National Academy of Sciences

2012, Seriously

Lawrence E. Joseph | Posted 11.13.2009 | Books


Lawrence E. Joseph

As author of "Apocalypse 2012: An Investigation into Civilization's End" (Broadway/Random House, 2007) I am frequently asked what I thought of "2012," the Columbia Pictures film directed by Roland Emmerich.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Power of Transformative Science

James M. Gentile | Posted 11.05.2009 | Green


James M. Gentile

Transformative science is high-risk high-reward inquiry. It's crucial that government take the lead in this regard, especially with the U.S. economy struggling.

Missing the SuperFreaking Point (and Ignoring the Business Case for Green)

Andrew Winston | Posted 10.28.2009 | Green


Andrew Winston

The authors of SuperFreakonomics fail to mention that the process of shifting to a low-carbon economy has enormous upsides completely aside from the benefits to climate balance.

Practicing Science -- With or Without Religion?

Dan Agin | Posted 10.23.2009 | Living


Dan Agin

The problem for the working scientist is that the essence of science is a self-conscious and mandatory objectivity -- which means dogma and doctrine are essentially antithetical.

Texas Cannot Wait for Good Science in the Courtroom

John Terzano | Posted 10.09.2009 | Politics


John Terzano

The Texas Forensic Science Commission controversy is ultimately not about politics or the death penalty. At stake is the integrity of scientific evidence in Texas courtrooms, and the erosion of public confidence.

Only in the Bizarro World

B. Jeffrey Madoff | Posted 10.05.2009 | Politics


B. Jeffrey Madoff

Households with guns are 11 times more likely to use those guns to commit suicide than for self defense. But to be fair, we don't just kill ourselves, we kill others, a lot.

Chuck Grassley Does Not Believe in the Threat of Anthropogenic Climate Change

David Roberts | Posted 09.26.2009 | Green


David Roberts

Do you believe there's a global warming threat or don't you? Conservative legislators and pundits should be nailed down on this question.

Sonnier's Release Highlights Continuing Problem

John Terzano | Posted 09.11.2009 | Politics


John Terzano

Ernest Sonnier's release is just the latest case that highlights the ongoing problem of wrongful convictions in Texas. And writ large, it is a reminder of the continuing struggle we face to fix our nation's broken criminal justice system.

Counting What Counts: Accurate Data Leads to Effective Policy

Michael Laracy | Posted 09.07.2009 | Politics


Michael Laracy

It's time to update the poverty measure. The current U.S. poverty measure is a 1960s creation -- needless to say a lot has changed since then.

Texas Case Highlights Problems in Forensics Lab

John Terzano | Posted 07.25.2009 | Politics


John Terzano

Forensic science is not flawless, and its use in the criminal justice system is in great need of reform.

President Obama and the Need for Scientific Breakthroughs in Clean Energy

James M. Gentile | Posted 06.06.2009 | Green


James M. Gentile

Even with extraordinary funding commitments from the Obama administration, our nation's energy and other environmental problems can only be addressed successfully if we also expand our "mental capital."

President Obama and the National Academies of Science

James M. Gentile | Posted 06.01.2009 | Politics


James M. Gentile

It's now up us -- states, colleges and universities, school districts and school boards -- to rise to the occasion to use the resources now available to move the U.S. back to "the head of the class."

Screw CSI: The Chandra Levy Case Reveals, Once Again, Police Can't Find Their Asses with Both Hands

Stanton Peele | Posted 03.27.2009 | Media


Stanton Peele

What depresses me about Law & Order is not that they expeditiously solve crimes every week through meticulous sleuthing. It's that real law enforcement, crime labs, and investigatory agencies virtually never get things right.

The Long-Awaited Call for Forensic Science Reform

John Terzano | Posted 03.26.2009 | Politics


John Terzano

Ensuring the best and most accurate evidence makes it into the courtroom is absolutely critical to maintaining fairness and accuracy in the criminal justice system.

Environment Slips As Key Factor In Virginia Presidential Vote

Mark Meier | Posted 11.21.2008 | Home


Mark Meier

The presidential race in Virginia is heating up--so is the environment. In the same week that an autumn heat wave brought 80ยบ days to the Commonwealt...