January 12, 2023 – Since the late 1970s and early 1980s, climate models used internally by ExxonMobil’s own scientists accurately projected and skillfully modeled global warming due to fossil fuel burning and produced results that were consistent with independent academic and government climate models at the time, according to a new Review. Although it has […]
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Posted inEnviro
Resurgence of avian influenza virus raises concern
With the recent outbreaks identified in Canada and the United States, H5N1 – a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIv) – is rapidly becoming a global concern. The virus has already caused widespread outbreaks throughout Asia, Africa and Europe, resulting in millions of deaths in poultry and wild birds. In this Perspective, Michelle […]
Posted inOp-Ed
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): Statement Condemning Threats Against Public Health Officials
AAAS is alarmed by calls for violence against Dr. Anthony Fauci or any other public health servant. We are beyond concerned that public figures are resorting to aggressive attacks on our public health officials to enflame passions rather than engendering respectful discourse on science. To be clear, calls for violence are unacceptable, and the real-life […]
Posted inSci/Tech
Despite reduced application, common pesticides more deadly to nontarget species over time
April 1, 2022 – Despite a reduction in the total amounts of pesticides used, the toxicity of commonly used pesticides to nontarget species, partially aquatic invertebrates and pollinators, has increased considerably in recent decades, according to a new study analyzing 25 years of pesticide use. This has been driven by the widespread use of highly […]
Posted inUS
More Frequent Combined Droughts, Heatwaves Are Recipe for U.S. Megafires
September 23, 2020 – The frequency of combined droughts and heatwaves — which together form a devastating climatic brew — has substantially increased across the Western U.S. and in parts of the Northeast and Southeast over the past 50 years, according to a new study published in the September 25 issue of Science Advances. While most parts of […]
Posted inOp-Ed
Douglas Green, AAAS: SARS-CoV2 vaccines: Fast is slow, and slow is fast
May 22, 2020 – Catastrophic numbers of infections, morbidities, and mortalities during the COVID-19 pandemic, together with the disastrous impact on world economies have mandated a historically unparalleled effort to produce an effective vaccine. There are currently 95 vaccines in development against SARS-CoV2, the causative virus of COVID-19 (1), with several in, or entering clinical […]
Posted inEnviro
National monuments help more than hurt local economies in US West
March 18, 2020 – National monuments in the U.S. West increase the average number of establishments and jobs near the monument and increase the average establishment growth rate, according to a new study by Margaret Walls and colleagues. At the same time, monument designation has no effect on the number of jobs that existed before […]
Posted inSci/Tech
‘How We Respond’ spotlights how US communities are addressing climate change impacts
Sept. 16, 2019 – Communities across the United States are working with scientists to respond to climate change impacts, shows a new report and multimedia resources developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). How We Respond shares details and perspectives from 18 communities using scientific information to adapt to climate change […]
Posted inOp-Ed
Alan I. Leshner, AAAS: The misuse of science is a great disservice to the American people
Sept. 10, 2019 – We are concerned about what increasingly appears to be political pressure from within the U.S. federal government to change a weather forecast from the National Weather Service related to Hurricane Dorian, which directly impacts the public. Meteorologists at the NWS work tirelessly to provide data-based information to the public in support of […]
Posted inWorld
How protected areas are losing ground in the U.S. and Amazonia
May 30, 2019 – Once champions of global conservation, the United States and Brazil are now leading a troubling global trend of large-scale rollbacks in environmental policy, putting hundreds of protected areas at risk, a new study suggests. According to the report – perhaps the most comprehensive review to date of the extent of the […]
Posted inUS
Concerns regarding proposed changes to EPA’s causality framework
March 22, 2019 – In this Policy Forum, Gretchen Goldman and Francesca Dominici raise concerns over recent developments at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that “stand to quietly upend the time-tested and scientifically backed process the agency relies on to protect the public from ambient air pollution.” Goldman and Dominici cite proposed changes to […]
Posted inSci/Tech
AAAS Statement on R&D Details of Trump Administration’s Proposed Budget for FY 2020
March 18, 2019 – “If enacted, the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to research and development would derail our nation’s science enterprise. The federal government provides critical investments that enable scientific discovery and innovation. For the United States to remain a world leader in science and innovation during a time of increased competition from other countries, […]
Posted inUS
AAAS Statement on Release of 4th National Climate Assessment
Nov. 23, 2018 – “Policymakers can no longer afford to dismiss or ignore the overwhelming scientific evidence of climate change. The science on climate is clear, and we must face the facts in order to address the risks. We welcome the 4th National Climate Assessment and the work of scientists at federal agencies, national labs […]
Posted inOp-Ed
AAAS Statement on Travel of Chinese Researchers to the United States
May 1, 2018 – “Scientific progress depends on openness, transparency and the free flow of ideas; these principles have helped the United States to attract and benefit from international scientific talent. Students and scientists from other countries strengthen U.S. innovation. We are concerned about news reports that the U.S. administration is considering further restrictions on […]
Posted inSci/Tech
Most of Earth’s water was likely present before the moon-forming giant impact
March 29, 2018 – Based on an extensive collection of lunar and terrestrial samples, a new study probing the elusive origins of the Moon – now typically thought to have formed from a collision between a proto-Earth and a solid impactor — supports theories of a collision with extremely high energy. So high, in fact, […]
Posted inSci/Tech
AAAS CEO Urges U.S. President and Congress to Lift Funding Restrictions on Gun Violence Research
March 13, 2018 – Ahead of the National School Walkout on March 14, Rush Holt of the American Association for the Advancement of Science urged the White House and Congress to lift existing restrictions on federally funded research of gun violence. In letters sent March 13 to President Trump and congressional leaders, AAAS CEO Holt […]
Posted inOp-Ed
AAAS Statement on EPA Science Adviser Boards
“Does anyone think that it’s reasonable to make decisions by excluding the scientists who are best informed on scientific research?” — Rush Holt, chief executive officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) October 31, 2017 – “The American Association for the Advancement of Science denounces the EPA administrator’s decision to disallow qualified scientific […]
Posted inUS
AAAS Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from UNESCO
Oct. 12, 2017 – AAAS Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from UNESCO “We are disappointed that the Trump administration has announced that it will withdraw the United States as a member from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Science is a global enterprise that knows no borders, and the United States had chosen, until […]
Posted inSci/Tech
AAAS Statement on Trump Administration Disbanding National Climate Assessment Advisory Committee
Aug. 22, 2017 – The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) remains highly concerned about the disregard for scientific advisory groups in the U.S. federal government, most recently as relates to the National Climate Assessment. The August 20 decision by the Trump Administration to not renew the charter for the Sustained National Climate […]
Posted inWorld
In South Asia, humid heat expected to surpass fatal levels by the late 21st century
Aug. 2, 2017 – Hot and humid temperatures in South Asia, which contains one-fifth of the global population, will exceed the upper limit of human survivability by the late 21st century, scientists project, underscoring an urgent need to adopt alternative strategies on top of those currently proposed to alleviate climate change-induced temperature extremes. In 2015, […]