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The latest news from the Academies
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Dec. 26 -- For eight years, the National Academies have endorsed and coordinated mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation with our scientific colleagues in Iran. However, due to a recent incident, the NAS, NAE and IOM presidents announced today that they can no longer “sponsor or encourage scientists to visit Iran unless there are clear assurances that the personal safety of visiting scientists will be guaranteed…” It is our hope that assurances will soon be forthcoming that will permit our institution to resume scientific visits to Iran.
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Dec. 31 -- The Marian Koshland Science Museum presents its winter program of public lectures called “The Dish,” which features discussions on infectious diseases, tracing human ancestry using DNA, the microbial world of cheese, and a forum for science educators to celebrate Darwin Day. In addition, the museum will be open and free of charge on Inauguration Day.
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Dec. 24 -- This winter, Distinctive Voices@The Beckman Center will feature scientists and researchers discussing recent findings and developments in their fields. Topics include neurobiotics, giant telescopes, migration of indigenous people, and communicating bacteria. Lectures are free and open to the public.
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Breaking stories in science
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Dec. 31 -- Researchers performed a statistical analysis of children’s television viewing habits and found a link between the amount of time spent viewing fast food commercials and a risk of obesity. They suggest it is not the snacking done in front of the TV or the hours kids spend like couch potatoes, not exercising, that is making them fat. Rather, it is the suggestive messages in ads and the frequency of those messages that leads children to seek out not-so-good-for-you foods.
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Dec. 23 -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has selected academy members Steven Chu, John P. Holdren, and Jane Lubchenco as his nominees for secretary of energy, chief science adviser, and administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Dec. 16 -- Evidence from two surveys on the financial burden of vaccination, recently published in the journal Pediatrics, suggests that private insurance does not sufficiently cover the cost of immunization services, highlighting a possible growing problem in the U.S. health care system.
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Dec. 9 -- The Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Science of Texas today released a report recommending ways to improve math and science education in the state of Texas. The report was developed in response to the National Academies' 2005 report Rising Above the Gathering Storm, which called for reforms to U.S. science and math education and a greater investment in basic research, steps that are needed to keep the nation economically competitive.
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