‘SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS US JOBS IN SCIENCE WwW SUIT (October 98,2004 Global issues a BY dent can’t ignore \\ ae Tl)Sethian cemet Rowe ny a ogame feceinnnie ‘eimae ES Sieareen sry sana metieatie bec Solhteanwetae eres (Selaearnandeser ‘Creation chaste Opes wn enact ot ssrted, so wat nexton ciate change! p 6 NEWS EDITORIAL ‘Ameria: a questoncfleadestip 3 UPFRONT {X prize could be won thisweek; superbugs arehitingthe healthy; smell geneswin medicineNobel "5 THIS WEEK Thekyoto protocol ustthefiststep swhatcomesnedthatcounts 6 Bold cesmology theory develops cracks 8 Samoa stakes svereignrighton gene 8 Otgaicfermingisgoodforwiidife 9 Coan US ELECTION SPECAL Paying politics with science Bomb builders or peace makers ‘An olsee economy within 0 years ‘Whoshouldsteertheark Nowaytoruna planet Ametica dosed fr business -Aealtystategy for whom? Batleover steels BREF T.reesancestorshad feathers; hopes dashed for Parkinson's teatment; obal warming wilintensity hurreanes; sulphates couldbe storing wateron Mas 0 ueageaes TECHNOLOGY How an infare vein-cam could make injecionsandblood testsa breeze 25 ‘Anata throats helping chemists predic thetasteofnewsot drinks 26 Iwention: the ace ison to stop the spreadofdoned.creditards 26 FEATURES ‘THE BEASTIVITH HO NAME ives in thejungle of Congo, Reports dese tsa css between ‘himp and gorilla. Could this really bea mew species ape? 2 0 YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? Maverick researchers claim tobe saving peopl'siveswith astm cell therapy thatmedial text books say cart exis NewScentstwenttoinvestgate 36 ‘SPUATBUSTER Uguids have an uncanny ability to makea complete mess whenever they spl Buttheeisaway tovanguish the splatter factor. “The man's outlook was bleak. He needed five blood transfusions a month just to stay alive. Barely three monthes later he is in rude health, up and playing cricket” Ganacantroversil stm cl estment he a: goodasitseems? page ONTHECOER matic, areyou stering? page 2 Beastiih no name, page? Ini’ tom all "ial", page 6 Sometiteitorpricns REGULARS (COMPETITION WINNER Read the winning eng inthsyea's New Scents Welkome Trust Millennial cence say competion 28 (COMMENT AND ANALYSS Poor countries desperatly need release from punishing debs, yet the ‘money saved could too easiy end up Inthe wronghands. Noreen Hertz is proposing anew solution 29 evens Flying geen; carbon sumsand nuclear ower hiding; woryfantases 30 ESSAY Cur carlessrlationshipwith food rmaanswe seldom thinkabout haw itgets fom fild to table. Buta new book wamsthat we are reaping the Whiting, sayslulesPrety Pounes Westminster cry Tam Dabellon how ‘contol nanotechnology, and good rewsabout maths teaching wT ENIGMA 7 Outof Meso-America;folblesand ‘ables; frozen splendour; welcome ‘toaster land; king of chromosomes 48 FEEDBAGC ow THE LAST WORD 65 THE INSIDER: SEX AND SCENCE Companiesandunivesiasareat st recognising tat women arean asset they cantdo without 50 so8s su 9 ocuber 204 |Newsttt anean facobiennte == oa ‘Shrtetsry om Somers = Sanco ‘eee, {thao ita Foesnoeincae terete Sst See Sois.. Ene rn — fecnennate vn enact a A question of leadership The world will be watching when America goes to the polls “PRACTICAL polities consists in ignoring ‘ucts, sald Henry Adams, American historian ‘and political biographer. But when the politics will determine who willbe the next president ofthe United States of Americ, ‘then the facts matter. Ina 12-page special report this week (starting on page 2) we examine the big issues “there the messy business of politics knocks ‘upagainst the objective, fact-based discipline ‘of science, We detall the impact that US policies are having, or could have, on mitigating ‘climate change, the spread of nuclear weapons, ‘ending the world s addiction to, saving rare andendangered species and using stem. ‘ellstofind cures for diseases suchas juvenile diabetes Such issues ultimately affect ‘everyone inside the US and beyond. ‘Around the water coolers of offices in [New York Washington and San Francisca, ‘or the dinner tables in swing states ike Ohio and Florida, the talks ofraq and the economy. ‘The facts peopleare likely to pay attention to, ‘or ignorelf they sochoose, are those elated to ‘the presidential candidates'leislative, voting and war records. But Adams'scautionary ‘wordsshouldn't be forgotten. Horn in 1838, he lived for 80 years through atime When science and technology were revolutionising society, bringing the telephone, electric light, mass produced internal combustion engines andan “understanding of evolution and special and {general relativity, toname but afew of that fn’sadvances, Adams was akeen studentof science and the impact itcould have. Fe also understood his politics, being the grandson, ofohn Quincy Adams the sith president of ‘the United States. Fast forwardacentury and Adams's quate {sas elevant asever. Today selence generates ‘the facts we apply to build weapons, generate energy, treat disease and decide how we should steward the environment. And while politicians have always twisted those facts to suit their own agendas, doing sohas never been more dangerous than it snow. This habit willlikely continue over the next four years whoever wins next month's election. But witha GDP of almost $1 trilion, ‘one-third ofthe total shared by allthe OECD countries the US has real clout. Itfunds 44 percent of the worlds research and evelopment, and ishome toone-third of {the worlds selentists So when the US elects Inspresident and decides ts policieson global ‘sues, everyone on Earth hasa vested interest ‘Andiforthat reason if no other, ignoring the faetsisn'tanoption © Unorthodox, but still worth a try ‘THIS week we report tale that could have been scripted by Hollywood. Working alone, ‘with no ties toany academic institution, ‘Saud immunologist stumbles ona way to ‘make wiste blood cells regressinto the ster cells from which they originated. l'sa phenomenon that fies in the face of textbook biology, andher claims are met with disbelief. Bt, finally, she achieves some astonishing rests, evelopinga treatment that appears ohave helped four patients toxecoverfrom, debilitating severe anaemi. “The intriguing story of lham Abuljadaye] and her company, TriStem, unfolds on page 36. ‘The work was approved and supported by the Indian Couneilof Medical Research, and the ‘company is looking to test it in clinical trials. her technique is proved to work, t could, inthe wondsof one tem cell researcher, be*Nobel prizewinning stil”, Inclalming to havea way tocaslly create stem cells from blood, Abuljadayel has potentially removed the need touse stem cells {ken from humanembryos, an issue that has beengiven ahigh profile in the run-up to the US presidential election (see page) ‘But Abuljadayel does not beleve that research ‘onembryonic stem cells should be restricted. Sheargues that such cellsare so versatile that it ‘would be wrong tocurtail any research that may lead to treatments fora host of diseases ‘Weagree. Research on embryonic stem cellsthat holds out hope for alleviating the sulfering of millions of people deserves support even ifthat hope is eventually dashed. By the same token, establishment science should give Abuljadayel's research afairer hearing than ithas had so far-The potential bonefits ofstem cells created from blood are alsotoo great to ignore, © otbe004 Nansen 3News in perspective SUPERBUGS ESCAPE HOSPITALS Infections caused by antibioicnsistant supebugs ouside hospitals antiue tore, doctors told a meting of the Infectious Diseases Socty of America In Bexon lst west. The superbugs, all foms of matinee tphylocens cures (MRSA are causing ange ‘oblens rnskin bls incildren to es-eating*necrotsing fests". Inone Toashasital alone, ases of bollsineildren caused by HRSA shot pom in 199910459 in 203. There wer aes fleeing MRSA ‘nos Angeles lst yer, with several Smell Nobel UNLOCKING thesecretsofsmell feared two Americans this year's Nobel prize for medicine or physiology. Richard Axeland Linda Buck wil share $3 million {or discovering the family of 000 genes that code for the odour receptors inournosesand working outhow the signals rom. thesereceptors are translated into recognisable smells by the brain, patios needing reconstructive surgery. ast alarming, MRSAis using, fatal pneumonia in otherwise eatiy ‘avenysomathings. "Five of cases of Mat prewmonia ded, and the average ‘agecf the ftalies as just 28 years" says lee Hageman ofthe Centers for Diseace Conta ast MRSA trains acquired ‘ouside hospitals ares suseptbeto several antibiotic, itl tchack Immediately which strain i esporsible foran infection, Hageman sys, ot patents may not gt the right antibiotic ‘nt istoo late ‘They published their main findings jointly in 991. Since then, they have worked independently topiece together the rest ofthe jigsaw, showing for instance thateach odour receptor cellhas ust one typeof receptor, although each receptorcandetect several different molecules. ‘Axelisat the Howard Hughes ‘Medical Institute in New York, and BuckisattheFred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centerin Seattle, Code crackers ARAB scholarscracked the code ‘of gyptian hieroglyphs thousand yar before researchers inthe west calms Okashaf1Daly, anarchacologistat University Colegetondon Daly sys he found evidence inArabetextsthatechoars could decpherlieroglyphicsignsas ealyas the th century. Medieval alchemist abu Dak Aimad bn ‘Wahshiyah,foresample- knew thathlerogiyphs hod ssocated soundsand couldberesdas Phonetiscrpt utArabschoarshad tte interest inthe grammatical structure ofhieogiypiceript, Alscoveredby the frend sehr Jean FrangoisChampollion Ins6zzheusedtheRoetta stone, Carved withhieroglyphs demotic Egyptianand Greek to decipher the language That owledge, saystgyprologst Nigel Strick ofthe Bish Museum in London, iss imporeant fora fll Understanding ofhiropyphics Daly's findings wilappearin isbook,Thedisingaddlennurn, tobe published ate this ea. NOW FOR THE REAL PRIZE SpaceSipOne has won the io ilion ‘nsariX prize. On WOtober, the aa landed safely at Mojave, alforia, after becoming the fist privat financed voice to read the edge of space tice ‘within eek Preliminary eer data showed SpceShigone dimbed tan aliude of about Kilometres, surpassing the record for asubobital flight sey the xprimental a5 tinraftmere than years 2g0. But the eal pies the space tourism make. For SpacehipOne to bused to cay tours, itil have ‘abe deemed safe, Onis 29 September flight the caf red wildy near ‘the top of its cmb. And during a ‘ight in une the pt et lst contol ofthe craft's attitude, SpaceShipOne's atest Might was "eporedly fe of any such incidents. ww rence. —_ Heading forspace 60 SECONDS Hurricanes delay shuttle The fourhurianesthat hit Forde recnty have delayed plans forthe Space shutte'sretum ta crit in Mach US et ime protecting the Kennedy Space Center agains the pending hurcanes, an then had to epithe amage they aused. The next two laundh windows ae in May andy. Poised to erupt Mount tHeen ison an eniption alert after aplume of stam bached fom Its ater on2 Octobe The outburst followed 2 wes of shallow serthquaks. Since then, tevolano inwashington has experienced larger ‘nemo and its aati oor has se, prompting the S Geological Survey to ‘war that “addtional stam and ash ‘ruptons could oar at any tine Tibet ‘is nuclear dump’ (hina is duping near wate in remot parts of Tibet the Dalal Lama says Speakngin Mexc ty on 3.Ocobe, Tbe spiral lade cited ‘the presence of animal born with birth fects in remot omer ofthe Himalayan county as evidence of refarious aces by China. Rhino hunts resume South ica aed Namibia wile be allowed to hunt and sl ive black thinos year. The Grwention on International Faden ndangered Species (TES) meeting in Bangkok ede on Monday tease the hurting ban. Mumbesof black hin have recovered oan estimated 3600 rom hw of 20.8 decade ago. Columbus in Spain 1 ara suggests that Cstopher Colunbus ely isburiedin Savile, Spin. Genetidstsfound a math becweon the Sil bones and those belonging to Glumbur' brother, Deg, ‘though to ite DNA remains inact for ‘ham tobe certain. Aor lumbus was buried inthe Dominican Republic his remains were supposedly retumed to Spain, but sanders ad died the ‘fora tok the wrong body. ‘0cobe2004 |News 5i 3 Intemational news and exclusives Kyoto won't stop climate change With Russia's backing, the Kyoto protocol might finally come into force. But it's what comes next that counts ea peane ITHASbeenalong wait since the Kyoto protocol was signedin the early hoursof t December 1997. Next year, if Russa sticks othe commitment it madelast week, the treaty willat lastcome intoforce. And that willallow the world ogeton with what really matters daring up the successor to Kyoto. For fardent greensand out-and-out scepties can agree on anything itis that Kyoto will not even come close tosolving the problem ofcimate