Jeroen Van Bouwel (Ghent): Towards Democratic Models of Science: Exploring the Case of Scientific Pluralism. Susan Haack (Miami): A Match Made on Earth: Getting Real About Science and the Law. From Spontaneous Generations, a special issue on the Economic Aspects of Science. From Foreign Affairs, Laurie Garrett (CFR): Biology's Brave New World: The Promise and Perils of the Synbio Revolution; and Ronald K. Noble (Interpol): Keeping Science in the Right Hands: Policing the New Biological Frontier. David Gelernter on the closing of the scientific mind. Leaked documents reveal the secret finances of a pro-industry science group: The American Council on Science and Health defends fracking, BPA, and pesticides — guess who their funders are. The Republican reaction to the polar vortex explains why so many scientists are Democrats. Are scientists naive about politics? Robert Lanza appears to be a legitimate and accomplished physician and stem cell researcher — unfortunately he has decided to follow in the footsteps of Linus Pauling in venturing outside his area of expertise into the world of pseudoscience. Twenty tips for interpreting scientific claims: This list will help non-scientists to interrogate advisers and to grasp the limitations of evidence, say William J. Sutherland, David Spiegelhalter and Mark A. Burgman. Gary Marcus on science and its skeptics. From Edge, what scientific idea is ready for retirement? The return of citizen science: The internet provides the means for the keen amateur to once again contribute to scientific inquiry. David Auerbach reviews Undiluted Hocus-Pocus: The Autobiography of Martin Gardner (and more). Doug Cantor on the worst jobs in science — plus three awesome ones.
