Readers Respond to the May 2019 Issue
Letters to the editor from the May 2019 issue of Scientific American
Policy & Ethics13106 articles archived since 1845
Consumer DNA Tests Negate Sperm-Bank-Donor Anonymity
Companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com have made it impossible for sperm banks to keep donors’ identities secret
Scientists Are Concerned over U.S. Environmental Agency’s Plan to Limit Animal Research
Critics say the shift away from using animals in safety tests will hamper chemical research and regulations
U.S. Could Lose Clean Energy Race, Lawmakers Are Warned
Experts push for policies to fight climate change and encourage clean energy production
How Professional Truth Seekers Search for Answers
Nine experts describe how they sort signal from noise
Immune-Cell Pioneers Win Prestigious Lasker Medical Award
The prizes honored the discoverers of B and T cells, the inventors of a breast cancer treatment, and a vaccination NGO
Benefits of Adaptation Measures Outweigh the Costs, Report Says
The new report calls for investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and other resiliency efforts
Trump Administration Releases Billions in Disaster Resilience Funding
Rather than simply rebuilding, the $7.65 billion is intended to reduce communities’ vulnerabilities to storms, floods and fires
Seven Takeaways from the Democratic Climate Marathon
A few key differences emerged between the Presidential candidates’ approaches to combatting climate change
What the Data Say about Police Shootings
How do racial biases play into deadly encounters with the police? Researchers wrestle with incomplete data to reach answers
Five Things to Watch During CNN’s Climate Forum
Democratic presidential candidates will appear individually to discuss their plans for how the U.S. should tackle climate change
In Case You Missed It
Top news from around the world
A Successful Artificial Memory Has Been Created
The growing science of memory manipulation raises social and ethical questions
Detained Migrant Children Need Continuous Medical Care
Health care providers say a lack of transparency and communication are barriers to ensuring the children are getting adequate, ongoing treatment
How to Defraud Democracy
A worst-case cyberwarfare scenario for the 2020 American presidential election
Truth, Lies & Uncertainty
Searching for reality in unreal times
Why the U.S. Disaster Agency Is Not Ready for Catastrophes
Responding unnecessarily to smaller events has left FEMA understaffed and short of funds for major disasters
Everyone Is an Agent in the New Information Warfare
Before you click “like,” hit “pause”
NASA Has Committed to a Rocket for the Europa Mission—and It Won’t Be Ready on Time
Although alternatives such as SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy exist, the space agency is legally required to launch its Europa Clipper spacecraft on the behind-schedule Space Launch System