change, Itis, asthe UN Environment Programme director Klaus Toepfer saidina statement last week, “only the first stepinalong journe The clocks ticking. Every year wearereleasing almost 7pillion tonnes carbon into theatmosphere carbon that had lain buried since the daysof the dinosaurs Tew emain in the atmosphere for around acentury, ralsingthe level of carbon dioxide inthe atmosphere and trapping more of the sun's heat. ‘Before the industrial age, the CO, level was steady ataround 280 parts permillion. When the Kyoto protocol was drawn up in 1997, the C6, levelhad reached t 368 ppm, This year, ithit 379 ppm: Most predictions of soaring temperatures, foods, droughts, storms (see page 10)and rising sealevelsarebasedona concentration of 50 ppm.On currenttrends, this figure, is likely tobe reached in the second half ofthis century. Even iflevels rose po higher, this would just be the start Timelagsin natural systems such ase caps andocean circulation mean that changes will continue formillenniaafterthe CO, level stabilises (see Graphic). ‘The bottom linefsthatonly drastic cuts in global emissions (fC, of two thirds ormore, can stop the concentration ofthe gas rising ever higherand stave ff lever more severe climate change, ‘The more quickly the worldean make such cuts the lower the level ‘atwhich concentrations will ‘eventually stabilise The Kyoto protocol, however, Involves only very modest reductions ofless than 5 percent The USdoes not support i, developing nations do nothave tomakeanycutsand itexpires Jn2012, Perhaps most crucially, {does not providea blueprint for winere ve wanttoend up and how we intend toget there. Butactivation of the Kyoto protocol wouldstillbehighly significant, as it would free negotiators tobegin todiscuss What todo next, That process is setto begin formally next year, but ie alsolikely tobe the main talking potnt before then atthe next meeting ofthe protocols signatories in Buenos Aires In December. Activation ofthe ven neeientscomea Inthissection| (© acs appearin bold cxnology theory, page © Srna takes sverignrightson gene, page (© Oxgnic fring god for ili, age “The Kyoto protocol expires part will be deciding whois such changes will be hugely a fnlldedtomake thoseemislons. expensive, whilecompanies with na ore Developingcountresinsst scompeitveleadinatermatve KYOTO IN SHORT blueprintforwherewewantto — theycan onlyacceptquotasbased technologies see only profits. end upand howtogetthere” on populationand suggest, Bigchangeswilbe necessary Whale the ola pina fexiendlngthe kyotoplans for whiateverhappens,asolland ——-Wsanaddontoe em UN tne, protocolwouldalsoincresse _emisslonstradingtosmooththe naturalgas supplies dendle, _fnafsed nin ot, open PressureontheUStorejointhe transition industrialised thoughcoalisstllavalablein Mheprtac espe to tip tale proces (se page's} countrlessuchastheUS which huge quantiles. been signed by over 5000 bymenwhohadadeeper UCS,isthat President Bushdoes makingany issue with American scientists, including 48 Nobel lunderstandingofselencethan not understandsclence.Hebas _sclencean issue for world sclence. laureates and 1z7 members of the ‘mostoftheir successors. The litleinterestinthesubject,and__ Sodoesthe charge sick? "National Academy of Sciences, Founding Fathers were children _hisadministration has grossly “"Thisadministration has Republicans have dismissed oftheEnlightenment ofthe Age manipulatedthe processbywhich aclearrecordofinterferingin _thecampalgnaspolitical of Reason. Today wearegoverned objectivescience informs policy. thescientifi process,” says motivated, But Gottiried, bypeoplewhadonotbelievein Asaresull,theUShasmadethe | Democraticcongressman, ‘physicist at Comell University evolution. Theyhavefewqualms wrong decisions overistues Henry Waxman, whohasbeen in New York, denies that the about distorting scientific suchas imate change, energy, astandard-bearerforsclentists signatories are merelya collection knowledge when it does not reproductive health andthe critical of Bush. Thereisa ‘of the usual Bush-hating suspects, conform otheirpoliticalagenda, environment. repeated pattern of distorting "Many people who signed have ‘They speakasifthey azcentitled —ItisaprovocativeandoRten _sclence tosupporta narrow never signed political statements notoniytothelrownopinions repeated charge, one whose political orideological agenda." of any kind," he says. What's more, bbutalsototheirown facts” implications gobeyond America’s "In August 2003, Waxman, he points out that some cf them So sald Kurt Gottfried, borders.The USstance onglobal _ssuedareport detailing instances arellfelong Republicans. chairman ofthe Union of ‘armingand energy use ofallegedmisuseof sciencebythe The UCS change sheet covers Concerned Scientists, inthe inevitably ffectsthe world. Bitof administration. This wasfollowed amultitude ofsins. One of the opening passageofadamning _-—thecountrlesthataremembers byt woslmllarreports nFebruary most persstent i that sclentsts ‘aU Kens dent 9ododer204 eens.ea Inthissection| (© Bomb buidersor pacemakers, pages ‘@hn exonom without ol, page 6 (© heat satay for whom? pager servingon government advisory ‘committeesare appointed for tele political views rather than theirscentificexpertse From 1998 to 2003, Gerald -Keusch was associate director of the Fogarty international Center, partof the National institutes fof Health. Hesays the contrast between the Clintonand Bush administrations is tark Under inton, all seven of his suggested appointees tohissclentific advisory committee, which makes recommendations on public “There is a pattern of distorting science to suit a narrow political or ideological agenda” wn enact health isuesin the developing ‘world, suchas stemming the spread of HIV, were approved ‘within three weeks. Under Bush, 19candidates out of 26 were rejected. Insome cases the Department of Health and “Human Services (HHS) took many ‘months tomake its decision, ‘When Keusch queried one tranche ofrejections he was told that one candidate had been rejected because other pro-sbortion stance, a second ‘yas unsuitable because of her involvement with an organisation promotingcontraception, anda ‘third, Nobel laureate, had"signed ‘too many letters in The New York Times critical of President Bush”. "The attitude of HHS towards scientists has been one ‘ofdisdain,” Keusch told [New Scientist." There is clearly ‘aconcem about people who think individually” Othercandidates forscientific advisory