Science News in Brief – May 20th, 2017
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Conatus News/Uncommon Ground Media Inc.
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2017/05/20
UK Government Accused of Silencing Scientists
The cabinet secretary and the head of the civil service, Sir Jeremy Heywood, has received a letter authored by numerous leading scientific organisations stating that “they were unaware of any election in which purdah had been “extended so far into the daily work” of researchers and academics.”
The scientists felt that they were (not) unable to make any comments on the air quality plan of the UK government for example, due to the fact that their membership to the Scientific Advisory Committee (membership) made them subject to the rules — a specification that had been reiterated by the government, in what is perceived as an attempt to intimidate. The letter further stated that some experts were also “nervous” to discuss other topics such as climate change and drought. The Cabinet Office has since responded that the “pre-election guidance” was not meant to limit commentary from independent academics.
NASA Looking for Plans to Land on Europa
The NASA scientists report that there will probably be a lander at some point during the next decade (in the 2020s some time). NASA has yet to approve the mission, however, they have stated that there is enough funding to start the search for (the) “instrument ideas.”
About 2,000 New Species Found in 2016
1,730 new plants were discovered in 2016, according to The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and are said to be new additions to the scientific biological catalogue. The discovery includes eleven new species of the Manihot shrub, which is a Brazilian starchy root, along with hundreds of others.
Another seven of the species found, best known as varieties of rooibos tea or red bush, originate from South Africa. Six of them are however threatened with extinction. “Many have potential as food crops, medicines or sources of timber,” the BBC said, “However, scientists say some of the newly-discovered plants are already at risk of extinction. They are developing new ways to speed up the discovery and classification of plants to help safeguard them for future generations.”
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