1. The Cultural Cognition Project
The Cultural Cognition Project is a group of scholars interested in studying how cultural values shape public risk perceptions and related policy beliefs. Cultural cognition refers to the tendency of individuals to conform their beliefs about disputed matters of fact (e.g., whether global warming is a serious threat; whether the death penalty deters murder; whether gun control makes society more safe or less) to values that define their cultural identities. Project members are using the methods of various disciplines — including social psychology, anthropology, communications, and political science — to chart the impact of this phenomenon and to identify the mechanisms through which it operates. The Project also has an explicit normative objective: to identify processes of democratic decisionmaking by which society can resolve culturally grounded differences in belief in a manner that is both congenial to persons of diverse cultural outlooks and consistent with sound public policymaking.
Below are examples of CCP studies and research projects. …
2. The Myth of Organic Agriculture
STANFORD – Organic products – from food to skin-care nostrums to cigarettes – are very much in vogue, with the global market for organic food alone now reportedly exceeding $60 billion annually. The views of organic devotees seem to be shared by the European Commission, whose official view of organic farming and foods is, “Good for nature, good for you.” But there is no persuasive evidence of either.
A 2012 meta-analysis of data from 240 studies concluded that organic fruits and vegetables were, on average, no more nutritious than their cheaper conventional counterparts; nor were they less likely to be contaminated by pathogenic bacteria like E. coli or salmonella – a finding that surprised even the researchers. “When we began this project,” said Dena Bravata, one of the researchers, “we thought that there would likely be some findings that would support the superiority of organics over conventional food.”
Many people purchase organic foods in order to avoid exposure to harmful levels of pesticides. But that is a poor rationale. While non-organic fruits and vegetables had more pesticide residue, the levels in more than 99% of cases did not cross the conservative safety thresholds set by regulators.
Moreover, the vast majority of the pesticidal substances found on produce occur “naturally” in people’s diets, through organic and conventional foods. …
3. The Safety of Bioengineered Crops – Timothy Taylor
… I support all sorts of rules and regulations and follow-up studies to make sure that genetically engineered crops continue to be safe for the environment and for consumers. After all, the first-generation genetically engineered field crops were all about pest resistance and herbicide-tolerance, and as new types of genetic engineering are proposed, they should be scrutinized. But for me, the purpose of these regulations is to create a clear pathway so that the technology can be more widely used in a safe way, not to create a set of paperwork hurdles to block the future use of the technology.
Farmers have been breeding plants and animals for desired characteristics for centuries. Genetic engineering holds the possibility of speeding up that process of agricultural innovation, so that agriculture can better meet a variety of human needs. Most obviously, genetically engineered crops are likely to be important as world population expands and world incomes continue to rise (so that meat consumption rises as well). In addition, remember that plants serve functions other than calorie consumption. Plant that were more effective at fixing carbon in place might be a useful tool in limiting the rise of carbon in the atmosphere. Genetically modified plants are one of the possible paths to making plant-based ethanol economically viable. Plants that can thrive with less water or fewer chemicals can be hugely helpful to the environment, and to the health of farmworkers around the world. The opportunity cost of slowing the progress of agricultural biotechnology is potentially very high.
4. How nanotechnology could revolutionise food storage
… According to a 2013 report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 30-50% of food is lost to spoilage before it is eaten. In developed nations, most of the waste comes from two sources: consumers who buy too much and let it rot in their fridges, and farmers, who leave less-than-beautiful food to rot in their fields.
In the developing world, consumers are less picky about the appearance of their food, and are less likely to let it rot in their homes. But inadequate storage means that up to half of the food that gets harvested spoils before it gets to the market. Ghana, for example, loses up to half of its maize crop to spoilage. Consumers in the developed world have been understandably wary of nanotechnology products in their food, but nanoparticles can be used in food packaging in a number of ways to prevent food from spoiling. That could change the amount of useable food for billions of people. …
5. Israeli Startup Is Finding a Way to Speed Crop Growth by Thousands of Years
Doron Gal has an ambitious goal: to help feed the world and to make money in the process.
Located in Moshav Sharona in Israel's Galilee, his startup Kaiima Bio-Agritech's goal is to use genome multiplication to increase yield potential, improve water-use efficiency and fortify plants against harsh environments. …
Can science self-correct, in effect protect against sloppy or politicized research? Scientists can try—but the success of those efforts depends in large measure upon the integrity of journalists and advocates to address their own reporting mistakes.
A great illustration of the challenge of controlling ‘metastasizing misinformation’ has emerged with the publication of a fascinating and important article in Nature Biotechnologythat sharply challenges a study that had made controversial claims that dramatically raised the fear factor about GMOs.
The backstory provides an intriguing look at how the anti-GMO industry and sycophant journalists work—and the consequences of flogging single studies to score ideological points. …
7. The Future of Water Sustainability
… In 2014 the world will see even more companies increase water-related investments. This is not only for immediate business purposes, but because water sustains life and is intimately connected to all aspects of economic development. Business leaders understand this and will increase their focus on their own use of water as well as on water and sanitation access in the communities where they operate. In the year ahead cross-sector collaboration will also grow as the economic value of water climbs steeply.
