Friday, May 10, 2002

1. SECRECY: VISAS TO STUDY "SENSITIVE" TOPICS WILL BE SCREENED.
It doesn't take a nuclear physicist to light the fuse on a shoe bomb, but nevertheless, after 9/11 the State Department updated its list of areas of study that are regarded as "sensitive." The White House proposed to deny student visas in any of the 16 areas on the list. That got the attention of the academic community, which explained just how dependent the U.S. scientific enterprise is on foreign scientific talent. The administration backed down a bit, announcing on Tuesday that a presidential directive will create IPASS, the Interagency Panel for Science and Security, which will evaluate visa applications based on the nationality of the student, the area of study, and the nature of any research being conducted at the institution. According to OSTP director John Marburger, IPASS will rely heavily on information from the intelligence agencies. Using terrorism as a justification, the dissemination of unclassified information is being restricted. In December, certain biology journals were pressured to withhold information (WN 22 Feb 02). Last week we reported on a Pentagon plan to control unclassified information (WN 3 May 02).

2. NSF: BILL INTRODUCED TO DOUBLE THE BUDGET IN FIVE YEARS.
The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (H.R.4664), would provide a 15 percent increase in the NSF budget next year and put it on track for doubling in five years. This is a major achievement, made possible by the cooperation of the academic and industrial communities. The bill has a long way to go, and it is only an authorization. Any money must still be appropriated. Nevertheless, it's an essential first step and appears to have strong support in the House. The doubling of the NIH budget, which is expected to be completed this year, began the same way.

3. YUCCA MOUNTAIN: HOUSE BACKS THE NUCLEAR WASTE REPOSITORY.
The vote was an overwhelming 306-117. The debate carefully avoided logic on both sides. When opponents warned of the catastrophic consequences of possible leaks, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), who is a supporter, responded, "We're all going to die." It was perhaps the only scientifically defensible statement of the day, but it failed to reassure anyone. It won't be that easy in the Senate.

4. DEPRESSED? MAYBE YOU SHOULD TRY AN M&M.
According to a story in the Washington Post this week, a new analysis found that in the majority of trials conducted by drug companies, sugar pills did as well, or better, than antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. This is not to say the antidepressants didn't work, they did, but so did placebos. In fact, brain imaging showed the placebos affected the same areas of the brain as the prescription antidepressants. This may be telling us that if the problem is in your head, the cure is probably in the same place.



Bob Park can be reached via email at whatsnew@bobpark.org
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Opinions are the author's and are not necessarily shared by the University, but they should be.