Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

Daily Archives: March 5, 2017

The Secret Life of Trees: The Astonishing Science of What Trees Feel and How They Communicate

Brain Pickings: “Trees dominate the world’s the oldest living organisms. Since the dawn of our species, they have been our silent companions, permeating our most enduring tales and never ceasing to inspire fantastical cosmogonies. Hermann Hesse called them “the most penetrating of preachers.” A forgotten seventeenth-century English gardener wrote of how they “speak to the… Continue Reading

White House proposes steep budget cut to leading climate science agency

Washington Post: “The Trump administration is seeking to slash the budget of one of the government’s premier climate science agencies by 17 percent, delivering steep cuts to research funding and satellite programs, according to a four-page budget memo obtained by The Washington Post. The proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would also… Continue Reading

Supporting Open Access

Open Access publishing—both Green and Gold varieties—are gaining greater acceptance. Librarians need to focus on ways to promote and improve the process. – “In light of last month’s political turmoil over Federal agency communications, Open Access may take on new significance. In response to a 2013 White House request, NASA announced in August that space… Continue Reading

Comey Asks Justice Dept. to Reject Trump’s Wiretapping Claim

New York Times – F.B.I. Chief Urges Justice Dept. to Reject Wiretap Claim – “The F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, asked the Justice Department this weekend to publicly reject President Trump’s assertion that President Barack Obama ordered the tapping of Mr. Trump’s phones, senior American officials said on Sunday. Mr. Comey has argued that the… Continue Reading

Survey – Climate Control: Gender and Racial Bias in Engineering

“Over 3,000 respondents completed the Workplace Experiences Survey launched by the Society of Women Engineers and the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Around one-third (897) of respondents left comments—a strikingly high number. The number and tone of comments show engineers’ intense interest in, and strong reaction… Continue Reading

HHS Report – Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999–2015

Key findings Data from the National Vital Statistics System, Mortality – Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999–2015 ●The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2015 (16.3 per 100,000) was more than 2.5 times the rate in 1999 (6.1). ●Drug overdose death rates increased for all age groups, with… Continue Reading