What psychology can tell us about whether leaders will deploy WMD.
Humans need to explore new worlds. They also need advances in science and technology that help address climate change and other major Earthly problems.
Obamacare means more people will have access to health insurance; that's good for US national security and well-being. But a serious lack of primary care physicians and major drug shortages still jeopardize the United States.
Forget horror movies to conjure up fears. The recent deadly fungal meningitis outbreak is a sharp reminder of just how scary this season has become.
The challenges of the 21st century require broad, interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate human, animal, and environmental health.
There are ethical principles and guidelines for human subject research. It’s time to develop ethical principles and guidelines for life sciences (dual-use) research.
Amateur biologists around the world are manipulating life in their garages, basements, and home laboratories. They are sharing experiences online and creating a formidable subculture. Is this the start of the superbug or the next big thing in biotechnology?
There are billions of bits of plastic floating across hundreds of miles of ocean. Let's do something about it.
From Frankenstein to Jurassic Park, authors have been writing about "mad scientists" messing around with life. Science fiction can be a powerful tool to influence society's views of the life sciences -- one scientists should take advantage of.
Scientists recently made the deadly H5N1 influenza virus more communicable. Clearly it's time for the NIH to have greater oversight before it funds one of the seven deadly sins of biomedical research.
We need to learn to live smarter with microbes: Is it time to embrace bacteriophages?
The Constitution guarantees the right to a lawyer. Why not to a doctor?
Contagion, the latest Hollywood movie to depict a deadly epidemic, missed an opportunity to show the public the ongoing fight -- pre-pandemic -- against emerging diseases.
The states hit most frequently and predictably by hurricanes should have the best public health and emergency-response systems, right? Not so fast.
This summer's fatal spate of E. coli eruptions is a sober reminder that a country's bureaucratic infrastructure can hinder effective responses to a globalized food system and contribute to the unnecessary loss of life.
Can we actually feed billions and still preserve the planet?
The proposed verification protocol for the Biological Weapons Convention has been a stumbling block; it’s time to explore alternative means to improve biosecurity.
Although a catastrophic failure of emergency backup systems at a US nuclear reactor may be unlikely, solid planning and preparations are in order -- and should begin with determining whether an emergency zone extends 10 or 20 miles from a nuclear power plant.