Where to Go for Info on Important and Controversial Science Topics

Members of the National Academies are top scientists in their fields from across the country and provide expert advice on science, technology, and health policy to the federal government and the public under a congressional charter. The National Academies consist of four separate groups: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. Reports from the National Academies frequently make headlines because of the national importance of the subjects they review and the professional stature of the committee members. The reports are available for free downloading from the National Acadamies Press website, along with special webpages containing collections reports and links for additional reading. You can also download official podcasts, which provide access to National Academies public briefings and news conferences. A few of the more high-profile topics covered by the National Academies include:

• Evolution - Do you have a big debate scheduled with your local schoolboard on creationism? If you can't move out of Kansas, you at least can download these free resources on evolution from the National Academies.
• Stem Cell Research - What are stem cells? Why are some people so opposed to their use, while others claim they could be the source of cures for diseases like Alzheimers and diabetes? For an overview of the science and issues surrounding stem cell research, read Understanding Stem Cells from the NAS Stem Cell summary page.
• Global Warming and Climate Change - Choose from fifteen publications by the National Academies available for download on the Global Warming and Climate Change page on a range of topics from Understanding Climate Change Feedbacks to Making Climate Forecasts Matter. Also, individual science board homepages such as the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate contain free reports online.

The next time you're looking for a good science book, check out the National Academies Press website. You won't find these titles at your typical local bookstore.

• Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Possibilities, by Jeffrey Rosenthal - Description: From terrorist attacks to big money jackpots, Struck by Lightning deconstructs the odds and oddities of chance, examining both the relevant and irreverent role of randomness in our everyday lives.
• The Grid: A Journey Through the Heart of Our Electrified World, by Phillip Schewe - Description: The electrical grid goes everywhere it s the largest and most complex machine ever made. Yet the system is built in such a way that the bigger it gets, the more inevitable its collapse.
• Out of Thin Air: Dinosaurs, Birds, and Earth's Ancient Atmosphere, by Peter Ward - Description: For 65 million years dinosaurs ruled the Earth until a deadly asteroid forced their extinction. But what accounts for the incredible longevity of dinosaurs? A renowned scientist now provides a startling explanation that is rewriting the history of the Age of Dinosaurs.