Search

Marine data play a crucial role for many scientific disciplines, as well as for very diverse operational services such as fisheries management, environmental planning, marine conservation, weather forecasting, or port management. The information derived from marine data is also increasingly finding its way into a wide and varied range of public policy arenas and private industries. Collecting, distributing and archiving public marine data provide benefits to society at large, however as with all public investments, assessments are needed to provide evidence to decision makers. Based on an original survey of UK marine data users, this paper explores pathways through which marine data are used and transformed into actionable information, creating systematised value chains for the first time. The analysis unveils trends in current marine data uses in the UK and key benefits of data uses. The paper lays the foundations for further OECD work with the marine data community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents new evidence on the impact of intangible capital on productivity dispersion within industries. It first shows that rise in productivity dispersion after 2000 is more pronounced in intangible-intensive industries; then analyses the link between intangible capital intensity and productivity dispersion both at the top and at the bottom of the productivity distribution, and in different industries. The findings suggest that industries that have experienced a stronger increase in intangible investment have also seen a steeper rise in productivity dispersion both at the top and at the bottom of the productivity distribution. While the results at the top seem to be associated with the scalability of intangible capital - which is likely to disproportionally benefit highproductivity firms and incumbents - dispersion at the bottom appears to be linked to complementarities between intangible investment and factors like digital intensity, trade openness and venture capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algorithms increasingly shape modern life, helping Wall Street to decide stock trades, Netflix to recommend movies and judges to dispense justice. But critics say algorithms -- the seemingly inscrutable computational tools that help give artificial intelligence (AI) the ability to "think" and "learn" -- can lead to skewed results and sometimes social harm. AI might help mortgage companies decide whom to lend to, but qualified borrowers can be rejected if the underlying algorithms are faulty. Companies might use AI to screen job applicants, but skilled talent can be turned away if the algorithms reflect racial or gender bias. Moreover, the use of algorithms is raising difficult questions about who -- if anyone -- is liable when AI results in injury. The technology is even stirring fears of an AI apocalypse in which computers become so powerful and autonomous that they threaten humankind. Some experts want the federal government to strictly regulate AI to ensure it is not misused, but critics fear more rules would stifle the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's population, currently 7.6 billion, is expected to peak later this century at 11.2 billion, and possibly much more, before slowly declining. Countries such as Japan and Germany already are seeing declines, but others, such as Niger and India, are projected to explode in population in coming years. Some experts downplay the potential effects of a rising global count, but many say strains on natural resources will be intense, leading to conflicts over land, water, food and energy, and sparking mass migrations from poorer to wealthier regions. Yet experts differ on how best to manage the world's population pressures. Some say that with greater access to contraception, women in developing countries will choose to have fewer children. Others say a better approach is to conserve precious natural resources by reducing personal consumption. Meanwhile, the Trump administration, following through on a campaign promise, has cut off U.S. funding for international family planning programs, triggering an outcry from some aid organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health experts warn of a growing menace: the spread of bacterial infections that antibiotics are powerless to cure. Such infections, caused by pathogens known as superbugs, kill an estimated 700,000 people per year around the world, 23,000 of them Americans. In the United States alone, fighting superbugs consumes up to $20 billion in health care costs annually, a recent study found. Because humans and livestock consume so many antibiotics -- billions of doses a day -- many bacteria are becoming resistant to the drugs. Some doctors prescribe antibiotics indiscriminately, and countries such as India allow over-the-counter sales of the drugs. Making matters worse, pharmaceutical companies are not producing enough new antibiotics to replace those that are no longer effective. Some experts hope heightened awareness of the superbug threat, along with better diagnostic tools, will contain the problem, but others say governments must act more quickly to reduce antibiotic consumption. Meanwhile, researchers are seeking alternatives to antibiotics, such as using the immune system to quell infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Store closings and bankruptcies continue at a blistering pace as many debt-laden retailers struggle to adapt to a rapidly expanding world of online commerce. Yet, the upheaval masks the retailing industry's surprising strengths. U.S. retail sales totaled a record $5.7 trillion in 2017, and this year's business looks to be similarly robust. The explosive popularity of internet shopping is forcing traditional retailers to find new ways to lure tech-savvy customers. Some stores are functioning more as product showrooms and others as "experiential" venues designed to attract shoppers with such offerings as cooking classes, quirky mattress-testing settings and computer-simulated wardrobe fittings. But the industry still has a glut of stores. Chains such as Sears and Walgreens/Rite Aid are closing hundreds of stores, and Toys R Us, among others, is going under. Traditional retailers also face stiff competition from Amazon and other online retailers, some of which are opening physical stores -- an acknowledgment that most Americans, however wedded to technology, still prefer to shop in person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical trials are designed to answer questions about the safety and effectiveness of experimental drugs, medical devices, vaccines and behavioral therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration relies on trials when considering whether to approve new medical treatments or new uses for existing drugs and devices. But the clinical trials system in the United States is in crisis. Few patients participate, causing nearly a fifth of trials to shut down early or before they even begin. In addition, trials are becoming increasingly long, complex and costly. The net effect, many medical experts warn, is that health care innovation and advances are threatened. Analysts have proposed some controversial remedies: requiring drug companies to publicly release more trial data to increase trust in their results, broadening eligibility requirements to attract more participants, involving patients in the design of clinical trials and incorporating the use of smartwatches and other wearable biosensors to gather data, which could make trials easier and cheaper to conduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western United States' long battle for an adequate water supply is entering a challenging new phase. Scientists say climate change could reduce rainfall 25 percent in coming years, and droughts will become longer and more frequent -- all as the region's population growth is setting records. Climatologists say farmers and ranchers must find new ways of operating in arid conditions, and cities must increase their conservation efforts despite citizen resistance. At the same time, experts say states must do more to work together to address the region's water limitations, and some want the federal government to assume a bigger role in mediating water disputes. Still, some scientists say the threat of a protracted water crisis is overblown, noting that droughts have been cyclical throughout history. Others say new technology, including desalination plants that make seawater drinkable, can increase the water supply. Las Vegas, the casino mecca in one of the nation's driest regions, is among the cities struggling to balance water conservation and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some addiction specialists contend that the overuse of video games, social media or other online technology can affect the brain in the same way drug or alcohol dependency does. But other experts question whether an obsessive use of technology meets the clinical definition of addiction. They argue that overuse of technology typically stems from an underlying condition, such as anxiety, depression or attention deficit disorder. Some industry insiders say technology companies such as Facebook design their products to be addictive, which company executives deny. Child advocates and some politicians want the government to do more to address the potential harm of technology overuse, and countries such as South Korea and China have established government-sponsored treatment centers for teens and young adults considered tech-addicted. The American Psychiatric Association has not linked technology overuse with standard medical definitions of addiction but says internet gaming needs further study. The National Institutes of Health, meanwhile, is funding a study on whether online gaming is addictive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advocates of an unfettered internet are fighting to restore Obama-era regulations requiring Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and other internet service providers (ISPs) to treat all internet traffic equally in terms of speed, access and cost. The so-called net neutrality rules, instituted in 2015 when Democrats controlled the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), were repealed in December 2017 after Republicans regained control of the agency. The FCC is led by former telecommunications lawyer Ajit Pai, a free-market champion of deregulation who has criticized the net neutrality rules as burdensome and unnecessary. More than 20 states are suing to preserve net neutrality, arguing that federal regulations are needed to keep the large ISPs from becoming too powerful. But defenders of the FCC vote say net neutrality harms the ability of the ISPs to improve their networks and ultimately hurts consumers and businesses. The European Union, meanwhile, has passed laws protecting net neutrality and labeled equal access to the internet a basic right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is causing oceans to rise at alarming rates, threatening coastal cities across the globe with flooding. The East Coast of the United States is especially vulnerable, with Miami, New York City and Boston among the world's 10 most exposed metro areas. Scientists warn that under the most extreme scenarios, annual flooding worldwide could cause $1 trillion in losses by 2100 and submerge areas that are now home to more than 150 million people. But how much the seas will rise, and when, is unclear. Because of that uncertainty — and the popularity of waterfronts among developers and homeowners — cities are grappling with hard questions. How much sea level rise should they plan for, and how much time do they have? Should cities build expensive defenses or pull back from coastlines? South Florida is among the most aggressive at addressing sea level rise, investing millions of dollars in elevated highways, flood pumps and seawalls. In the Netherlands, engineers are devising ways to co-exist with rising tides, offering potential solutions that officials across the globe are studying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 2 billion consumer records were stolen or accidentally exposed in the United States last year, including personal data on nearly half the U.S. population held by the Equifax credit agency. The data breaches raise questions about whether consumers' information can be protected. Privacy advocates want lawmakers to adopt rules similar to those in Europe, which require consumer consent before companies can use or share data. Congress is considering bills that would penalize companies that conceal breaches and would educate consumers on how to better safeguard their data. But little action is expected because of disagreements over how much regulation is needed. Many Republicans warn that excessive regulation could harm online commerce, while most Democrats want greater business accountability. Technological developments make it more difficult to protect online privacy, while the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things — in which consumer devices are connected to the internet and sometimes each other — makes hacking easier and could lead to the surveillance of unwitting consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil-fuel burning, deforestation, overhunting and other human activities are driving more and more animals, birds and plants to extinction, scientists say. Since 1970, the number of vertebrates -- mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish -- has dropped by more than half, and almost 200 species have become extinct. The loss of so many species in such a short time signals that a mass extinction, in which at least 75 percent of all species disappear, is occurring, many researchers say. A mass extinction would take place over thousands of years, endangering the global food supply and perhaps even human survival. But other scientists deny such a catastrophe has begun. The losses are part of the planet's evolutionary history, they say, noting that as species die new ones take their place. Still, both sides agree that humans must do better at protecting Earth's biodiversity -- the web of dependency that ties together plants, animals and humans. Many scientists say that adopting biodiversity-friendly alternatives, such as using renewable fuels and better managing suburban sprawl, could significantly slow the disappearance of plants and wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Navy and Air Force accidents this year -- reflecting strains on the armed forces from the nearly two-decade fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere -- is raising pressing questions about whether the Pentagon can handle current conflicts and is ready for the next major confrontation. The United States is by far the world's most formidable military power, but some defense experts say the country needs more troops, planes and ships to confront the growing array of challenges posed by China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. Others say that warnings of a readiness crisis are overblown but that the Pentagon needs to be smarter with the resources it has. Most analysts agree the military must improve training for conventional warfare while modernizing its technology as rivals hone their ability to fight in space and cyberspace. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has ordered the Pentagon to review the nation's nuclear arsenal, which the Obama administration had begun to upgrade in its final years in office. The Pentagon also is reviewing space defenses, as U.S. satellites become more susceptible to attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) loosened regulations so insurers could reimburse medical providers for online appointments. Besides slowing the spread of contagion, the availability of telehealth enabled working parents, caregivers, people with disabilities and employees with limited paid time off to easily access health care. Although the Biden administration ended the public health emergency on May 11, it extended telemedicine flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2024, to enable HHS to evaluate the coverage. The results of that review will determine which, if any, telemedicine services will continue to be covered by government insurance. If services are no longer covered, private insurers could follow suit. Meanwhile, critics say direct-to-consumer telemedicine and wellness companies have been selling patient health information, an issue that could become more critical as patients and providers face legal ramifications in some jurisdictions for certain health care procedures, such as abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island of Ireland, which includes both Ireland and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), is home to 6.4 million people and has a combined economic output of USD 205 billion. Several cross-border institutions were created in response to the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement to recreate functional economic linkages across the border. InterTradeIreland is a rare example internationally of a cross-border entity to promote trade and innovation that is co-funded by respective governments. These efforts have led to stability in funding such programmes. The differences between the public sector driven economy in Northern Ireland and the dual economy of Ireland (outward looking multinationals and the local small and medium-sized enterprise base) are a challenge for cross-border efforts. This case study is part of the project Regions and Innovation: Collaborating Across Borders. A summary of this working paper appears in a report of the same name. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next major conflict between world powers may not begin at sea or along a disputed border, but in cyberspace. In the past decade, hackers have targeted voting systems in the United States, electrical grids in Ukraine, uranium enrichment facilities in Iran and hospitals, universities and major corporations around the world. The attacks have focused new attention on whether the United States is acting quickly enough to protect computer networks serving critical infrastructure, from military bases to power plants. Cybersecurity experts say companies holding sensitive data are particularly vulnerable to digital attacks, such as the recent hack of the Equifax credit reporting agency that potentially affects 145.5 million U.S. consumers. The United Nations is working to develop international rules for cyberwarfare, but the effort faces major hurdles, including deciding how even to define a cyberweapon. Allegations that Russia used social media to disrupt last year's presidential election are another focus of concern as the United States prepares for the 2018 congressional elections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U.S. military officials increasingly view climate change as a "threat multiplier," a factor that can aggravate poverty, political instability and social tensions. That, in turn, could foster terrorism and other forms of global violence while impairing America's military effectiveness. Rising seas, due mainly to Arctic ice melting, already threaten Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the world's largest naval base; dozens of other coastal installations also are at risk. Meanwhile, drought in some regions and record rainfall in others have forced millions of people to migrate across borders, adding to tensions in northern Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Defense Secretary James Mattis said climate change is affecting the stability of areas where U.S. troops are operating. President Trump, who has labeled climate change a "hoax," now says he has an "open mind" on the issue. Some politicians and economists argue that the real danger to U.S. security lies in the erosion of jobs, trade and industrial productivity caused by the costs of unnecessary federal environmental regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breakthroughs seem like science fiction: editing genes of human embryos to erase disease; controlling a computer cursor with one's thoughts; enabling paralyzed people to walk by fitting them with a robotic "exoskeleton"; using the body's immune system to cure cancer. As fantastic as such advances may seem, however, they are rapidly becoming reality. Yet, medical advances face big hurdles, including steep development costs. President Trump has proposed a 22 percent cut in the National Institutes of Health budget, which funds basic medical research, though Congress wants an increase. Congress also wants the Food and Drug Administration to speed up its regulatory review of new drugs and devices, but some consumer advocates worry that could result in unsafe products. Meanwhile, safety and ethical concerns about certain procedures, especially genetic editing of human embryos to prevent diseases from passing to new generations, are prompting calls for an urgent national discussion on how such technologies should be regulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon in 1969, the United States was widely proclaimed the victor in the space race with the Soviet Union. Today, however, with the U.S. space shuttle program no longer in operation, NASA pays Russia to transport U.S. crews to the International Space Station and the Pentagon depends on Russian rocket engines to launch its military satellites into orbit. In addition, China's space program is growing rapidly, and U.S. officials worry it threatens American space assets, including military satellites. Policymakers also fear that U.S. satellites are at risk from accidental collisions. Meanwhile, NASA is planning for deep-space missions, even as some experts say these missions cost too much and the agency should rely more on private spaceflight companies. Other debates focus on whether the United States should return astronauts to the moon, as President Trump wants NASA to do in the next two years, and whether humans or robots should take the lead in exploring space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experts have discussed the declining availability of freshwater for decades. Even though a long-overdue United Nations Water Conference took place in March, critics say addressing water shortages demands global leadership, significant investment and mandates for sustainable water management. Governments, including the United States, inevitably will have to make hard choices, especially where water is withdrawn faster than it is replenished. With transboundary waters accounting for 60 percent of the world's freshwater flows, conflicts over water may increase across borders and between sectors. So far, cooperative agreements have proven successful, such as in the Mekong Basin in Southeast Asia, the Okavango River area in South Africa and the Great Lakes region in North America. Governments and businesses are also cooperating to build water infrastructure and pursue innovations, but concerns remain over issues such as corporate control of water management and environmental damage from dams, desalination and pollution. While many see water as a basic human right and public resource that should be free, others say pricing water to reflect the true cost of delivery is necessary to encourage conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 600 of the 12,000 chemical compounds known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in a multitude of consumer products and industrial processes because they resist heat, oil, grease, stains and water. Many are known as "forever chemicals" because they are hard to destroy and can last indefinitely in water, soil, air and the human body. PFAS have been linked to health issues and increasingly are the target of regulation and legal action. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 14 proposed its first-ever regulation of PFAS in drinking water, which could force water systems nationwide to make costly upgrades. Several states have banned certain PFAS uses, 28 states are considering new regulations this year and the European Union is considering banning substances. Manufacturers, who discovered the dangers posed by the chemicals decades ago but did not report them to regulators as required by law, have paid out millions in penalties and settlements. Nevertheless, they say, many PFAS are safe when used properly and are irreplaceable and important to the economy. Many retailers have switched to PFAS-free products, and scientists are developing ways to remove the chemicals from public water supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed stark inequities in the global health infrastructure. Public funds helped pay for the development of vaccines in record time. But only people living in wealthy countries, which bought more doses than they could use, could reliably access vaccines during the first year of availability. Most people in low- and lower middle-income countries could not get them. Studies suggest that in the first year of vaccine availability, between 600,000 and 1.3 million people may have died as a result of this inequity. Public health experts are now looking at the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and developing plans for a better, fairer response to the next pandemic. Under the auspices of the World Health Organization, public health experts are developing future structures for global distribution of vaccines and an expansion of the global vaccine manufacturing base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional competitive video gaming, or esports, is booming. More than 530 million global viewers watched players compete in different video games in 2022, and that number is