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The article reports on the efforts of U.S. government to make scientific research available for all. It reports that the accessibility offered by the Internet has transformed science publishing over the past decade. The government of the U.S. is making efforts to make all federally funded research available for free. The new system will make huge numbers of scientific articles publicly available for all. It reports that such archives will basically contain the final versions of the manuscripts written by the authors. There was an increase in public access in late 2007 when the U.S. Congress passed a bill and made it compulsory for scientists funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) to deposit their papers within 12 months of publication.

Discusses the lack of high-quality research papers published by scientists from China. Factors attributed to the trend; Comparison in the number of high-impact papers published by scientists from China and the United States; Solutions to the low number of productive biologists.

The article offers the insights of Seth Stein, a geophysicist at the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, regarding the hazard of the Reelfoot fault in the middle of Tennessee bean field and Mississippi River. According to Stein, the evidence shows that the U.S. government and several scientists have made misconception about the earthquake hazard in the area. Meanwhile, Stein and his group have published papers that present proof that supports his observation.

When cyclist Lance Armstrong won his fourth Tour de France last year, he not only followed tradition by dividing the prize money among his team-mates, he also doubled the amount to his fellow cyclists out of his own pocket. This largesse recognized that without his team's support, Armstrong would not have won the race. It also demonstrates best practice in team science — rewarding the supporting cast that makes a lead author's findings possible, rather than hoarding all of the credit for oneself. Last month the U.S. National Institutes of Health held a symposium on how to promote selflessness in the name of team science, primarily for the benefit of biologists in the United States. But its findings could improve fortunes of scientists in other disciplines or other countries who are considering joining large projects. The Human Genome Project and most experiments in high-energy physics are prime examples, and such endeavours often feature a cast of hundreds. But institutions that grant scientists tenure, extend contracts and give pay rises haven't always recognized the varied contributions made to these projects. So recognition may have to come from the scientists themselves. Although scientists may not have pockets as deep as Armstrong's, they can match his spirit in other ways. First, they can give younger scientists who make key contributions first authorship of main papers, and rotate first authorship of supporting papers among group members. They can also include details of the roles that each group member played in the work. Finally, they can remind tenure granting institutions over and over again that a winning author is surrounded by a supporting cast, and that all should be rewarded.

In this article the author discusses the ways for scientists to reduce their time in writing grants in the U.S. He says that research budget can be allocated equally to eligible scientists. He emphasizes that there is a need to devise an automated system to evaluate relative merit of scientists to fund their work. He stresses that it is also helpful to simplify the application for research grants.

The article discusses the changes in American science under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. Robert Wall, a U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) federal scientist, observed that there is an increasing caution and sensitivity at his department towards animal transgenics and cloning. It says that some federal scientist feel that Obama's administration has not realized its promises toward science, instantiating the difficulty that scientists face in getting approval from ARS.

Presents a letter to the editor commenting on the article “Weapon of Mass Attraction,” concerning poor participation by United States scientists in public-outreach activities.

Reports on the significant implications of the world trade negotiations for many scientists in the U.S. Accounts on the impediment to free trade; Increase of the supply of antiretrovirals and other medicines to poor countries; Schedule for the completion of the current round of trade negotiations.

The article reports on the role and techniques of scientists to counter bioterrorism in the U.S. Bioterrorism is a global threat and it is only vigilance by a much larger network of working biologists that can provide some reassurance in the face of it. The U.S. Institute of Medicine calls for more input of scientific advice at the US national security agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.

The article offers news briefs related to science. It mentions that scientist Vincent Dammai was arrested on December 27, 2011 and accused of supplying stem cells for use in un approved therapies. It says that the experiment on neutrinos has sent the particles 295 kilometres to a detector in Kamioka. It adds that an air-pollution regulations were announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on December 21, 2011.

This article reports on research works in physics. During scientist Albert Einstein's youth, the focus of theoretical physics was in Europe. Scientist Niels Bohr was in Copenhagen, Max Planck was in Berlin. Today it is harder to find the centre of the theoretical universe, collaborative research is increasingly international, and most theorists, who need little more than a laptop, can work anywhere. But it seems that many young theorists opt to spend their formative years in the U.S. Although U.S. enrolment of foreign graduate students has fallen in recent years, they still make up about half of the total in physics, and of these some 40% are theorists.

The article profiles Steven Chu, the U.S. secretary of the Department of Energy and a member of President Barack Obama's cabinet. Chu is the first Nobel-prize winning scientist to hold such a high office in the U.S. government. He is charged with changing the world's biggest energy economy and has assumed the role of persuader-in-chief, trotting before the Congress to explain the science of climate change and his plans for combating it. He also plans to tackle climate change by reviving the scientific and technological urgency of the Manhattan Project.

