With a partial government shutdown now in its 3rd week, many Americans are learning the hard way about the wide range of functions their federal government normally serves. One of those little-known functions is preventing the spread of invasive plants, insects, and other species that threaten native ecosystems and valuable natural resources, costing the United States an estimated $120 billion every year. Just last week, the shutdown forced conference organizers at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cancel an annual meeting of 300 scientists working to coordinate research and find solutions. Even before the shutdown, however, USDA regulators had failed to fully live up to their obligations—designated by law—to protect US resources from invasive species.

A Failure of US Biosecurity: How Federal Regulators Helped a Japanese Beetle Cross the Border
January 14, 2019 4:28 PM EDT
Science Diplomacy and Subtle Ways of Discouraging International Collaboration
August 28, 2014 6:17 PM EDT
Yellow fever killed hundreds of thousands of people and sickened many more throughout the 19th Century, and nobody knew for sure how it was spread or how to contain it. It was the most dreaded disease in the Americas, creating mass panic and destroying commerce. Read more >
So Nine Nobel Laureates Walk Into the Swedish Embassy…
November 20, 2013 2:57 PM EDT
It’s not often that one has an opportunity to ask a question of nine Nobel Laureates (which I did, yesterday, at a fun and unexpectedly lively event at the Embassy of Sweden, coverage here and here). But what’s considerably more interesting than my question is the numerous—and divergent—responses from the 2013 American Nobelists in chemistry, economics, and medicine. Read more >
When the Government Shuts Down, So Does Federal Science
October 2, 2013 2:31 PM EDT
When you work in DC, the ongoing drama of the budget stalemate and government shutdown is a part of your daily life. The metro is emptier, traffic is lighter, and all our wonderful museums and monuments are closed. Read more >