Friday, 30 January 98 Washington, DC

1. 21ST CENTURY RESEARCH FUND IS PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.
It would be, the President said in his State of the Union speech, the largest funding increase in history for NIH, NSF and NCI. Good news for science had been expected, and it was clear that a major announcement would be made when NIH Director Harold Varmus was seated next to the First Lady. It was not until almost the end of the speech, however, that science finally came up. While the President's words, and the high visibility of Varmus, put the focus on biomedical research, a gentle purring sound can be heard coming from all science agencies. The actual budget request will be released on Monday, showing large increases across the board in civilian research programs, including Energy Research. Even NASA Space Science and DOD 6.1 will show good increases. Noting that past environmental programs have not harmed the economy, Mr. Clinton called for tax incentives and R&D to encourage renewable energy, fuel-efficient cars and energy efficient home

2. CTBT: CLINTON CALLS FOR 1998 RATIFICATION OF TEST BAN TREATY.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) has flatly stated that the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will not come up for a vote in 1998, and the betting had been that the President would not bring it up in the State of the Union. However, a recent poll shows over 70% of the American public favoring the treaty, and Clinton got backing from four former Joint Chiefs for early ratification. Sen. Helms (R-NC), the chair of Foreign Relations, made it clear a week ago that CTBT wasn't getting past him (WN 23 Jan 98). It's believed that Helms is after softer tobacco industry penalties in exchange for consideration of CTBT. The White House included the the tobacco settlement in its balanced budget calculation.

3. LOW-LEVEL RADIATION: NRC PANEL SAYS IT'S TIME TO REASSESS.
Policies concerning low-level radiation currently rely on the 1990 Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation report (BEIR V). BEIR V assumed a linear no-threshold model that everyone knows is wrong. Citing new information, an NRC panel, convened at the request of EPA, calls for a comprehensive reanalysis of health risks based on new information. It's expected to take 36 months.

4. THE MARS EFFECT: PUZZLED WN READERS WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.
My only information comes from Good Morning America: "People born when Mars is rising or directly overhead are more likely to become athletes, military officers, or executives; in the case of Saturn, scientists and physicians are more likely; with Jupiter it's actors." Astrology, according to my dictionary, is: "The study of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs." Dr. Ertl, one of the "serious-minded scientists" on Good Morning America (WN 23 Jan 98), says he believes in the Mars effect, but not in astrology.



Bob Park can be reached via email at whatsnew@bobpark.org
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
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