A look at today’s science and health policy news:
Congress Passes Bill to Bar Bias Based on Genes
N.Y. Times–A bill that would prohibit discrimination by health insurers and employers based on genetics won final approval in Congress on Thursday by an overwhelming vote.
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E.P.A. Proposes New Limits on Lead in the Air, the First Revision in 30 Years
N.Y. Times–For the first time in 30 years, the EPA has proposed a new limit for lead concentrations in the air.
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Science groups want war cash
Politico.com–A coalition of scientists, tech companies, and lobbyists are seeking a $500 million boost in this year’s wartime supplemental funding bill to restore cuts to the NSF and prevent layoffs from the DOE’s Office of Science.
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CDC Cites Largest U.S. Resurgence of Measles Since 2001
Washington Post–At least four outbreaks of measles are underway around the United States, the largest resurgence in years, federal health officials reported yesterday.
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Federal agency declares West Coast salmon fishery a disaster
A.P.–Federal authorities have declared the West Coast salmon fishery a failure, opening the way for Congress to appropriate economic disaster assistance.
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NASA Delays Shuttle Flight to Hubble Space Telescope
SPACE.com–NASA has pushed back the planned launch of the final flight to overhaul the Hubble by up to five weeks due to external fuel tank delays.
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F.D.A. Warns Merck About Plant
N.Y. Times–The FDA has ordered Merck & Company to correct numerous manufacturing deficiencies at its main vaccine plant, the agency said Wednesday.
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U.S. power cos could get CO2 credits worth billions
Reuters–U.S. power companies could get free carbon credits worth billions of dollars under global warming legislation being considered by the U.S. Congress.
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State Legislators Seek Bills to Allow Questioning of Evolution Theory in Schools
FOX News–Legislators in several states are seeking new ways to allow teachers to cast doubt on the theory of evolution.
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Study Questions ‘No Child’ Act’s Reading Plan
Washington Post–Students enrolled in a $6 billion federal reading program that is at the heart of the No Child Left Behind law are not reading any better than those who don’t participate.
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New mental health policy may help more U.S. troops
Reuters–U.S. troops who seek psychological care after combat will no longer face the possibility of losing their security clearances.
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Oxygen-poor ocean zones are growing
L.A. Times–Linked to global warming, these areas of the Pacific and Atlantic cannot sustain most marine life, a new study warns.
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In a New Climate Model, Short-Term Cooling in a Warmer World
N.Y. Times–Using computer simulations and measurements of ocean temperatures, scientists predicts a slight cooling of Europe and North America, probably related to shifting currents and patterns in the oceans.
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H.P. Reports Big Advance in Memory Chip Design
N.Y. Times–HP scientists reported in the science journal Nature that they have designed a simple circuit element that could make it possible to build tiny powerful computers.
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The greening of Greensburg, Kan.
USA Today–A year later, tornado-devastated town finds new life in rebuilding eco-friendly.
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Is Ethanol Getting a Bum Rap?
Business Week–Corn-based fuel isn’t the villain critics contend, but shifting to other crops is critical.
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It can be a gamble to invest in alternative energy
USA Today–Consider companies that dabble in wind power, conservation.
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Charred Earth Examined as Carbon-Storing Option
Discovery–Exploring storing carbon in charcoal, or biochar, which is resistant to microbial attack and can stay in the soil for hundreds or thousands of years.
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