The article discusses the decision by two researchers to discontinue their research and why the battle to keep laboratories funded can be long and painful for scientists. An example is given of researchers Jill Rafael-Fortney and Darcy Kelly and their experiences trying to get the R01 grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) renewed. Topics include the disappointment that NIH-funded scientists share regarding the increasing frequencies of the refusal of grant renewals, the technological innovations in biomedical research which have outpaced the NIH's ability to support research, and why Rafael-Fortney and Kelly may have been penalized, such as the scientifically adventurous aspect of their projects. An overview of the careers of Rafael-Fortney and Kelly are presented.

Presents a letter to the editor reacting to an editorial in a 2004 issue of "Nature" about the U.S. federal government's policy affecting overseas scientists.

The article outlines the efforts made by scientists to maximize their understanding of highly complex molecular interactions and provide novel insights into the world of single molecules in the U.S. Carlos Bustamante, a biophysicist at the University of California, has been developing and using optical traps for his work to investigate the effects of very small forces on biomolecules. He stressed that biologists should use such tools so that technology would move further and faster. To explore the nanoscale world, biologists integrated different technologies such as the integration of Foerster resonance energy transfer (FRET) with optical traps or carbon nanotubes with atomic force microscopy.

Discusses primary data sharing among scientists in the field of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Apparent controversy surrounding the National fMRI Data Center at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, which is a repository for brain-imaging data; Problems faced by scientists wishing to share information in the fMRI field for which a standard technique has not been developed.

Eulogizes United States laser inventor Arthur Schawlow, who died on April 28, 1999. Importance of the laser; Schawlow's innovation in experimentation; His background and relationship with the author; His work in microwave spectroscopy; Building the first maser, a device that produces and amplifies microwave radiation; Schawlow's most important papers; His approach to science; Contributions to helping autistics; Awards given to Schawlow; His personality.

The author discusses the approach to climate science. He says that climate science became the focus of right-wing political attack in the U.S., Australia, and Canada. He mentions that the key factor in the success of the U.S. special envoy for climate change is an effective communications strategy, which has yet to be learned or used by the climate-science community.

The article investigates the basis for the worry of many climate researchers on the increase of scepticism about global warming and the move made by scientists in 2010. Studies in Great Britain and U.S. reveal that belief in global warming has declined in recent years, but a majority of people still believe climate scientists. Scientists and scientific societies have determined that they had to fight back against the growing misinformation. Scientific societies and scientists use novel approaches to get their message across, such as attempting to humanize climate scientists.

The article focuses on the criterion by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) on the required broader impacts of scientific researches and proposals to the society. NSF director Arden Bement in Arlington, Virginia says that the criterion was designed to make sure that the researches have connections with the society. However, the definition by the NSF of broader impacts is broad and vague in which the proposal guide includes appropriate involvement of students in the research, shared research infrastructure, and establishment of industrial and governmental collaborations. Meanwhile, the criterion makes scientists to think more on the connection of their work to the society. Moreover, the confusion of scientists on the criterion shows the issues on the relation of science and society.

The article discusses a 2006 survey of scientists holding National Institutes of Health (NIH) extramural research funds at 605 institutions about research misconduct in the United States. Between 2002-2005, 8.7% of respondents say they had observed or had direct evidence of researchers in their own department committing one or more incidents of suspected research misconduct. Around 58% of the observed incidents had been reported to official institutions. Responses suggest that 37% of incidents were not reported by anyone.

The article provides information on how the U.S. National Institutes of Health can bridge the gap with translational research. According to the author, director of the NIH's National Center for Research Resources Barbara Alving has stated that the clinical and basic scientists do not really communicate, thus a consortium of 60 Clinical and Translational Science Centers (CTSCs) which will share US$500 million annually has been created. Moreover, director of NIH Elias Zerhouni has redesigned the agency's translational research programs to get over the gap between the clinical and basic scientists.

The article focuses on the popularity of cloud computing among U.S. scientists. Topics discussed include the benefits posed by the technology to scientists, ways on how scientists can build a cloud environment for their own research group or laboratory, and security concerns about cloud computing. Platforms recommended for scientists are cited.

In this article the author discusses the importance of good communication among scientists in the U.S. She recalls the communications training workshop she attended where scientists shared their fears and failures regarding their communication skills toward the media and policy-makers. Moreover, she talks about the relaunch of a climate question-and-answer service by the American Geophysical Union for the United Nations climate discussions in Mexico to address the issues of science.

