Health Care That's Not for Dummies
Every issue explores cutting-edge developments in technology, medicine, education, climate change, and much more. Articles provide in-depth analyses of science and technology’s impact on public policy, the economy, and society—bringing today’s best minds to bear on tomorrow’s most critical topics.
From the Hill
From the Hill – Spring 2013
Sequestration follies In spite of substantial debate and controversy in the days leading up to the deadline, sequestration went into effect on March 1 as required by law. Cuts to defense and… Read More
Perspectives
Science, Gender, and the Balanced Life
People often ask how I “broke through the glass ceiling” to succeed in a field that is predominantly male and overcame the barriers women face in science. They don’t always like my… Read More
Features
The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care
Health care in the United States has experienced an explosion in biomedical knowledge, dramatic innovations in therapies and surgical procedures, and expanded capacity to manage conditions that previously were debilitating or… Read MoreSchools Alone Cannot Close Achievement Gap
Gaps in student achievement are well documented. Members of some ethnic minority groups and low-income students consistently perform less well on achievement tests than their peers do. For example, a more… Read MoreMaking Fuel Cells Work
For more than five decades, fuel cells have been heralded for their potential as a cost-efficient, environmentally friendly means to convert readily available chemical energy into electric energy. So far this… Read MoreVested Interests and Geoengineering Research
On March 11, 2011, Japan suffered one of the most devastating earthquakes in its history, followed by a massive tsunami that engulfed reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant located… Read MoreBuying Whales to Save Them
Since the beginning of the conservation movement in the late 19th century, decisionmakers facing environmental issues have struggled to square the impulse to respect nature’s dignity with more anthropocentric calculations of… Read MoreNeeded: Research Guidelines for Solar Radiation Management
Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) continue to rise. The effects of climate change are becoming ever more apparent. Yet prospects for reducing global emissions… Read MoreEducation, Equity, and the Big Picture
Education has long been recognized as important to individual well-being and the nation’s economic growth. Yet, despite significant public and private investment, disparities in educational opportunities, behavior, attainment, and achievement exist… Read MoreApplying the Social and Behavioral Sciences to Policy and Practice
Smart electric meters and the smart grid are innovations in the delivery of electrical services to homes and businesses that can, in principle, permit both consumers and suppliers to save energy,… Read More
Real Numbers
Shorter Lives, Poorer Health
Americans’ life expectancy and health have improved over the past century but these gains have lagged behind those in other high-income countries. This health disadvantage has occurred even though the United … Read More