Traditional charity models are becoming outmoded. What began as investments in digging wells have evolved into far more dynamic, market-oriented approaches like targeted grants intended to optimise social returns per philanthropic dollar. …
The PepsiCo Foundation has pledged $35m to water programs in developing countries (including $12.1m to Water.org). Most of this has gone to Water.org's WaterCredit model, a microfinance initiative which links access to finance with access to water and sanitation. The Caterpillar Foundation is investing $11.3m in this market-based approach over the next five years. The IKEA Foundation has stepped in with a $5m grant and companies such as Levi Strauss & Co, and organizations like the Swiss Re Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation and Bank of America Foundation have also joined the effort. Their thinking and action have evolved because they recognize that straight charity is extremely limited as a means to long-term impact. …
8. Main Street, Not Wall Street, is Growing Solar Energy
In a report from the Center for American Progress, data was analyzed from the three states with the most solar systems: Arizona, California, and New Jersey. It was found that installations are overwhelmingly occurring in middle-class neighborhoods that have median incomes ranging from $40,000 to $90,000. According to the report, “the areas that experienced the most growth from 2011 to 2012 had median incomes ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 in both Arizona and California and $30,000 to $40,000 in New Jersey.”
9. Nuke Huggers? Why Some Climate Scientists Are Warming To Nuclear Power
Some of the world’s most distinguished climate scientists are becoming nuclear reactor huggers? They say that we should embrace nuclear power—if we serious about slowing global warming, that is. …
… The flip side of Fukushima [and consequent retreat from nuclear], though, is Japan’s recent announcement that it is backing off its previous commitments to reduce carbon emissions—a decision that has made many environmentalists unhappy. …
… The scientists hail from the Carnegie Institution, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Columbia University Earth Institute, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. They acknowledge that nuclear power is not perfect, in that “no energy source is without downsides,” but that “quantitative analyses show that the risks associated with the expanded use of nuclear energy are order of magnitude smaller than the risks associated with fossil fuels.” Click here to see my Energy Trends Watch blog post about the climate scientists’ letter.
What gives? These climate scientists have studied the numbers—as did I, when I ran Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and thereafter. The more scientists, environmentalists, business people and policymakers look at the numbers, the more senseless nuclear plant shutdowns seem, and the more losses we will incur in the efforts to curb climate change. …
Related: Unavoidable Answer for the Problem of Climate Change
10. The World in 50 Years – An Energy Perspective
… Energy supply and use is determined by three primary factors: demographics, economics and technology. A few basic features of the future of these three factors are fairly likely, and we can therefore pragmatically use these to set a bedrock for the trajectory our energy system is likely to take. …
… History demonstrates that people generally choose economic growth and improvements in living standards over other factors. Therefore energy sources must win on a balance of economic as well as environmental considerations. Shell's "Mountains" primary energy scenario for 2060 suggest the fossil fuels will account for about 62% of demand, down from current level of 80%. The estimated energy mix pie in 50 years under these forecasts is therefore likely to consist of coal (25%), natural gas (24%), oil (13%), nuclear (11%) and renewables and others constituting the remainder. Evidently, the lack of economic alternatives unfortunately leaves cheap fuels such as coal still contributing to a significant part of the energy mix.
If we are to succeed in seeing a less polluted, yet still prosperous, future, governments and societies alike must focus policy on promoting the fuels which strike the right balance between cost, scalability, efficiency, and environmental impact. Today, and for the next 50 years, the fuel that evidently satisfies these parameters is natural gas. …
11. The trend in violent tornadoes? (Source)
12. The Average Driver Travels 1,200 Fewer Miles Each Year
13. Smithsonian makes push in 3D imaging of artifacts
WASHINGTON (AP) — With most of its 137 million objects kept behind the scenes or in a faraway museum, the Smithsonian Institution is launching a new 3D scanning and printing initiative to make more of its massive collection accessible to schools, researchers and the public worldwide.
A small team has begun creating 3D models of some key objects representing the breadth of the collection at the world's largest museum complex. Some of the first 3D scans include the Wright brothers' first airplane, Amelia Earhart's flight suit, casts of President Abraham Lincoln's face during the Civil War and a Revolutionary War gunboat. Less familiar objects include a former slave's horn, a missionary's gun from the 1800s and a woolly mammoth fossil from the Ice Age. They are pieces of history some people may hear about but rarely see or touch.
Now the Smithsonian is launching a new 3D viewer online Wednesday with technology from 3D design firm AutoDesk to give people a closer look at artifacts in their own homes. The data can also be downloaded, recreated with a 3D printer and used to help illustrate lessons in history, art and science in schools. While some schools might acquire 3D printers for about $1,000, other users may examine the models on their computers. …
14. Robots Allow Doctors To Remotely Advise, Diagnose Patients
Remote presence robots are allowing physicians to "beam" themselves into hospitals to diagnose patients and offer medical advice during emergencies. …
15. 'I'm Not A Math Person' Is No Longer A Valid Excuse
Contrary to popular opinion, a natural ability in math will only get you so far in studies of the subject.
Research published in Child Development found that hard work and good study habits were the most important factor in improving math ability over time.
But bad attitudes about math are holding us back. …
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