerned Scientist group in the US.

RAND Science and Technology Policy Institute - A federally funded US research and development center sponsored by the National Science Foundation and managed by RAND
Meta Description: [ The Science and Technology Policy Institute is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) that provides analytic support to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. ]

Research Competitiveness Program - An effort to assist U.S. states participating in the National Science Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Science and National Security in the Post-9/11 Environment - Issue briefs and links to useful resources on key issues related to the topic of balancing national security and scientific openness.

Science and Technology Policies in India - Focus is on policy reforms and intellectual property law reforms in India.

Science-Metrix - Measurement and evaluation of science and technology - Evaluation and measurement of science, technology and innovation (STI). Mainly downloadable reports on STI policy and strategy.
Meta Description: [ Science-Metrix specialized in quantitative and qualitative evaluation and measurement of science, technology and innovation. ]

Scientific Integrity (UCS) - Proposals to reform government science to restore integrity and impartiality, to protect health, safety, and environment.

SEAMLESS (EU project) - System for environmental and agriculture modelling, for assessment of how future alternative agricultural and environmental polices affect sustainable development in Europe.

Society and Science - The British Council - Description of the British Council's policy in science, engineering and environment.
Meta Description: [ Engaging society with science ]

Space Policy Project - Information and analysis on civil and military space issues, policies and programs. Covers a variety of topics including life on Mars, advanced aircraft, Russian aerospace, Challenger accident, space weapons, exploration, and links.

Technopolis - An innovation policy consultancy, which specialises in the evaluation, comparative analysis and implementation of government science and technology policy and SME support programmes.
Meta Description: [ The Technopolis Group specialises in the evaluation, comparative analysis and implementation of government science, technology and innovation policy and SME support programmes. ]

The Decline of Unfettered Research - Essay explaining the reasons for the decline of unfettered or curiosity-driven research.

404 The European Commission, Official Documents - Contains official documents of the European Commission, including documents on their science and technology policy.

The Foundation for Science and Technology - Aims to provide a neutral platform for the debate of science or technology issues of importance to society. Includes PDF downloads of journals and ordering information for other materials.
Meta Description: [ The Foundation for Science and Technology promotes and develops scientific and technological development within the UK. ]

The rise of technocapitalism - Prof. Suarez-Villa on technocapitalism, its sources and phenomena, continuous invention and innovation, networks, the experimental firm, innovative capacity, technological eras.

The Science Foresight Project - The first completely Internet-based international science foresight activity. The goal was to identify emerging research developments in the physical and engineering sciences using experts selected by purely objective methods.
Meta Description: [ The Science Foresight Project using experts select by co-citation analysis ]

U.S. Department of Commerce Technology Administration - Homepage of this government department, containing downloadable copies of their publications, news and other information.

U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy - In the Executive Office of the President. Current and archived information about policy on fundamental science, education and scientific literacy, investment in applied research, and international cooperation.
Meta Description: [ OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy OSTP ]

US President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) - PCAST consists of 18 members from the private sector plus the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology who serves as the Committee's Co-Chair.