| Letters: The Bedbug Files (2 Letters) Letters to the editor. feeds.nytimes.com |
Better coordination needed in US tsunami warnings By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID 2010-09-17T19:00:22ZWASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. system to warn about giant waves has improved since the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, but more work lies ahead, according to an analysis that noted at least one instance when alerts from centers in Hawaii and Alaska appeared to contradict each other.... hosted.ap.org |
Letters: Loss of science base will hurt economy The spectre of scientists abandoning the UK for better-funded jobs abroad (Scientists quit Britain in new brain drain, 1 October) should be of huge concern to everyone. Success starts with talent, and an exodus of researchers would jeopardise both scientific endeavour and the chance to create a sustainable economic recovery driven by knowledge-based industries such as bioscience. James Dyson has outlined a viable way forward, focused on improving the way we commercialise research through measures such as extending R&D tax credits. This is the type of strategy we need from the government – one that invests intelligently in our talent base, together with initiatives such as the "patent box" tax incentive, which would show that Britain can still be a world leader in science, despite the challenging times, by encouraging companies to exploit intellectual property in the UK.Britain boasts four out of 10 of the top universities in the world – a huge feat given our relative size as a country. Indeed, there are so many reasons to be optimistic about the future of science in the UK. Ultimately, it is people that are our greatest asset, and that means both industry collaboration, such as the upcoming BIA and ABPI joint conference on the UK's R&D strengths, and government support for sustained investment, which ensures the UK continues to shine on the world stage.Nigel GaymondChief executive, BioIndustry Association • People living with severe and progressive muscle disease fear cuts will bring research into these conditions to a near standstill. Since it was founded in 1959, we have has invested more than £50m into research and it is only in the last few years that scientists have expressed cautious optimism that the first treatments will be available in the near future. But the transfer of promising technology from the laboratory into the clinic is costly and cannot be achieved without government support. This is a crucial time. The conditions we support are rare and only a small number of scientists dedicate their work to research in this field. We are in danger of losing the benefit of all the investment made so far, if world renowned scientists move abroad.The suggested cuts will bring the budget down to less than £2.6bn. In 2007-08 the total science budget was £3.5bn, which is less than 0.25% of the UK's total output. Research into rare conditions only represents a tiny fraction of this budget. We urge the government not to make short-term expenditure reductions that could jeopardise the longer-term development of life-saving treatments for the 70,000 children and adults with muscle disease, who have a right to have the same quality of life as everybody else.Dr Marita PohlschmidtDirector of research, Muscular Dystrophy CampaignScience funding crisisResearch fundingBiosciencesTax and spendingMedical researchguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Man took own life after Morcombe questioning A coronial inquest on Queensland's Sunshine Coast has been told a person of interest took his own life after police interviewed him about the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe in 2003. abc.net.au |
Today's Mystery Bird For You To Identify Today's mystery bird is a threatened or endangered species throughout North America. Can you identify this species and tell me why it has such big eyes?Mystery Bird photographed at Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, Brazoria County, Texas, USA. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Joseph Kennedy, 21 October 2010 [raptorize].Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/640s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400Today's mystery bird is a threatened or endangered species throughout North America. Can you identify this species and tell me why it has such big eyes?Daily Mystery Bird Rules: 1. Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification, keeping in mind that more than one field mark is often necessary to distinguish between species. IDs without any supporting information are not valid and may be deleted by the moderators. 2. Expert and intermediate level birders: do NOT try to be the first to blurt out the mystery bird's ID. Instead, please provide helpful hints, such as descriptions, literary references, puns, personal anecdotes, and other forms of discussion and assistance for beginning birders and for those following on their iPhones without naming the species. Expert and intermediate birders are free to name the bird species 24 or more hours after it was first published.3. Each mystery bird is usually accompanied by a question or two. These questions can be useful for identifying the pictured species, but may instead be used to illustrate an interesting aspect of avian biology, behaviour or evolution, or may be intended to generate conversation on other topics, such as conservation. 4. Each bird species will be demystified 48 hours after publication. If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciate audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |