#science-policy

#science-policy

Major energy producers increased the likelihood and intensity of heatwaves, according to research published in Nature. Using data from an international disaster database, a team developed a methodology to investigate how much anthropogenic climate change had influenced heatwaves. They conclude that many of these events would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change, and that nearly a quarter of the heatwaves recorded from 2000 to 2023 can be directly linked to the greenhouse-gas emissions from individual energy giants.

"The whole ecosystem that we have built around AI, that has been created by federal support, could soon be seriously undermined."

The federal government is filled with scientists who contribute to decisions regarding food, medicines, environment, health care, and more. However, as President Trump's second term began, many scientists noticed a shift towards an antiscience approach.

The executive order promises to ensure that "federal decisions are informed by the most credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence available." In practice, however, it gives political appointees authority to define scientific integrity and decide which evidence counts and how it should be interpreted.

This order promises a commitment to federally funded research that is transparent, rigorous, and impactful, but risks undermining scientific independence by politicizing research evaluation.