Does torture work? Can we get reliable, actionable intelligence by torturing people? That ugly debate has raised its head again after the death of Osama bin Laden. Some are claiming that waterboarding provided vital information that led to his whereabouts…
One thing that both sides of the political spectrum seem to agree on is the notion that political discourse in this country has become increasingly shrill, hyperbolic, and dominated by two extremes. However, although nearly everyone seems to agree on…
The USDA on Thursday decided not to restrict the planting of genetically modified alfalfa. This is a good decision backed by solid science. In fact, all genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are backed by solid science. Opposition to GMO’s is becoming…
New Yorkers and New Jerseyans were recently greeted by a festive Christmas billboard near the Lincoln Tunnel, which read: “You know it’s a myth. This season, celebrate reason.” What might “celebrating reason” look like? Sitting around the dining room table,…
The biggest barriers to scientific progress often come from environmentalists, which is ironic, because they often claim to carry the banner of good science. On Thursday, Mr. Obama’s Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues released a report which…
Maybe “scam” is a strong word, but “hyped” probably isn’t. More and more scientific research is showing that organic and green products don’t live up to expectations– or even to the label, for that matter. This post by Melinda Moyer…
The global warming debate is dominated by two extremes. Those on the Left insist climate change mandates a dubious cap-and-trade policy, while those on the Right insist climate science is a fraud or a United Nations-sponsored conspiracy. Put simply, the…
Stephen Hawking is a brilliant man. He is admired by scientists all over the globe, myself included. In a nutshell, his research has revolutionized astrophysics, and his popularization of science has earned him a celebrity status not achieved by any…
Hi, Everyone. My name is Alex Berezow, and I’m the Editor of RealClearScience (a new sister site of RealClearPolitics). While you’re waiting for election results, check out our new site! King 5 News, the local NBC affiliate in Seattle, is…