From global warming, to climate change, to stem cell research, to biotechnology, to all sorts of technological innovation, independent voters aren’t interested in the usual partisan spin on California science issues. Independents want to explore all sides of the scientific debate so that they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. California science and technological innovation, when applied in an efficient, ethical, and transparent manner, can serve as vital tools in improving the economy, enhancing our quality of life, and crafting effective public policy. California science is all about questioning the consensus and maintaining an open mind, no matter where the facts may lead.
A federal judge has revoked the Agriculture Department's approval of genetically modified sugar beets until their effect on other plants is more thoroughly studied. The anti-GMO movement is hailing last Friday's ruling as a major victory for consumers and the environment.
Bizarre weather events are presenting scientists and lay people alike with the opportunity to put different global warming and climate change models to the test this year. Here's a brief, but relevant list of recent phenomena that could serve as independent tests for assessing the validity of competing views:
It's official, the Swine Flu scare is over. When the World Health Organization (WHO) downgraded H1N1 from pandemic status on Tuesday, critics said this move should have come long ago when it was determined that the disease was less severe than the common flu.
The leadership of California’s biotech industry was on display a few days ago when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will allow Menlo Park’s own Geron Corp. to undertake the world’s first human treatment of spinal cord injuries using embryonic stem cells.
Arctic sea ice is at its lowest level in thousands of years, and the once ice-bound Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska is increasingly being used by shippers as a new route. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently charting these new waters and providing information on navigational hazards.
This has not been a great week for people seeking solutions to global warming. On the other hand, for those who believe global warming is a hoax, there’s a lot to celebrate.
NOAA says 2010 is the hottest year on record. However, skeptics, some of whom are in the scientific community, argue that the second half of 2010 will be cooler and that the evidence for global warming is cloudy at best.
The joint Senate Assembly committee tasked with budgeting the current fiscal year is seeking to delay approval of a controversial fumigant for use on California strawberry fields.
The Supreme Court recently upheld a ban on Monsanto's genetically modified alfalfa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture was ordered to perform an adequate environmental impact study before planting could continue, something it failed to do when it allowed Monsanto to commercialize the crop in 2007.
Researchers at Washington State University and the University of Georgia have concluded that balanced ecosystems – such as those found in organic agriculture – are better at controlling pests and growing healthier plants than those found in conventional farm fields.
