In The News

On the Campaign Trail

June 24, 2008
Whatever the result of November’s election, most observers expect the next US president to be more science-friendly than George W. Bush. Both Barack Obama and John McCain are expected to repeal Bush’s curbs on stem-cell research and step up the fight against climate change. Of course, the two men differ on some details of science-related issues. The most important test of the candidates is not a...

Pioneering Power From Geothermal Energy

Tobias Lill June 18, 2008
As oil prices climb, researchers and communities scramble for substitutes, including geothermal energy. Producers run pipes deep below the ground, with its constant temperature, and a system relying on a mixture of water and ammonia maximizes power generation. “Geothermal energy has one big advantage over other forms of renewables," writes Tobias Lill for Spiegel Online. "Since it uses...

Oil Majors Say US Restrictions Delay Iran Projects

Benoît Faucon June 12, 2008
Despite surging oil prices, companies investing in Iranian energy projects confront long delays. The US has long imposed sanctions on Iran, and as a result, it becomes more difficult to use American technology or equipment, hindering many foreign ventures in Iran. US companies once exploited legal loopholes to continue operations in Iran, but the September 11th attacks ended that strategy. The...

Resourcing Outsourcing

Tamer Hafez May 29, 2008
Rapid growth is anticipated in outsourcing of information-technology, particularly with the rise in energy prices. Infrastructure, low wages, an educated work force and language skills have contributed to Egypt moving up the list as one of the best destinations for outsourcing. “Yet even the seemingly organized IT and call center market is fragmented, spanning from brand-name supported regional...

To Aim Ads, Web Is Keeping Closer Eye on You

Louise Story April 15, 2008
Computer programs that record, transmit and utilize detailed consumer preferences are in demand. Search engines monitor users’ every click. Even accounts like MySpace and Facebook, which are not search engines, have jumped onto the bandwagon and collect extensive information about their users. Direct advertising is lucrative. While consumers probably prefer seeing ads that interest them than not...

IT Workers on the Move With Globalization

Anthony P. D’Costa April 9, 2008
Talented professionals, including information-technology workers, chose to migrate for jobs and high wages. Such workers have often moved from developing countries in Asia and Eastern Europe to the wealthy developed nations, where graying populations and a lack of youth interest in mathematics and other technical subjects, created a need for skilled workers. But a new shift is also on, reports...

Europe Poised to Bolster Web Shield

Doreen Carvajal April 3, 2008
The internet is not constrained by national borders, and individual nations struggle both to police cybercrime and protect themselves from cyberattack. Now, a year after intense denial-of-service attacks crippled much of the Baltic nation of Estonia’s internet infrastructure, European and US officials strive to boost their cooperation against online threats. Critics warn, however, that these...