Born Too Soon: WHO says simple measures would save most premature babies
The World Health Organization has released its first-ever report on preterm birth: the risks, consequences, and what can be done to reduce the number of deaths and troubles associated with being born too soon. The data reveals a truly global problem, but most disturbing is the evidence that three-quarters of these deaths could be avoided with simple, low-cost medical care that just needs to reach the most in-need.
Social Networks for Scientists
New media outlets and social networks are improving the connectivity of researchers, engineers, PhD candidates, post-docs, and students. Today, several offer solutions to problems faced by researchers, but are still often considered time consuming. As an online extension of the work of your team or as a catalyst for new collaborations, each of these networks has its own special feature. Do you need to optimize your literature review, share or obtain information, dialogue with an instructor, or even reinforce your network of contacts? Whether researcher or student, MyScienceWork presents the new scientific social networks dedicated to your needs.
Researchers, Lovers of all Science: The MyScienceWork Blog is for You!
The MyScienceWork blog now has one year and a rich selection of science articles under its belt. We’ll continue bringing you news, portraits and opinions, from more and more disciplines. Also, we’ll invite researchers to bring their own work out of the lab and write about their studies for an appreciative, multidisciplinary public. Read on to find out more about the goals and future plans for MyScienceWork’s Blog!
Nuclear or “Non”: The French election debate
Currently in the process of choosing its next president, France has some big decisions to make about its energy future. Beyond the debate surrounding European debt or globalization, questions about the nuclear industry and the development of renewable alternatives loom. Following the Fukushima disaster, the question is more relevant than ever, especially for a country so dependent on nuclear power. At the same time, their debate should be everyone’s debate, when it comes to choosing the safest, cleanest, most economically sound energy road ahead.
The “Monkey Bill”: Creationism through the back door?
A new law in the U.S. state of Tennessee, the second in the country, will allow science teachers to address the “strengths and weaknesses” of the theory of evolution with their classes. They may also use class time to present alternative explanations, such as intelligent design, the new incarnation of creationism. Although proponents of the law claim it simply defends “academic freedom” and encourages critical thinking in students, supporters of science see it as a veiled effort to bring creationism into the classroom.
Advances in Open Access à la Nature Publishing Group
With its recent launch of Light: Science and Applications, an open access (OA) physical sciences journal, and several more OA specialist publications planned for this year, Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is moving forward with its plan to include this publishing model in the center of its business. Though not every NPG journal is fair game for open access, it seems – top-tier publications will remain under a subscription-based model – specialist titles may be a place for further expansion as open access continues to develop.
GMOs Against Malaria? OECD Weighs the Risks
Genetically modified organisms have been discussed extensively regarding crop plants, but this is not the only class of species that researchers are manipulating in the hope of producing new characteristics, beneficial to humans. The fight against infectious, insect-borne diseases, like malaria, may finally find solutions here via the contributions of modified bacteria. This week in Paris, the OECD held a conference on the Environmental Uses of Micro-Organisms to consider the risks associated with the release of such altered microorganisms into the environment. Some can be assessed today, but others may be impossible to evaluate until the organisms are already out there.
Meditation and Folding of the Brain: A new link?
A new study has found that the brains of people who meditate show greater folding, with more peaks and valleys, than those of people who don’t. The region most significantly implicated plays a role that may, indeed, be involved in meditation. If this practice can be shown to cause the neural differences observed, meditation may provide a method to protect the brain from some aspects of aging, in addition to the benefits it is already known to have.
Fighting Poverty with Profits and Donations
Earlier this month, a round-table discussion held in Paris provided an opportunity for specialists from diverse disciplines to share their views on the fight against poverty. Specifically, the panel addressed what role philanthropy and business can each play, and how the two can interact. The most promising solution seems to be a hybrid system, somewhere between the two.
Women in Science: Why the persistent imbalance?
International Women’s Day is the perfect occasion to observe that, over time, women have made great strides in their involvement and success in science and technology fields. Unfortunately, many of these improvements seem to have stagnated in recent years. Some of the old culprits, like cultural bias, may still be at work, but they are not alone. It would pay for institutions to invest in researching the reasons underlying today’s gender imbalance in the sciences, and to implement more relevant, innovative solutions.