expected to grow. Yet the industry, now in existence for about 25 years, is still experiencing major obstacles. Some analysts say many questions must be answered for esports to become mainstream like other professional sports. Topping the list is whether teams can find a sustainable revenue model, as most are operating at a loss or just starting to break even. While the companies that create the video games are profitable, professional teams rely heavily on corporate sponsorship, which can be unstable. There is also no independent regulatory authority, leading to problems that range from exploitative labor practices and lack of gender diversity to players using performance-enhancing drugs. The result is a volatile environment many say is in need of reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States is spending more on cybersecurity today than ever before but is experiencing a growing number of cyberattacks on the power grid and other targets. A Nebraska-based consortium of small municipal utilities, for example, recently detected nearly 4 million hacking attempts in one eight-week period. The electric grid -- a patchwork of more than 300,000 miles of transmission lines and 9,200 generating stations -- also is vulnerable to attacks by gun- or bomb-wielding terrorists or saboteurs. Although some security experts say a massive, long-term blackout is unlikely, industry and government officials are working to protect the grid and improve coordination between agencies and utilities. In February, President Obama announced a plan to help government agencies, businesses and the public prevent and respond to attacks. But securing the grid against attack is difficult, and many analysts say the task is becoming harder as the use of renewable energy and cloud-linked "smart" energy-efficiency technology grows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his first term, President Obama vowed to try to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Now, in his second term, while still hoping for a non-nuclear world, Obama has embarked on a vast plan to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a step he says is needed to keep the weapons reliable and safe. The effort -- aimed at upgrading the nation's launch systems, warheads and the missiles, bombers and submarines that deliver them -- could run nearly $350 billion in equipment and operational costs over the next decade and up to $1 trillion by 2050. The move comes amid rising tensions with Russia and China, the world's other top nuclear superpowers, as well as continuing skirmishes between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan and the nuclear ambitions of rogue states such as North Korea and Iran. Advocates of nuclear disarmament say the administration's plan will increase the danger of a nuclear holocaust by encouraging other countries to add to their nuclear stockpiles. But advocates of modernizing the U.S. arsenal say up-to-date and powerful nuclear weapons will discourage hostile nations from attacking the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bloodthirsty and ubiquitous, the mosquito is a carrier of death and disease. The roster of mosquito-borne illnesses is long: yellow fever, West Nile virus, chikungunya, dengue and the deadliest of all, malaria, which kills more than 400,000 people a year and sickens at least 200 million. The latest scourge is Zika, a fast-moving virus that can cause severe birth defects, including devastating brain damage in newborns. As mosquitoes spread Zika throughout the Americas, many travelers and athletes plan to avoid next month's Olympics in Brazil, the disease's epicenter. With the mosquito season now underway in the United States, health officials warn that Zika could become endemic in this country, particularly along the Gulf Coast. The outbreak has drawn renewed attention to the weakness of U.S. public health efforts and criticism of Congress' failure to approve funding to combat Zika. Experts say Zika offers the latest evidence that the mosquito threat will grow as Earth's climate warms and the insect's habitat expands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists are making motors tiny enough to deliver medicine from inside human cells and microfibers that are 20 times stronger than steel. The gee-whiz science of nanotechnology has grown from obscurity in the 1980s into a trillion-dollar industry that already produces ingredients for some 1,800 consumer goods, from sunscreen to baby formula, and could transform such products as computer chips, solar cells and military armor. Some experts say the nano-revolution, which draws billions of dollars in government funding, could reorder the global economy. But other experts worry about the safety of nanomaterials. They argue that government regulators -- notably the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency -- are not up to the task of ensuring that nanoparticles are safe for public consumption or exposure. What's more, they fear that enemies eventually could use nanomaterials to make weapons of mass destruction. The nanotechnology industry contends, however, that current regulations are more than adequate and that the field's promise far outweighs its risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost of installing a residential or commercial solar energy system has declined rapidly in recent years, aided by federal tax breaks backed by the Obama administration. Solar users say the technology saves them money by allowing them to generate their own electrical power and helps protect the environment by reducing demand on conventional coal- and natural gas-burning power plants. Solar remains a tiny fraction of overall power generation in the United States, but it is growing rapidly. As solar expands, electric utilities all over the country are struggling to integrate it into the existing power system. They argue that the rapid growth in solar threatens the financial stability of the power grid and that solar users should pay to help maintain the vast system of poles, wires and transformers -- even if their conventional power needs decline. Meanwhile, the auto industry is looking to solar as an alternative power source, a trend that could add additional pressure to the struggling oil industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology that immerses users in artificial, but strikingly realistic, experiences is poised to move beyond flight simulators and