On the final official day of climate negotiations in Copenhagen, scientists offer their thoughts on the outcome and the agreements reached. read more

The Science and Technology Facilities Council today announced a review of funding priorities in UK science, which includes cuts to funding to key areas including particle physics. An array of physicists responded. read more

The report, by the eurosceptic political campaign organisation the European Foundation, offered ‘100 reasons’ why anthropogenic climate change is a myth – very few, if any, of them based on sound science. read more

Following the furore over his sacking from the government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), Prof David Nutt offers his thoughts on the government’s ‘Principles of scientific advice to Government’, which sets out revised principles on the provision of independent scientific advice to government. read more

This study identified a single gene responsible for maintaining ovary development during sex differentiation in mice, improving current understanding of how genetic factors influence sexual development. read more

The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) is a research programme based at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences which looks at the science of global change. In the week of the Copenhagen climate talks, the IGBP published its Climate Change Index, integrating data on various indicators of climate change, including CO2 levels, temperature and sea level and how they are changing. read more

With crucial climate talks in Copenhagen under way, the WMO and Met Office have released data showing that the previous decade was the warmest year on record. read more

The UK government’s Committee on Climate Change has published its report on aviation in the UK, including forecasts for growth in the aviation sector and the implications of this for the UK’s emissions reduction strategy. read more

A systematic review of studies of the efficacy of antiviral drugs used to treat influenza has found only modest benefits in their use, raising questions over public health policy regarding their use in the current flu pandemic. read more

The study found that the risk of developing a blood clot after surgery is higher than previously thought, and remains high for up to three months. read more

The study found evidence suggesting a link the use of a commonly-used diabetes drug and increased risk of heart failure. read more

The charity Breast Cancer UK has called for the chemical bisphenol-A to be banned from use in plastics used to make products including baby bottles and food and drink containers, on the grounds that is linked to health problems. read more

A study of mothers and babies suggests that exposure to insect repellents during the first three months of pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of genital birth defects in baby boys. However, the research was based on interviews with mothers, and experts urged caution over their interpretation. read more

China has announced proposed targets to slow (although not reduce) its carbon emissions over the course of the next century. The announcement followed pledges made the previous day by the Obama administration promising to cut US emissions. read more

The Obama administration has announced that President Obama will attend the climate summit in Copenhagen, where he will pledge to reduce US emissions over the coming decades. read more

The paper draws conclusions suggesting that giving birth seems to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis. read more

Emails and documents illegally obtained from servers at the University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit have been uploaded on a climate ‘sceptics’ blog. It is claimed they show evidence of scientists’ collusion to manipulate data in making the case for human-made climate change. read more

The bridge collapse occurred during severe flooding in the north-west of England, following several days of heavy rainfall. read more

Scientists in Norway discovered a possible mutation to the H1N1 virus which could affect properties such as ease of transmission and virulence. read more

The Tamiflu-resistant strain was found to have emerged within a group of hospital patients in Cardiff, all of whom had underlying health problems and reduced immunity. read more