“We as consumers have been completely unaware of the complex chain of events tying widespread sexual violence in [the Democratic Republic of the] Congo to the minerals that help power our cellphones, laptops, MP3 players, video games and digital cameras.”
on how demand for tin, tungsten and tantalum is fuelling rape
“If Darwin had been dependent on a grant from a British research council, he would never have set sail.”
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, London, arguing that university research is becoming too commercially oriented
“Bad information in the medical literature leads doctors to make irrational prescribing decisions, which ultimately can cost lives.”
on drug company Merck paying publisher Elsevier (a sister company of 91av) to produce a promotional magazine in the style of a peer-reviewed journal
Horizon scanner
Expect controversy over the status of Pluto to reignite, following a decision by the International Astronomical Union to reopen the issue. Some astronomers hope to reinstate Pluto to full planetary status and promote a host of other “plutoids” for good measure. There will be blood.
Good week for…
Astrophysics The European Space Agency successfully launched its , which are expected to revolutionise our understanding of the universe
Bad week for…
Particle physics Austria intends to its €17 million annual funding from the CERN laboratory in Geneva, prompting fears that other contributors will follow suit