other specialized training applications into games, health care, education and mental health therapy, to name a few uses. Improvements in the technologies that drive virtual reality -- computing power for creating virtual worlds, cameras that track and analyze users' movements, sensor-rich devices for processing touch and software allowing multiple users to interact -- are behind the advances. Programmers can now create an array of lifelike sensations: flying like a bird, fighting off predators, riding a roller coaster or climbing a mountain. But experts are concerned that virtual reality also could cause disturbing physical or psychological reactions, such as paralyzing terror, motion sickness or injuries caused by disorientation. Meanwhile, others worry that so much can be learned about individuals' personalities from tracking their behavior in virtual-reality environments that personal privacy could be compromised. Some are calling for strict regulation of the technology while others say voluntary ratings of games and programs would be enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From "Candy Crush" to "Call of Duty," some 150 million Americans play video games, including all but a small fraction of children. The global spread of technology and migration of video games to mobile devices have helped propel the industry to record sales -- $61 billion worldwide in 2015. Among the biggest converts to video games are educators, who are using them to teach such subjects as history, geography, science and math and to hone students' critical-thinking abilities. Meanwhile, developers are creating games to improve attention skills in children with ADHD, delay cognitive decline in adults, help recovering stroke victims and improve corporate customer service. But questions remain about video games' effectiveness at enhancing learning and cognition and whether games promote addiction or shorten attention spans. And while half of players are women, critics say gaming culture discourages female participation, a problem that could have ramifications for education as games become more prominent in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

President Obama has joined a long line of political leaders and patients' advocates calling for a cure for cancer, the nation's second-leading cause of death. But scientists caution that cancer is not just one disease amenable to a single cure but rather more than 100 complex and related diseases, many of which have defied decades of experimental treatments. Congress recently increased federal cancer research funding by $264 million for this year, money scientists say is needed to build on promising treatments that boost the body's immune system or that target molecules on cancer cells. But many new cancer medicines cost more than $100,000 annually, sparking outrage in Congress and among doctors. Drug makers say their charges are necessary to pay for medical research. Meanwhile, some doctors caution against false hope because many of the new drugs don't work for long or treat only certain cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of people worldwide are using computer technology that allows them to visit websites, communicate with others and conduct business online without leaving a trace of their identity or location. That so-called anonymizing technology has created what experts call the Dark Web, a murky layer of the online world far less visible than the one accessible by Google and other common search engines. Proponents say the Dark Web's ability to mask identities helps protect dissidents in repressive regimes, allows police and military personnel to conduct covert operations and lets human rights activists report atrocities without risking reprisal. But critics say the Dark Web is a pathway for cybercrime, used by child pornographers, drug dealers and sex traffickers to hide their illegal dealings. Some law enforcement officials say the technology cripples their ability to catch criminals. But civil-liberties advocates counter that online anonymity is so valuable for good causes that it must not be curtailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution kills 3.3 million people a year worldwide, including 55,000 Americans, according to a new study by an international group of scientists. Moreover, airborne pollutants, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), are contributing to global climate change. In response, President Obama, frustrated by congressional inaction, has used his executive authority to institute a sweeping plan aimed at limiting CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants, curbing smog-causing ozone and encouraging the growth of renewable energy. Industry officials are challenging Obama's Clean Power Plan in court, arguing the regulations are too costly and that market forces are enough to bring about reductions in pollution. Environmental advocates dismiss those claims and say the administration should have gone further in tightening emission standards. Meanwhile, the United States and almost all the other nations on Earth are set to begin climate talks later this month in Paris to seek consensus on ways to curb emissions to stave off further warming of the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robots and other forms of automation can be found not only on factory assembly lines but also in hospital operating rooms, behind car steering wheels, in offices and on Wall Street trading floors. What's more, some experts say, the capabilities of robots and intelligent machines -- computers that can analyze data and act on it autonomously -- are improving so rapidly that within 10 years machines could perform nearly half of the work done by humans, and more cheaply. Robotics proponents say automation will improve productivity, lower labor costs and make companies stronger and more competitive with overseas rivals. But automation critics fear robots will put many Americans out of work, cause social upheaval and disrupt entire economic sectors. Meanwhile, the legal system is scrambling to catch up with the fast-growing robotics sector, with experts expressing confusion over who should be responsible when robots go awry and cause physical or economic harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical community is debating whether the nation will have enough physicians in coming decades to serve the health care needs of U.S. residents. The Association