News from the National Academies

New Radio Spectrum Management Policies Needed to Protect Scientific Observations

02 Nov 2009 10:11:18 EST

The current means for managing the radio frequency spectrum -- which is used by researchers for myriad purposes, including weather forecasting and astronomical investigations, and by consumers for such technologies as cellular phones and wireless Internet -- must be changed, says a new report from the National Research Council. The current policies threaten to thwart scientific discovery, diminish the utility of critical environmental observations, and limit economic growth because of inefficient use of these resources.

Ways to Foster Science Education Outside the Classroom

30 Oct 2009 10:49:54 EST

A great deal of science learning takes place outside of school -- in museums and after-school programs, for example, and through TV programs, books, and online activities. A new guide based on an earlier National Research Council describes how museum professionals, media specialists, and educators can create experiences that foster science learning for people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures.

NASA’s Pilot Safety Survey Yields Unreliable Data

28 Oct 2009 10:14:18 EST

Data from NASA's National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (NAOMS) project, a survey administered to pilots in order to track safety-related incidents during air travel, should not be used to measure rates or trends in safety in the National Airspace System, says a new report from the National Research Council. Deficiencies in several aspects of the survey design make the data gathered unreliable.

Board on Life Sciences Celebrates 25 Years

26 Oct 2009 08:05:40 EST

The National Research Council's Board on Life Sciences -- which oversees studies on topics that include genomics, bioterrorism, stem cells, and other areas of interest in the life sciences -- hosted a one-day symposium to mark its achievements of the past 25 years and look forward to future research.

Improvements Needed to Ensure Interoperable State Voter Registration Databases

21 Oct 2009 11:27:41 EST

Several actions are needed to help make voter registration databases capable of sharing information within state agencies and across state lines, says a new report from the National Research Council. These include short-term changes to improve education, dissemination of information, and administrative processes, and long-term changes to make improvements in data collection and entry, matching procedures, and ensure privacy and security.

New Nutrition Requirements Recommended for School Meal Programs

20 Oct 2009 12:01:53 EST

The National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program should adopt a new set of nutrient targets and standards, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine, to meet children's nutritional needs better and foster healthy eating habits. The recommended targets and standards would bring the programs in line with the latest information on nutrition and child health and with current dietary guidelines.

Report Examines Hidden Costs of Energy

19 Oct 2009 10:25:36 EST

A new report from the National Research Council examines "hidden" costs of energy production and use -- such as the the health impacts of air pollution -- that are not reflected in market prices of coal or oil. The quantifiable damages alone were an estimated $120 billion in the U.S. in 2005, a number that reflects primarily health damages caused by air pollution from electricity generation and motor vehicle transportation.

U.S. and China Mark 30 Years of Science and Technology Cooperation

15 Oct 2009 04:36:34 EST

The National Academy of Sciences today hosted representatives from the U.S. and China as the countries celebrate 30 years of science and technology cooperation. A ceremony included remarks by NAS President Ralph Cicerone, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology John Holdren, Minister Wan Gang of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kerri-Ann Jones.

Smoking Bans Reduce Risk for Heart Attacks Associated With Secondhand Smoke

15 Oct 2009 10:38:55 EST

Smoking bans are effective at reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart disease associated with exposure to secondhand smoke, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The report also confirms there is sufficient evidence that breathing secondhand smoke boosts nonsmokers' risk for heart problems, adding that indirect evidence indicating that even relatively brief exposures could lead to a heart attack is compelling.

U.S. Ocean Research Vessels Need Renewal

13 Oct 2009 12:43:34 EST

Many topics previously of interest mainly to oceanographers -- such as carbon cycling and tsunami generation -- are now seen as essential to worldwide health and security. The U.S.'s aging academic research fleet will need modernization and renewal if the nation is to meet these research needs and maintain its leadership in this area, says a new report from the National Research Council.