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The latest news from the Academies

New NAS Initiative Will Connect Entertainment Industry With Scientists

© Salvini. Creative Commons 2.0 attribution license.

Nov. 19 -- The National Academy of Sciences announced today the creation of "The Science and Entertainment Exchange," an initiative designed to connect professionals from the entertainment industry with top scientists and engineers to help the creators of television shows, films, video games, and other productions incorporate science into their work. The Exchange represents the Academy's first formal effort to reach out to the entertainment community and offer a direct connection to the creative minds of science. 

Complex Systems Conference Spurs Research

Albert-László Barabási, Professor, Department of Physics, Northeastern University

Nov. 17 -- Top researchers gathered at the sixth annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative conference, held to discuss new approaches to researching complex systems such as ecosystems, financial markets, communication networks, and biology. To encourage research in this area, the Academies announced the availability of $1 million in seed grants that will be awarded on a competitive basis to conference participants.

Winners of Communication Awards Honored

George Butler

Nov. 14 -- The winners of the 2008 National Academies Communication Awards were honored during this year's Keck Futures Initiative conference in Irvine, Calif. The winners are Walter Isaacson for his book Einstein: His Life And Universe; Bob Marshall, Mark Schleifstein, Dan Swenson, and Ted Jackson from The Times-Picayune, New Orleans; George Butler (director), White Mountain Films, Kennedy-Marshall Films and Walt Disney Company for the documentary "Roving Mars"; and Alan Boyle of MSNBC.com for selected works from Cosmic Log.

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Exercise May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer

© RebeccaPollard. Creative Commons 2.0 attribution license.

Nov. 19 -- According to a study of more than 32,000 postmenopausal women, vigorous exercise may cut risk of breast cancer by 30 percent in normal-weight women. According to the authors of the study, which was published recently in the journal Breast Cancer Research, “Possible mechanisms through which physical activity may protect against breast cancer that are independent of BMI [body mass index] include reduced exposure to growth factors, enhanced immune function, and decreased chronic inflammation, variables that are related both to greater physical activity and to lower breast cancer risk.” [more]


Seismologists Advance Earthquake Monitoring

QCN logo

Nov. 14 -- Can earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and their consequences be predicted? According to the National Research Council report Origin and Evolution of Earth: Research Questions for a Changing Planet, this is one of the 10 most important questions facing earth science this century. Although it may never be possible to predict the exact time and place an earthquake will strike, scientists continue to try new approaches. [more]


President-Elect Obama Receives Advice on Filling S&T Posts

© barackobama.com

Nov. 5 -- As President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take the helm, he should use the best available science and scientists to help manage the nation’s current and future issues, such as climate change, alternative energy, veterans' health, and the nation's infrastructure, advises a recent report from the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. [more]


Hubble Is Working Again

Photo courtesy of NASA

Oct. 31 -- NASA engineers succeeded in restoring the Hubble Space Telescope's main camera to working order a month after a router failed to gather and format scientific data for transmission. The repaired camera produced a "perfect 10" photographic image showing the aftermath of galaxies colliding millions of light years away, officials said. [more]



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November 18, 2008:
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