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The article focuses on the impact a Russian amended law concerning state secrets is having on science publishing by Russian scientists. It states President Vladimir Putin used a decree in May 2015 expanding the scope of a law requiring scientists get permission from the Federal Security Service prior to publishing results which could have industrial or military applications. It reports Russian universities are requiring scientists seek approval to the publication of any findings without exception.

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.

The article reports on the condition of the scientific and technological research in Japan. It notes that the country's science and education ministry published a government report that suggests the alarming condition of the country's science and technology due to the declining workforce and increasing international competition. The Japanese government is required to provide sufficient incentives and support for young researchers to boost its scientific power.

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 offers science news briefs on October 26-November 1, 2012. The manslaughter sentences of six years that were given to a government official and six scientists for advice they provided before the earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy on April 6, 2009 have sparked concerns on science advice's future. India introduced an electronics policy for the construction of a chip-manufacturing industry. China will begin approving reactors again after a ban due to Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The article discusses the academic revolt by French scientists in reaction to government reforms. University lecturers and researchers began a national strike in response to a draft decree which would alter their job descriptions and promotion procedures. Topics include an overview of the decree and why the decision has caused unrest among scientists including the transfer of power to a university's president and board to assess researcher performance and the reduction of research time.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an obituary published in a previous issue for British physicist Henry Moseley, who studied X-ray spectra of atoms and was killed in World War I, and how it may have impacted government policy regarding the military enlistment of scientists.

The author discusses the impact of immigration cap on British science academic and research institutions and scientists. The author says that there are many specialized science positions which are vacant in Great Britain such as molecular geneticist and bone biologist. The author cites Sanger Institute as one of the British institutions which are in danger of the immigration cap. The author adds that over 230 scientist had been disqualified to have their entry visas in Great Britain.

The author reflects on China's efforts to discourage scientists from establishing learned societies. The author argues that China's lack of a national stem-cell society hampers the creation of stem-cell therapies for conditions such as epilepsy and spinal cord injuries. Topics include why China is trying to discourage the creation of a national stem-cell society, why allowing scientists to form societies will benefit China, and why the government needs to rethink its approach to organizations.