positions >have reportedly been asked by ‘administration officials who they ‘voted forin the lastelection, and ‘what they think of President Bush. ‘The response from many ‘administration, they ay, has the right to put its friends in high places. “Ifthisiesuchamajor Issue why did they not object ‘when Mr Clinton hired primarily Democrats for isscientific staff ‘and sclentificappolatments?” says Vernon Flers,a Republican ‘congressman whositson the ‘House Committee onSclence. “would wonderabouta president who didn'task those questions.” echoes fellow committee member and Republican Michael Burgess. ‘Another serious charge is that the administration deeideson the answer it wants from science, then ‘manipulates the scientific process {osupport that conclusion. A now famous example concemsalleged White House interference with azeport in June 2003 from the Environmental Protection Agency (@a)-The report was billed as "afrankdiscussion of what we know ~and what we don’tknow- about the condition of our nation’s environment”. Butit did not mention what many environmentalist regards the gravest threat: climate change. UcSelalmsthat the EPA ended up droppings chapteron global warming afterextensive Interference from White House officials. According oan internal EPA memo they demanded so ‘many qualifiers in the text that the result would have given the impression of uncertainty. ‘where theres essentially none’ John Marburger, the White House science adviser, plays down the incident. "Thats a spurious cease," he told New Scientist, polnting outthat another report ue for release weeks later dealt ‘with climate changein depth. He says the administration s very careful about how it describes climatechange, because ofthe {ssue's political sensitivity. Inthe ase ofthe FPA report, he says there wasn't time to resolve differences over the wording. "Other people usualy scientists, can’tsee the point of making those fe distinctions," he adds. ‘The UCS cites numerous other examples, including industry insiders being placed foncommittees, spurious scientficevidence being used topromote sexual abstinence, and selentists belng told they ‘must represent the federal government's line when working ‘with international organisations, Marburger accepts that some ofthe incidentscited by UCS should nothave happened, > 9 ocube 004 |NewsAre you listening, America? buthe argues that collection of anecdotes does not add up toa ‘masterplan. Their report “tends toshort-circuitserious discussion ofthe very issues they raizeby, sweeping them Into. conspiracy theory’ he says."Tjustdon't buy that” What's more, he pointsto the large funding increases enjoyed by science underBush, Hyouinclude the current budget request, research and development investment wil have increased Adpercent since Bush took office. Sowhat’s really going on? Bruce Alberts head of theNational Academy of Sciences, does not believe there isa systematic pattemof manipulation. "Inboth administrations have observed there have been attempts totwist selence tomeet the agenda,” he says. "What's happeningin this administration may be different Inmagaitude, but i’scertainly not different incharacter nother words, itwas ever thus Sowhy are scientists socritieal ofthe Bush administration? Alberts believes that under the Clintonadministration, scientists found the outcome ‘more palatable because they more oftenagreed with the resulting poly. And opinion polls tend to show that sclentists overwhelmingly vote Democrat, ‘They also dislike the centralising tendencies of the Bush administration, which they believe restricts their autonomy. Kathy Hudson, dector of the Genetics and PublicPolicy Center in Washington DC, accepts that, alladministrations create advisory committeesin their own image. But she says the contrast between the Bush and Clinton administrations is particularly Starkbecause Clinton and his vice-president, AlGore,shared a genuine enthusiasm for scence, ‘seen abigcomedown for scientists” shesays. "This ‘administrations notbeen particularly excited about science!” ‘With anelection looming therelationship between the objective discipline of science land the dirty business of politics hasneverbeen more fragile. @ 18 Newser |9cobe2008 Bomb builders or peacemakers Perception is everything when it comes. to the proliferation of nuclear weapons “ar WGA I's rareforan American president todevotean entire speech to the problem ofnuclear proliferation, Butin February GeorgeW. Bush did just that “America willnot permit terrorists and dangerous regimes tothreaten uswith the world’s ‘most deadly weapons,” he said Inkeeping with his promise, and his definition ofa dangerous regime, the UShas led calls for North Korea to freeze its nuclear programme. The UShas also Argued that iran should be reported to the United Nations Security Council, asitelaims ‘hat Iran bas falled tohonour itscommitments to the Nudear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Buta snot going to plan, ‘Thepleas have been ineffective, and the US stands accused of hypocrisy ‘on nuclear proliferation "Is like a {guy witha cigarette dangling from hhismouth eling other people not tosmake,” according to Mohamed ElBaradei, director general ofthe International Atomic Energy Agency the organisation responsible for policing the NPT. ‘And many claim this perception, coupled with America's wider foreign policy, is making t more, ‘otless, likely that other countries willseekanuclearcapability. Next year, the NPT willbe reviewed forthe rst time since 2000. Inthattime, North Korea ‘has withdrawn from the reat, Libya has given up clandestine nuclear weapons programme, lranhasadmitted (oenriching ‘uranium without informing the authorities andintelligence Investigationsied by theUSand UK have uncovered network of trade in nuclear materials ‘emanating from Pakistan, Hardly surprising therefore, thatthe US will”pound away on ‘the importance of complianceand non: proliferation’, according to asenlor US government oficial. Batlike the UK France, CChinaand Russia” whichallhad the bomb when theNPT came into force-the US stillhasa sizeable nucleararsenal 36 yearsafter signing up toa treaty that Ultimately requlzes It to disarm, President Bush's commitment tocut the number of deployed warheads by roughly two-thirds by 2012 wil stillleave the US with between 1700 and 2200 warheads What's more, the Bush ‘administration has made no secret cfitsambitionstodomorethan real