Various titbits from Nature

Some of these links are to Nature, and they require subscriptions. Sorry. If its any consolation, I can't read them fro home either - I have them stcked up in tabs and need to get rid of them... They're from Nature 440, 2 March 2006, if you're looking for the paper copy.

This one: Alternative energy plan criticized is sad-but-funny: Their worries were highlighted last week by events at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, the Department of Energy's main research centre for energy sources such as solar, wind and ethanol. Just days after being laid off, 32 NREL staff were reinstated when it emerged that Bush was going to visit the lab during a tour to promote his focus on alternative energy. Todd Arbetter (a newcomer to BAS from Colorado) wrote to his local paper (free subs req): So when the president lays out his plans for renewable energy, I wonder what he has to say about his lack of support of climate change research.

It reminds me of the way institutions in the UK that are going to be visited by the Mrs Quin get their toilets spruced up for the Royal Wee.

More seriously, Toshiba goes nuclear tells us that Toshiba agreed last month to pay US$5.4 billion for Westinghouse Electric, the Japanese manufacturer placed a hefty bet that nuclear power is on the verge of a global comeback. Interesting indeed. The entrails read in the UK suggest the govt is keen on New Nukes, though the most recent report came out against: Don't build nuclear plants, green advisers tell Blair.

And lastly, A Silent Spring for climate change? in the Books and Arts section. Its a review by David Reay of two recent books, and is looking for... what the question suggests. But there is so much info out there now, I can't see how one more book can possibly have the impact SS had.

Oops, and laster-than-lastly, the one I forgot: 'Shadow' debate on climate looks beyond Kyoto Politicians, business and development leaders have launched their own dialogue... Frustrated by the slow pace of government action, the group plans to shadow the formal United Nations negotiations on a successor to the Kyoto agreement... The group includes lawmakers from the G8 industrial nations, as well as India, China, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Australia and South Africa. No representative of the US Congress was present at the 24 February launch, although the effort's organizers say they hope to have significant US participation... Margaret Beckett ... hoped the discussions would "encourage more free thinking" than formal negotiations....