German budget cuts cast chill wind over outlook for international labs

Chill wind over Antarctic biodiversity

Researchers are calling for a strengthening of the Antarctic Treaty in the face of expected growth in the search for organisms on the continent that may provide lucrative material for biotechnology companies. The call comes because of the background of scientific collaboration that has been in place for more than 40 years which has helped maintain an almost unique international collaboration to...

Mechanism of silicon influence on the chill of cast iron

In this work an analytical solution of general validity is used to explain mechanism of the silicon influence on the absolute chill tendency (CT) and chill (w) of cast iron. It is found that CT can be related to nucleation potential of graphite (Nv), growth parameter (μ) of eutectic cells, temperature range (∆Tsc) and the pre-eutectic austenite volume fraction (fγ). It has been shown that silic...

Calling on scientists to fight budget cuts.

THE FUNDING LEVELS REQUESTED BY THE Bush Administration for 2006 (“Caught in the squeeze,” J. Mervis, News Focus, 11 Feb., p. 832) represent a decrease in science and technology funding across the board. This budget and its priorities do not bode well for American science and technology or for America’s scientists and science students. Underfunding science and technology research and education ...

Budget cuts and the plight of postdocs.

German gloom on budget prospects

Thousands of German researchers including five Nobel laureates have signed an open letter of protest against the proposed freeze of research funding. Michael Gross reports.