partofltsexisting nuclear eens.arsenal in200%, theleakedNuclear Posture Review stated that the US should move way from stockpiling ‘muclear weapons to what itcalled responsive infrastructure” withthe sbllityto reprocess the plutonium cores ofmuclear ‘weaponsand test weaponsatshort notice, anda revitalised nuclear esearch programme, This has beenfollowed by the litingof abanonesearch intolovyield nuclear weapons and funding for concepts suchasa Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator-a potential nuclear bunker-bustiagbomb, ‘Yuri Baluyevsky, now the chief ofthe general staf of Russia's armed forces sald this year that amassivemilitaryexercisein ‘Russia wasprompted partly byconcerns thatthe USmight develop new weapons. And at ‘ameetingin Augustin Durban, South Africa, ministers from the some 100 counties that belong tothe Non-Aligned Movement, expressed "serious concern that new types ofnuclear weapons are being considered’ Linton Brooks, head of the National Nuclear Security wn enact Administration, denies the US i= developing new nuclear weapons, (Othernations are only suspiciou says Brooks, because" we've not doneas gooda jobas explaining ‘ouroverall polley as we might”. Brookssaystheaimofthe bbunker busting project isto determine whether an existing bomb can be modified toactasa deterrent to those seeking to build cilities deep underground. As such, itwouldn't bea new weapon. Norcanit proceed toengineering and development without further congressional and presidential approval john Kerry has pledged, ‘elected, toalt the project. What Bush would doina second termis ‘unclear, although he has promised toboost Funding for nuclear weapon activities" For 2005, ‘The questionthatremainsis whether the perception, mistaken fornot thatthe US! pursuing ts ‘own nuclear weapon development programme willencourage more nations to seeka nuclear capability. “Theres noindicationthat the modest research that has been approved isgoing tocxacerbate the proliferation problem,” saysSusan Burk ofthestate partment Bureati of Nonproliferation ‘Awider politic is driving the recent posturing by North Korea and Iran. Both countries’ nuclear programmes predatethe Bush ‘administration and the Nuclear Posture Review. "Ifthey are responding tatheUSatall, they are responding tocurconventional strength and not toourmuclear capability” Brooks says. Similarly, analysts say nuclear modernisation. inChina hasbeen sparked by Us plans foramissiledefence system, more than by possible ‘ew weapons. ‘ut concerned voicescan beheard even from prominent Republican politicians on Capitol Hill. Congressman David Hobson, ‘who chairs the House committee ‘thatapproves funding for nuclear ‘weapons research, said in August ‘that the administration's policies are" very provocative. They ‘undermine our moral authority toargue that other nations shoud orgonuclear weapons", © Cool cash will help slow global warming Global treaties aren't the only way to tackle climate change. Markets can do their bit too od ‘A CAICATUREs easy, especially ‘one that depicts the USas an Inresponsibie bad boy of cimate= ‘change politics. But wile might be applied tothe federal ‘ministration, whieh has pulled ‘utof the Kyoto protocal on dimate ‘change, many state governments are foloing thelr own ine. alifornia is pushing ahead with tough new ans to cut vehicle carbon dicxde emisionsby almost third ‘over the nec years. Now England states havejoined neighbouring provines in Canada in a pactto eturn ther @, emissions to 1950 level by 2010 and then to at therm. yy 10 per cnt by 2020. Other states sch a New York soom sett jin in. Even Texas, the quintessential cllstate, which gave the country ‘president made rch bythe ol nes, Isnotallitseoms. Inthe pastthree years, Teashas erected fnough wind turbines to produce the same energy asa large ol-fred powver plant, making tthe scond- largest state generator of wind power after aforna, Ths was thanks in to state laws enacted when ‘George Wi. Bch was governor. Texas is alo setingan ample tothe states by requiring wy ‘companies to generate proportion oftheir energy using renewable sources or buy green “aredits" from thosewho do. ‘Of course the federal gvernment stllhas the greatest paver to style ‘imate change. John Kery has promised that, as president, he ‘would re-engage with the Kyoto procs, though he could not ratify the protocols itstands because the emissions target agreed by Bil ‘Ginton seven years ago isnow fut of reach, And twos White ouse-inplred rating last yearby ‘the Environmental Protection Agency that said (, wae nota pollatant ‘This limited state pone to legislate against emissions, though the decision couldyet Dbeoverturmed by the courts. Butloaa action aginst global ‘arming is happeningin the Us, though itisnot akways taken slely forthe good ofthe planet. Texan farmers embraced wind pawor as 2 ‘way to make money after a 1-year ‘rought~ but that nse provides ‘lesson: the rout to Uncle Sam's ‘conecence on dimate change may be through hiswalet. WallStreet, for ample, remembers when the inton ‘administration went to Europe 3 ‘decade ago to propose an emissions trading aystem forthe Kyoto protocol. ‘This would have rewarded greener rations and byalloning them to sel “polation ‘erie to their rt neighbours. Sceptial European governments ‘were persuaded to sign up tothe plan ony fr Bush to pul out of, the daalin2001. The European Union's emissone-trading market ‘pens for busines in January, Jeaving US traders wondering ‘whether Bush's opt-out as sch a good idea aftr al. ‘The conundrum here for freewhedlingAmerican capitalism [sthatyou can only make profitable tradeswhen the commodity in ‘question isin imited supply. ‘And that requires limits on polation. Perhaps, now that President Putin nas agreed to Rusia activating the lyoto protocol se page 6), the nectUS administration wil take the view that theresa pay-off {fom embracing tough emissions ‘aontols~ a placeata rather profitable trading table. © 9odobe2004 NewserAre you listening, America? In just 50 years, we could cure our addiction to oil The technologies to deliver clean, sustainable energy already exist. So what's stopping us breaking the habit of a century? ‘a ITHAS beena bad year for ol ‘Consumers rather than suppliers thats, who have been forced {opay ever higher peices for thelr black gold. With mostof the industrialised world, and particularly the US, dependent onoll orits energy, relanceon, ‘his diminishing