World View

The proposed cancellation of NASA's latest space telescope shows the difficulties ahead. But there is a solution, says Michael S. Turner.

Chris Funk explains how his group last year forecast the drought in Somalia that is now turning into famine — and how that warning wasn't enough.

Paul Knoepfler explains why he joined the ranks of the blogosphere, and why you should too.

China publishes huge amounts of scientific research. Now it must make more of it worth reading, says Changhui Peng.

Assessments of the wider value of research are unpopular. Proposed changes will only produce more hype and hypocrisy, says Daniel Sarewitz.

Upcoming change fails to tackle the pernicious relationship between government advisers and the fishing lobby, says Rainer Froese.

Romain Murenzi wants more young scientists in the developing world to be given the same opportunity to build careers that he was.

Monday's key US legal decision on emissions regulation was influenced by the unjustified attacks on climate science, says Douglas Kysar.

The harm caused by designer drugs justifies the law's attempts to keep pace with underground chemists, says Mike Cole.

Danger lurks for state universities when philanthropy encroaches on academic independence, warns Sheldon Krimsky.

China can meet the demands of its growing population without importing grain from elsewhere, says Peng Gong.

The European Framework programme, one of the world's largest science funders, has improved its reputation. Not by enough, says Colin Macilwain

Forests are protected, but carbon sinks in mangroves, seagrasses and marshes are ignored. Margareth da Silva Copertino wants Brazil to change that.

The United Nations says there could be 10 billion people on Earth by the end of the century. Fred Pearce finds problems in its analysis.

Targets to limit the global temperature rise won't prevent climate disruption. Tim Lenton says that policy-makers should focus on regional impacts.

Peer review of scientific papers in top journals is bogged down by unnecessary demands for extra lab work, argues Hidde Ploegh.

There are too many doctoral programmes, producing too many PhDs for the job market. Shut some and change the rest, says Mark C. Taylor.

The current obsession with nuclear power is a red herring, says Marty Hoffert. The United States and others should instead invest in a clean-energy revolution.

One impact of Japan's nuclear crisis is a dim but definite echo of Chernobyl, says Jim Smith — decades of caesium-137.

Reassurances from 'experts' on the safety of nuclear power will not wash, says Colin Macilwain. The Fukushima crisis raises genuine questions.