of American Medical Colleges forecasts a deficit of up to 90,400 doctors -- particularly specialists -- by 2025, citing mainly a growing and aging population. But other professionals say such projections are exaggerated. Ending unnecessary medical procedures and making greater use of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacy-based clinics and technology that allows patients to communicate remotely with medical personnel could reduce the demand for doctors, they argue. Despite the debate, government officials and private organizations are working to increase the supply of physicians, especially in rural and low-income urban areas, where shortages exist. Efforts include expanding medical school slots and postgraduate residency programs, placing schools and residencies in localities that lack doctors, recruiting students from those areas and supporting them throughout their medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of Americans suffering from Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease, is projected to more than double by 2050, from 5.3 million today to 13.8 million. At the same time, as Baby Boomers age and medical expenses rise, the cost of treating and caring for people with the disease is expected to rise fivefold to $1.1 trillion. No treatment can yet prevent or cure Alzheimer's. However, advances in brain science and diagnostic technologies are creating breakthroughs unimagined even a few years ago. Rapidly expanding knowledge in genetics, neuroscience, biology and computing is leading to clinical trials on potential new drug therapies, research on how to prevent the disease and new tests to help diagnose it -- perhaps even before symptoms appear. Scientists are debating whether the main hypothesis of what causes the disease -- a buildup of amyloid protein into plaques that kill nerve cells in the brain -- is correct. Patient advocates say federal Alzheimer's research is underfunded, but Congress is clearing the way for more research funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New genetic technologies allow scientists to delete a mutant gene and insert a healthy one, which someday may enable doctors to banish disease genes. Used in embryos, gene editing has the potential to eliminate inherited diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. Until recently, the techniques have been used only on embryos from laboratory animals. In April, however, stunned scientists accused Chinese researchers of crossing a strict ethical boundary by using the technology on human embryos -- albeit nonviable ones. Some ethicists and scientists fear that if the new genetic engineering techniques are used to alter viable human embryos, scientists would then begin creating "designer babies." The Chinese experiment raised fears that the notorious eugenics movement of the early 20th century -- aimed at creating a perfect "master race" -- might re-emerge. Twenty-nine countries -- but not the United States -- prohibit genetic manipulation of human embryos, and ethicists and scientists are calling for a worldwide ban or moratorium until such procedures are better understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of high-profile crashes has sparked new concerns about airline safety. The disasters include this year's apparently deliberate crash of a Germanwings jetliner in Europe by a troubled co-pilot, the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jetliner over war-torn Ukraine last July and the disappearance of another Malaysia Airlines plane on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. Those and other incidents, coupled with increasingly crowded skies and airports stemming from growing worldwide passenger demand, are prompting airline regulators and operators to look for new ways to make aviation safer and more efficient. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is undertaking a $40 billion project aimed at converting U.S. air traffic control to a satellite-based communication and navigation system, but the project has run into delays and cost overruns and raised questions about the agency's ability to complete it. Meanwhile, controversy is brewing in Congress over calls to privatize air traffic control duties, now handled by the FAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As standardized tests assume a larger and larger role in elementary and secondary schools, many education specialists and corporate hiring managers are expressing concern about students' ability to engage in critical thinking. Also known as "higher-order thinking," it includes the capacity to examine and evaluate ideas, solve problems, question assumptions, identify biases and work collaboratively. Warnings from technology analysts that computers could soon take over all routine jobs have led some education experts to conclude that teaching inquiry and problem-solving skills might best prepare students for the 21st-century workplace. The new Common Core standards, which many states are adopting to set nationally consistent learning goals for math and language arts, and another multistate initiative, the Next Generation Science Standards, call for more concept-based learning and thinking-skills instruction. But education reformers question whether either effort will push schools to do more to foster critical-thinking skills and to lessen policymakers' reliance on standardized tests as a way to measure education quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its start 20 years ago, online dating has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry that includes not only giants such as Match.com and eHarmony but also niche sites serving older singles, Christians, Jews, animal lovers, vegans and even would-be vampires. As the business adapts to an increasingly mobile culture, more and more people are accessing dating services through smartphone apps, some of which allow users to appraise potential dates instantly and to accept or reject them with the swipe of a phone screen. One in 10 American adults has tried online dating, and nearly 60 percent of Internet users say it is a good way to meet people. Yet some researchers say dating companies' matchmaking algorithms are no better than chance at providing suitable partners. At the same time, critics worry that the abundance of prospective dates available online is undermining relationships. Scammers, meanwhile, are using dating sites to extract money from