resource never seemed more precarious. Yet the perception that the ‘worldcannot do without ollis misguided. True, many of the alternatives, such as wind power, biofuels ora hydrogen economy, appeartooimpractical or distant (wallowan immediate divorce fromoll Buta raftof studies, researched and funded not just by Advocates ofaltemativeenergy but also those with vested interestsin the status quo, suggest otherwise. The potential pay-offs are huge. No more massive subsidies foroll exploration andextraction, Nomore reliance on troubled regions suchasthe Middle East, hich has 65 percent ofthe ‘world soll reserves. Huge cuts inpollution anda curtailing ofellmate change. In hoz, the ‘three years, would have allowed driling nan Alaskan wildlife reserve, Butcrtis say the potential impacton the region's fragile ecosystem would be disproportionate toany benellts ‘othe nation’s oil supply, andthe provision has sofarbeen blocked by most Democrats and ahandful cof Republicans in Congress. Despite this, the widespread {ear remains that anevermore power hungry world will need all, ‘theoilitcan get. Yet some serious and detalled investigations show that itneedn'te this way. A study published in August aimedat finding ways to shift away from greenhouse gasemissions showed there are 15 sullable technologies already available, mostof which Involve drastic redactions in ‘ossll fuel use All that Is required {s the right policies, ‘Simply heating, cooling and lighting buildings in the right way, oF widely applying known’ ‘technologies thatcan double the average fuel efficiency ofears, could open the way to dramatic cutsinoil use, say the study's authors Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow of Princeton, “The US could cease oil imports by 2040 and virtually eliminate oil use by 2050. The net cost would be zero” strategy isa no-brainer. The only losers wouldbe the ollbusiness~ oneofthe world'richestand ‘most powerful industries That industry, ofcourse, nurtured President Bush, whose administration's policies are ‘widely seen to favour fossil fuels. ‘One key provision of the Bush administration's Energy Bill, ‘legislative prlority overthe past 16 Newser |9cober2008 University (Science, ol 305, p 968). Increased use of wind generators and photovoltaicarrays, both directly tosupply electricity to the grid and indirectly to make hydrogen fuel for cars, would do thesame. Adopting just few ofthese could stabilise levels of slobal greenhouse gases inthe atmosphereby 2050, The authorsdon'testimate thecosts.Theiraim was only torefutethe notion that such technologies don'tyetexist, and inthis they succeeded. They showed that established ‘methods could provide vast energy gains thatare not only sustainable and clean but willalso provide" tremendous stimulus {othe economy” that Socolow says makes them costeffective in thelong run. None ia panacea, fandeach comes withits own problems: adopting hydrogen fuel, forexample, will equirea ‘massive investment indelivery infrastructure. But moderate ssuccessesin justsome of these areas would add up to viable alternative energy strategy. ‘Astudy released lat month goes further. Ina detailed 335-page report itsets outastep-by-step programme fr change that itsays ‘wouldallow the UStoceaseoil imports by 2040 and virtually eliminate llolluse by 2050. The netcost would bezero-afar ny rom claims that such a move ‘would cripple big business, ‘Thoughtheresearchwascartied couthytheproenvironmentRocky ‘MountaininstitutelaColorado, itwasfundedinpartbythe UsDepartmentofDefense,alarge andinetficientuserofenergy. Thatsuggeststhatdespitethe ccurrentadministration'sthetoric thatsuchmeasuresareimpractcal, somebranchesof government aretakingcleanenergy more seriously thanitsometimes seems. Forexample,the US army saysit could have takena month lessto deploys troops totraqifits tanks bad been more fucleMicient, Thereporthasbeenpresentedin briefings tolegislators,military leaders, think-tanks, and the State Department, among others ‘The planit proposes is simple, Step one istohalveoiluseby improving efficiency. Much of thiscan be achieved without sacrificing safety orcomfort, ‘through revenue-neutral incentives suchas rebates to buyers ofellicient cars pald for by ‘atax on inefficient ones, and incentives toretizeolder cars, power plants andaireraf and replace them with newer, more cfficientones. The other half ‘would then be gradually eplaced bya combination of biofuelsand natural gas. The plan is framed in termsol US policy butis designed tobeapplicable worldwide. There will doubtlessbe howis cof disbelief from those ‘accustomed tohearing that renewable energy and cleaner: eens.bburning fuels area pipe dream, ‘They will,for example, point to studies that have demonstrated that mostethanol production for ‘useincars and trucksactually consumes more petroleum than it saves, Any plans for introducing new biofuel will require rigorous cradle-to-gravecost benefit, analysis. According to Pacala and Secolow, one-sixth of the world’s agricultural land would need tobe ‘ured overto ethanol producing cropsifbiofuelsareto playa ‘major part in offsetting growing globalemissions produced by {ossl fuels. But they also pointout that this exorbitant igure could bereduced if techniques could be developed touse plant waste from agricultureand logging ‘Others havearrived at similar prescriptions. This year wn enact Dulitzer-prizewinning journalist Ross Gelbspan published a critical analysis of the global warming. crisisin his book Boiling Point. Gelbspan’s thesis is radical, and hei eriticl ofthe fossil Fuel industry the Bush administration and environmentalistsalike for ‘being beholden tovested interests and notdoingenough totackle climate change. But heends ‘with whathe believes isa win-win alternative energy strategy, ‘developed in meetings witha smallgroupof energy company executives, economists, policy’ analysts and other specialists Gelbspan advocates proposals such as cuting oil subsides and creatinga fund tohelpcountries develop alternativeenergies, Including helping Gulf oll states convert toharnessing their sunny “It's the kind of message a candidate should seize, An upbeat message of genuine progress” {desert areas forthe photovoltaic production of hydrogen. This, he says, will allow the world toincreasethe stability and affordability of energy, while ‘easing international pressuresand. ‘curbing pollution. Thestrategy ‘would save money and create