The article reflects on the career of young life scientists in the U.S. It claims that the increasing competition for academic positions in biology may possibly interrupt students' plan to consider graduate training. It likewise notes on the survey results which reveal the dropping number of academic positions in biology. It notes that the issue of scientific training could be solved if its root problems are addressed efficiently.

The author provides an author's view on the benefits of using electronic laboratory notebooks in the U.S. Electronic notebooks record the daily thoughts and experiments of bench scientists. They contain data that flow automatically from lab instruments and can be read by all members. In addition, the data may have a value not only to the researches who produced them but to others too. The author suggests that institutions need to show leadership in the said area.

Reports on the dedication of many aged scientists to conduct productive and innovative research programs despite their retirement age in the U.S. Attitude of scientists in the country; Level of productivity of aged scientists in the laboratory works; Concerns on the issue of mandatory retirement in the country.

Reports on the reactions of U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) employees to the tightened NIH rules on conflicts of interest. Reasons of the NIH for strengthening its rules; Concerns of NIH employees on the effects of the rules on the recruiting and retention of scientists.

Focuses on initiatives for cross-disciplinary training of researchers in the U.S. Assistance of graduate students in diversity training; Sustainability of the programs for future use; Advantage of the multidisciplinary route in terms of postgraduate careers.

Examines the implications of the increase in public funds for life-science research in the U.S. in creating academic positions. Career opportunities for scientists; Competition among biomedical research experts; Status of academic science and engineering doctor of philosophy degree holders; implications for scientific research.

Focuses on the effects of the September 11 attack to scientists in the United States. Transformation in National Institutes of Health (NIH); Revisions on programs of National Science Foundation; Effects on research centers.

The article discusses the reaction to the article by Steven McKnight, president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), which complained on the quality of scientists on grant-review committees of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

The author discusses the impacts of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration restrictions on use of drones aircraft by researchers in the U.S. The author reflects on the initiative made by the FAA to enforce regulations for drone aircraft. The author also mentions that the agency must adopt regulations which ensures machines safety.

The author reflects on the relationship between U.S. and China on the area of space science. The author argues that the new and well-funded space programme launched by China is a perfect opportunity for the U.S. to have a deeper collaboration with the country. The author mentions the legislation which bans any collaboration of U.S. scientists with Chinese government introduced by Congresman Frank Wolf. The author argues that deeper collaboration will results to improve diplomatic relations.

In this article, the author discusses the connection between research scientists and statisticians. She mentions that the demand for statisticians increases in cooperative projects in the U.S. She tackles the importance of statistical analysis to several fields including health science, engineering, and even to climate change. Meanwhile, she suggests that the statistics community, particularly the American Statistical Association, must actively seek collaborative opportunities.

The article reports on the discovery of an ice-cemented soil and slabs of pure ice below the surface of the polar regions of Mars by the Phoenix, Arizona team of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA). It notes that the team found some cracking of the thermal contractions into polygons due to seasonal frost cycles. Moreover, researcher Joseph Levy and colleagues from the Portland State University conclude that the cracking is attributed to the sublimation of the deeper slab ice.

The article focuses on a report concerning the vetting of researchers for biosecurity in the United States. It states that the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity suggested that academic researchers who work with dangerous pathogens shouldn't be subjected to the stringent background checks that scientists working in chemical and nuclear weapons programs undergo. It mentions that security regulations for bioscientists were increased after the U.S. anthrax attack of 2001.

Reports on the effort of the U.S. National Science Foundation to bring the science of learning and its application in the classroom for children's education. Links between basic science and educational practice; Plan of researchers to use magnetic resonance imaging to look at the development of skills of children; Details on the educational policy of the country.

Reports on the success of the book "Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty," published by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the U.S. Overview of the book; Number of Internet downloads of the book; Significance of the book to scientists.

Focuses on the role of U.S. scientists in rebuilding international collaboration after post Iraq war, 2003. Need for international collaboration; Military strategies of the U.S.

Focuses on the recognition of scientific mentoring in the U.S. Presentation of awards to scientific mentors; Need for the encouragement of scientists.

Focuses on the complaints of researchers to the Bush administration regarding appointment of top scientific positions in United States. Failure to nominate a presidential science adviser; Adoption of controversial policies on issues in science; Absence of consultation.

Discusses the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and the missing disks, which contained information on United States nuclear weapons. Speculation about what happened to the disks; Assertion that those criticizing the lab's employees have political agendas; Issues of national security surrounding the lab, and how they have interfered with the work of scientists.