Recent News

By Region: Europe

For better or worse

(Nature.com) Frank debate is needed about the balance between beneficial and detrimental uses of research. Scientists must be the first to open discussions. Many bench scientists are just too caught up in their research to consider its ethical possibilities, and very few want to take the time to rigorously explore them. However, the controversy over Read More »

April 27, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine developed in US

(BBC News) With the US livestock industry on alert after a diagnosis of “mad cow” disease in California, the BBC has gained rare access to a high-security compound where a vaccine for another deadly animal virus is close to completion. Hijacked planes, dirty bombs and cyber attacks are all terror threats the US takes very Read More »

April 27, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Agriculture, and Countermeasures
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Bird Flu Research Risks

(New York Times) To the Editor: Re “The Latest on the Doomsday Virus” (editorial, April 22): The decision by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity to reverse its previously unanimous recommendation to restrict publication of H5N1 bird flu experiments is understandable. Reassurance from one scientist involved in the work that the virus wasn’t so Read More »

April 27, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Dutch Decision Imminent on Bird Flu Data Release

(Global Security Newswire) The Netherlands on Tuesday indicated it could determine in days whether to grant an export authorization for the publication of scientific research that produced a more transmissible version of the avian influenza virus, Science magazine reported. Bioterrorism concerns prompted the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity last year to call for Read More »

April 26, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Live Chat: Too Dangerous to Publish?

(Science Now) Join us each Thursday at 3 p.m. EDT for a live conversation with leading scientists and expert reporters. On Thursday, a U.S. Senate committee will hold a hearing that will explore how the government should regulate dual use research of concern (DURC) that could be used for good and evil. The hearings come Read More »