jobs atthesame time. Theconcepthas, ‘drawn interest from European Union officials and enthusiastic ‘coveragein the business press. Wsthekindof thing you'd think ‘apresidentialandidatewould selzeupon, anupbeat messageot ‘genuine progress. Both President BushandJohn Kerry haveindeed madesomerather general statements inthat direction, Bush's plans strongly emphasise cilexplorationandlean-burning coaltechnology, withonly 317 billionearmarkedoveri0 years fordeveloping hydrogen fuel cells and related technologies, Kerryalsosupportsinvestments incleancoal, butemphasises ‘the potential or innovations in effcientenergy,notonly oreduce petroleum use butalsotacreate Jobsand competitive technologies forexpor. Both sides havean election towin, where the realpolitik isa Butdeliveringa strategy that promisesa table sustainable source of energy for the world {srealpolitik too. And the answer lies beyond ofl. @ ocd 2004 Newsies 7Are you listening, America? Who should steer Sic, the modern ark? seysusess American money and expertise isthe difference Taal, wbicheolects money between survival and extinction for many of the ae world's endangered plants and animals ‘countries to help them develop {nenvironmentally friendly ways contributing about $200 million After falling intoarrearson its outofa global budget of pechaps payments when BillClinton was CONSUMERISMandconservation billion dollarsperyea president, the US has resumed ‘08 HOLMES tend not tomix. Mineral, accordingtoan analysislastyear paying tsdues in fullunder the materialsandthefoodweeat have byaconsortiumofenvizonmental Bush administration and has ‘ocomefromsomewihere,and _groupsinchading WWE even paid off some ofits debt. oftenthatplaceisapristineforest, Conservation Intemational “Americanexperts-notably ceanor wildemess AstheworldandTheNature Conservancy. _biologstafrom the Smithsonian leaderin percapitaconsumption, Thebiggestshareofthispot, Institution have played aleading ‘the USmustshouldermuchof _somesi25to isomillioneach _roleinsurveyingand cataloguing the responsibility forthe damage year,comes through the US theworldsspecies, andi setting thateausestothe naturalworld. government's Agency for Lup information networks to help Butthe UScanmakeanother Intemational Development bring that knowledge tothe dlaim.Putsimplyleadsthe (USAID). Overthe past 20 years, conservationists who need Wworldinprotectingbiodiversty. USAIDmoneyhasbeencruclal’ Andin trade negotiations the “Nobody brings more dollars, more initiatives, ‘or more basic science than America” True itsrecordishardly perfect. TheUSis one of ahandful ‘of countries thathavefalled to ratify the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. And US negotiators have fought to prevent any reference tothe precautionary principle—abettersafe-than- sorry approuch to conservation from creeping into intemationsl agreements on matterssuchas the useof genetically modified ‘organisms. Mostnotably the Bush administration hasremained blinkered on theisste of climate ‘change, potentially thebiggest ‘threat to biodiversity. ‘Butset against these negatives there are many positive, often unpublicised, measures byagencies deep within the bowels of government. The US stilltops the world in government spending on international ‘conservation programmes, 18 Newser 9otaber 2008 Us as sometimes pressed ‘wading partners to adopt more conservation-friendly policies. Aspartofatradeagreement with Singapore, forexample, that country ~alhub ofc trafficin endangered specieshasagreed, ‘with USaid, to train airport staff ‘and cargo handlers to elp root ‘outsmugeling of rare species. ‘Within the US, the federal governmentoftenappearsless concerned about biodiversity. ‘The Bush administration has attracted criticism for tselforts ‘toencroach on wilderness, notably its failed attemptto open portionsoftheazetic National WildlifeRefugetoofldriling, anditssuccessin boosting drilling permits foroilon federal land in ‘he western states Yet the3r-year- ‘old Endangered Species Act remains in place the strongest plece ofenvironmental legislation Inthe word, withan explicit ‘commitment to prevent human: ‘caused extinctions. "The ESA Is eens.probably the preeminent law fever passed to deal withthe problem of biodiversity loss,"says ‘Michael Kostyack, seniorattomey with the National Wildlife Pederation in Washington DC. Enforcementofthe law may beanother matter."People within the career ranks of the Fish and Wildlife Service will say— privately, at east- that they are belag mide toswallow decisions they don't like and didn’thave toswallow before," says ‘Michael Bean, sentorattorney for Environmental Defensein Washington DC. While Bean concedes that this charge isdificultto prove, Russell Train, chairman emeritus ‘of conservation organisation WWE US anda senor igure in ‘the Environmental Protection Ageney undertheNixon and Pordadministrations is more forthright. "Inthe 19705 the US was looked on as maybe the world leader in termsof environmental, protection.In setting up ‘mechanisms and institutions ordealing withenvizonmental problems we were right outin front.Idon’tthink the USis looked upon asaleaderin this regard now,” he told New Scientist. ‘Theadministration insists thatthe US continues to foster conservation. "Ithink the US the unquestionable world leader inthe protection of biodiversity, ‘both domestically and {internationally says|ohn Turner, Assistant Secretary of State for (Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific affairs."NNobody brings more dollars, more programmesand Initiatives, ormorebasleselence: Teisclear that American cexpertiseand money, inl ‘that donated by privateci and philanthropic foundations, hnasrealcloutwhen itcomesto saving the worlds habitats and species. Russell Mittermeler, president of Conservation International in Washington De, sinnodoubtabout the value of America'scontribution. “Nother country seven in the same ballpark" he says. © vn enact No way to run a world Globalisation is happening whether we like it or not. The question now is whether everyone should play by the same rules entered Kansas to sell wheat abroad forlest _Canctin agreed to let developing ‘than iteoststo grow. Farmersin poor countiesimport cheap, genetic ‘Sr Jobalisation” and most counties cannot competewith these versions of drugs patented inch People's thoughts turn to trade prices in thelr home markets, countries. Te U5 foughtto init ministers meeting amd ots in and