Logo

Lander on Economics and Science

Feb 24, 2010

At the AAAS meeting, Eric Lander wonders why science and economics don’t mix very well, reports the Wall Street Journal’s Health Blog. Lander says that that disconnect has contributed to problems in healthcare; he pointed to the fee-for-service system that encourages doctors to do more tests and procedures. There’s no incentive for developing vaccines or low-carbon energy, the WSJ adds. “We need to forge a deeper understanding and relationship between economics and science,” Lander says.

Breaking News
The Scan

Booster for At-Risk

The New York Times reports that the US Food and Drug Administration has authorized a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for people 65 and older or at increased risk.

Preprints OK to Mention Again

Nature News reports the Australian Research Council has changed its new policy and now allows preprints to be cited in grant applications.

Hundreds of Millions More to Share

The US plans to purchase and donate 500 million additional SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses, according to the Washington Post.

Nature Papers Examine Molecular Program Differences Influencing Neural Cells, Population History of Polynesia

In Nature this week: changes in molecular program during embryonic development leads to different neural cell types, and more.