vulnerable targets, and some dating-site users advise caution about maintaining personal safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa to a mysterious new illness that killed a Kansas farmer last summer, emerging infectious diseases -- illnesses never seen before or that reappear in new places or with new severity -- threaten people around the world. About five new infections emerge in humans each year, typically three crossing over from animals. Many new kinds of infections also strike wild and domestic animals. Fifty years ago many medical scientists believed widespread use of antibiotics and vaccines would all but eliminate infectious disease. But factors such as environmental change, population growth, poverty and globalization are spurring new, often deadly, infections. Disease scientists urge policymakers to pay much more attention to animal health and to boost funding for public-health agencies here and abroad, but many conservatives say more money is not the answer. Meanwhile, scientists are gaining new insights into the genetic makeup of disease-causing microbes, giving them hope of discovering more ways to prevent or fight infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 40 countries -- including the United States, Great Britain, Russia and China -- are developing a new generation of robotic weapons that can be programmed to seek out and destroy enemy targets without direct human control. The push for autonomous machines has raised a host of legal and ethical questions and sparked concerns that the Geneva Conventions -- international rules of war that date back to the 1860s -- may not be adequate to control robotic warfare. Military experts say autonomous weapons could save lives by keeping soldiers out of harm's way and by using pinpoint accuracy to avoid civilian deaths and other collateral damage. But opponents fear the emerging technology might trigger a new arms race and encourage leaders to use force rather than diplomacy. Meanwhile, the U.S. military is developing revolutionary ways to supply and protect soldiers, including Kevlar underwear, invisible camouflage and customizable 3D-printed food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instant global communications and open trade routes have been a boon to businesspeople and consumers -- as well as to international criminals. "Transnational organized crime" -- in U.N. and U.S government parlance -- has been expanding over the past two decades, some officials say, threatening to overwhelm the legitimate world economy. Criminals have raced ahead of law enforcement in adapting to globalization and modern technology, experts argue, citing booming ivory and drug smuggling, human trafficking, piracy, cyber-theft and counterfeiting of luxury goods. Others counter that transnational crime is not new but simply a modern form of an old crime -- smuggling -- and that new technology also enables law enforcement to better track down criminals, even across borders. Both sides agree, however, that modern technology enables hackers, pirates, smugglers and others to inflict widespread damage more quickly than in the past. The intersection between internationally minded criminals and terrorism is another worry, with terrorists turning to crime to finance their operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cars that drive themselves, long a staple of science fiction, could be in auto showrooms in the next few years. Automakers and researchers around the world are testing and refining technologies that allow a car to know where it is going and to communicate with other vehicles. Special sensors and software make the breakthroughs possible. Already, cars are selling with automated features designed to keep them in the correct lane, brake to avoid collisions and park themselves. Technology giant Google, which has tested vehicles with self-driving features on a half-million miles of roads, recently demonstrated a car with no steering wheel, accelerator or brake pedal. It remains unclear, however, how safe super-smart cars would be, how they would affect traffic congestion, how consumers and the nation would pay for the cars and the supporting infrastructure they would need and whether Americans will accept such a radical change in their relationship with automobiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing frequency, scientists are finding evidence that planets and moons throughout the universe could be hospitable to life. Nearly 1,800 planets orbiting stars other than the sun have been confirmed since 1995, including more than 700 in February alone. Scientists now conclude that the Milky Way galaxy alone contains a trillion planets, and many believe microbial life, if not intelligent life, exists beyond Earth. Still, finding extraterrestrial life poses enormous challenges. Adequate instruments for observation and sufficient scientific understanding don't yet exist to determine whether distant planets -- or even potentially habitable moons in our own solar system -- harbor life. Moreover, scientists are split on whether sending robots or humans to explore distant worlds is more effective. The biggest challenge for space science, however, may be Washington budget-cutting, which has made it difficult to ensure stable, long-term funding for large scientific projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an advanced form of genetic engineering, scientists are manipulating the structure of cells to create new life forms designed to perform specific functions, such as detecting arsenic in drinking water or producing biofuels from algae. More than 500 companies, universities and other organizations worldwide are conducting research in the new field, known as synthetic biology, and developing products with the technology. Proponents say it will safely revolutionize everything from food and fuel production to medicine and manufacturing. But the field is largely self-regulated, leading critics to warn that synthetic biology -- especially when used on an industrial scale -- poses potential environmental and health risks that as yet are unexplored. Additionally, some ethicists question whether scientists should be creating new life forms. And others fear that the proliferation of do-it-yourself labs, where the public is free to experiment with synthetic biology, could enable terrorists to use the technology to create bioweapons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]