Policy
Government Shutdown Looms over Scientists
A government shutdown would disrupt biomedical research and clinical trials as federal experimental facilities shuttered
Policy16739 articles archived since 1845
Climate Change
Government Shutdown Could Delay Climate Action
EPA rules on clean cars, power plants and methane could face delays if there is a federal government shutdown because of budget turmoil in Congress
Natural Disasters
Congressional Budget Turmoil Stops FEMA from Doling out $8 Billion
Puerto Rico will be hit hardest by spending restrictions set by FEMA as disaster funding runs short. More than $2 billion is expected to be withheld from the island, which is still reeling from past hurricanes...
Climate Change
U.S. Will Weigh Cost of Carbon Pollution in More Government Decisions
Calculations determining the climate damage of greenhouse gas emissions—called the social cost of carbon—will be considered in federal agencies’ budgets, permitting decisions and, eventually, government purchases...
Natural Disasters
A Record Number of Billion-Dollar Disasters Show U.S. Isn't Ready for Climate Change
The U.S. has already seen a record number of disasters costing at least $1 billion in 2023, which underscores how unprepared the nation is to withstand climate-driven catastrophe
Natural Disasters
FEMA Needs More Money to Keep Up with Disasters. Instead It Faces a Potential Government Shutdown
A government shutdown could force the Federal Emergency Management Agency to curtail all disaster activities at a time when it is already short of cash to respond to crises
Privacy
Here’s How to Actually Keep Kids and Teens Safe Online
Controversial policy proposals such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) are making headway across the country, but there are other ways to help protect young people in the digital world...
Natural Disasters
Dams Worldwide Are at Risk of Catastrophic Failure
Here’s why disasters like Libya’s dam collapses happen and how to prevent them
Automobiles
‘Robo-Taxi Takeover’ Hits Speed Bumps
Self-driving cars are expanding their ranges in a handful of U.S. cities, but the reality doesn’t yet match the hype
Policy
Algorithms Are Making Important Decisions. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Seemingly trivial differences in training data can skew the judgments of AI programs—and that’s not the only problem with automated decision-making
Climate Change
As Heat Waves Worsen, Federal Aid Is Insufficient to Fund Cooling Needs
Many states prioritize using money from a federal energy assistance program for low-income people to defray energy costs for heating rather than cooling bills
Transportation
Why High-Speed Bullet Trains Won’t Work in the U.S. Right Now
Amtrak will soon get 28 high-speed rail cars. But they won't operate at high speeds because Amtrak tracks are outdated
Pharmaceuticals
What Biden’s Drug Price Negotiations Mean for You
Ten medications, costing tens of billions of dollars, will be the first to be subject to Medicare price negotiations
Climate Change
At Debate, Republican Presidential Candidates Tout Fossil Fuels, Vow to Undo Biden’s Climate Initiatives
Though Republican presidential candidates aimed to set themselves apart from Donald Trump at Wednesday’s debate, none are seizing on climate policy or support for renewable energy manufacturing and jobs as a way to stand out...
Policy
Oppenheimer Reminds Scientists to Speak Up for a Better World
The world needs more scientists to get off the sidelines during policy debates
Artificial Intelligence
AI Causes Real Harm. Let’s Focus on That over the End-of-Humanity Hype
Effective regulation of AI needs grounded science that investigates real harms, not glorified press releases about existential risks
Policy
Hiroshima’s Anniversary Marks an Injustice Done to Blast Survivors
On this date 78 years ago, the first atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. Survivors involuntarily provided key medical data for years, without receiving any help
Policy
Journalism Is a Public Good and Should Be Publicly Funded
U.S. journalism needs to be treated as a “public good” like roads, schools and bridges
Economics
Unregulated AI Will Worsen Inequality, Warns Nobel-Winning Economist Joseph Stiglitz
A Nobel laureate in economics explains how artificial intelligence will affect inequality—and how solutions such as a shorter work week might mitigate its negative effects
Policy
The Supreme Court Should Back Firearms Restraints That Save Lives
Vast evidence shows firearms restrictions in civil protection orders save lives