that depresseslocl farming. the deal andis now goingit alone. Seattle orthe ubiquity ofcertain -That'sdoublybad news, ashelping _Ithas negotiated bilateral trade hamburger chains. Fowsee global farmers prosperisthewayoutot agreements with Guatemala, ‘wade forwhatitis:one ofthe poverty for many counties. ile, Singapore and Morocco that biggest politcal and sodal ‘Ata WTO meeting in Geneva allow these countries to export on developments of our time. ‘thisyear therich sald theywould preferential terms tothe US market, ‘ur economies, the flow of goods, stop direct subsidising exports, _inretum they promise not ‘services, people andwealth that something the European Union is import guneric drugs asthe WTO determine haw we ive, removing especially prone to. But they permits Compaignerssay that ‘rombeing organised ona national woulda’tsay when. That agreement the USis trying for similar deals in ‘orregionalscaletoa global scale. _mightalso allow the USto keep ‘more Afian and atin American {And globalisation wil continue subsidies which compensate farmers counties and in Thailand. ‘twstaggerforward{forthenectfour if export prices are ess than thelr ‘Abandoning the multilateral yearswhateverthe outcome ofthe costs (See Graph. Yet developing approach to global trade could Uselection. Itmaynot even matter counties maybe unable protect scapperthe growing role of uch who wins. utto Benefit the thelr cw farmers from such science in setting trade disputes. most people, global rade mustbe competition, as they may be expected Scientific experts ruled ina recent a rmlliatera, equitable enterprise. to drop tars on imports. Wo decision that banning asbestos Seen in thatlight, some recent the poor ae disatistied Isavvalld health measure, not an decisions bythe US are making enough with these mixed messages, unfair trade restriction, many trade experts nervous. ‘they might topedo the next WTO ‘The USis now complaining ‘The member governments minatal meeting, planned for to theWTO that Europe's ban on ‘of the Worl Trade Organization have Hong Kong in December 2005, genetically modified organisms, Promised to spreadthe beneftsof as they didn Cancin, Medco, Indudingmerican sbeans, lastDecambor. The fear isthatthe Is unfair trade, Tho EU says theres USmight then respondby shitingits scientific uncertainty about the emphasis fom the WTO's muilteral iss of GMOs o the envionment rule making to bilateral dats with and that this makes agitimats to refuse imports. The WTO has called in sdentists, asit didn an cnfler case pitting the US against the EU over tsban on beef rated launched in 2001. The deaf to scrap ‘arts that discourage imports, ‘and subsidies thatuntairy prop up ‘exports, nays that wll benefit with growth hormones. Thatase oor counties. showed, though hat whatever “isis notation. Tevich (ET «the scientists sy theirverdct srerealsingthat global paved, Soarenamrntpotatonan | May notitc hen theW/7D unemployment and worsening po 5 ruled agsnst the EU.on hormone inequality lead to wars, unrest, oo F treated beet in 1999, Europe kept disease and migration. Thatsaid, 2 § itsban and simply paid the resctanoety ten govemmentsto ‘Mi #6 mona year ley imposed ae et Sota a cee en Stspedalitrensathome,. © Fi camttnre te nls end Probably te fstesty they ‘the palit star, andthe scntife poor cunts compete itasis Ua jg te could be more open to fen countes’ subsidies of ee Bg kei. utters agicature.Thesemakeit posible, SU Hf _*°_§ shortcomings the WTO system © & eats backroom bilateral date, © tbe 204 andes 19Are you listening, America? Closed for business Once America welcomed scientific talent wherever it came from and we all benefited. Now visitors are greeted with suspicion ALLroads used tolead toRome. Nowadays, forscienceat east, they tend toconverge on the US, ‘Whether its Marsexploration or decoding the human genome, American dollarsand intellectual resources often takethe lead in global innovation, and have attracted the best sientissfrom ‘around the world "Now that the US wantsto harness science and engineering todefend tse from terrorist threats that tradition of callaboration should beserving twell Soitis rontcthat the authorities have responded to fearsof terrorism by pulling the ‘welcomematout from under 2o Wewsiett|90oer 7008 foreign scientifictalent. As wellas slowing down the research sideot the administration's waron terror, ‘this policy is threatening to push the USto the sidelines of science. And this ata time when its dominance iealready under threat. ‘Murmurs ofan American brain drain could beheard before ‘the torn towers fell, Whetherit ‘wastheethical quagmire Impeding research into cloning and stemeels the rise of ‘biomedical centres in Singapore and Europe,orthe shift of software developmentto Bangalorein India, competition fora place Anthetop tiers of science and technology was getting stiffer. Butdespite there challenges, American sclence was holding its own, partly because tid not rely exclusively on American scientists. Fordecades, the contribution of foreigners has beenenormous~and growing steadily.A survey in 2000 by the "National Science Foundation, for ‘example, found that 38 percent ‘of PhDholdersin the US were born broad, And thatdid nat count students who studied inthe US before returning home to become roductiveresearch partners with Uslabs. Without this steady stream ofintellectual imports itishard toimaginehowU science can ‘maintain its momentum. ‘The UShasn't completely shut its doors toresearchers abroad. But in the wake ofthe 9/t1attacks, the government has imposed security changes that make ft harder forscientiststoenter. “thas poured molasses in the gears of the slentificenterprise Intemationally,” says Steven, |ARtergood, who monitors how such changes affect the low of Scientific information forthe Federation of American Scientists ‘Themost visible ofthese rmeasureshasbeen visa regulations that require time- consuming seeurity checks for ‘many foreign scientists, especially those fromChina, India, Russia and the Middle Bast. Thedeslzeto tighten the country’s borders sno surprise. Many oftheg/it hijackers entered the country with invalid visas ButAmerican researchers say visa regulations fortheir foreign colleagues range from the reasonable to the comical. Astrikingexample comes from the September 2002 meeting in ‘Washington DC ofthe National ‘Academies Committee on US- Russian Cooperation on Nuclear ‘Non-Proliferation, which included eens.