science

By Gaia Vince | ( Mosaic: The Science of Life) | – – Why being bilingual helps keep your brain fit Most people in the world speak more than one language, suggesting the human brain evolved to work in multiple tongues. If so, asks Gaia Vince, are those who speak only one language missing out? […]

Evolution

Turkey abandons High Tech Future by Banning Teaching of Evolution

contributors

By James Williams | (The Conversation) | – – In the US there have been many attempts to expunge evolution from the school curriculm or demand that creationism – the idea that all life was uniquely created by God – is given equal treatment in science textbooks. While all these have failed, the government in […]

Displaced and Refugees

N. American Scholars of Mideast react to SCOTUS Decision on Trump Muslim Ban

contributors

Middle East Studies Association of North America | – – On Monday, June 26, 2017, the United States Supreme Court issued a limited stay in the case that MESA has joined as a plaintiff, IRAP v. Trump, partially reinstating the revised Executive Order (EO) from March 6, 2017 (for MESA’s statement on EO 13780 see […]

Climate Change

Also Fired: Scientists at Environmental Protection Agency Review Board

contributors

Cenk Uygur & Ana Kasparian | ( The Young Turks) | (Video Report) | – – “Scott Pruitt has let go of scientists and replaced them with industry types. Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down: “The Environmental Protection Agency has “eviscerated” a key scientific review board by removing half its members and seeking […]

Bush

Planet Ravagers: How Trump & GOP are like Aliens in “Independence Day”

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – “They’re like locusts. They’re moving from planet to planet, their entire civilization. Once they consume every natural resource, they move on.” — President Thomas Whitmore, “Independence Day” You expect the Republican Party, when it wins a national election, to pass some laws benefiting the business classes. […]

Donald Trump

As Scientists March, Will Trump give away US Science Lead to China?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The marches for science in the United States and around the world are an expression of alarm about the Trump administration’s budget proposals, which slash public funding for science, medical and technology research and seek to increase the Pentagon budget by $54 bn. Federal funding for […]

Cats

Video of Day: Kitten tempted by Iran New Year Goldfish

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | (Video Clip) | – – March 21 was the Persian New Year (Now Ruz), marking also the first day of spring (the vernal equinox). In Iran on that day it is a custom to set out a table top with 7 things on it, the names of which […]

Authoritarianism

Making us Less Safe: Trump bloating Pentagon Budget, cutting Diplomacy, Science

contributors

By Miriam Pemberton | OtherWords | – – Throwing money at the Pentagon while gutting other programs that protect Americans shouldn’t make anyone feel safer. Millions of Americans are feeling uneasy, disgruntled, and insecure. That message sounded loud and clear throughout our turbulent election year. The Trump administration’s latest budget proposal isn’t likely to change […]

Climate Change

Study finds 6 600 spills from fracking in just four US states

contributors

The Watchers | – – Each year, 2 to 16 percent of hydraulically fractured oil and gas wells spill hydrocarbons, chemical-laden water, hydraulic fracturing fluids and other substances, according to a study published yesterday in Environmental Science & Technology. The analysis, which appeared February 21 in Environmental Science & Technology, identified 6 648 spills reported across […]