FABBS reports on items of interest to many communities – scientists, policymakers, and the public. In our news, you will see updates on science funding and policy, articles that translate research for policy, and descriptions of the research contributions of scientists at all stages of their research careers.
Answering the Endless ‘Why?’: Children’s Questions Matter, and So Do Our Answers
March 29, 2018
When you spend time with preschoolers, it can seem like they ask a question a minute. In reality, it’s probably more, because studies show that preschoolers ask an average of 72 questions per hour. Although the endless “why” questions can drive parents a little crazy, answering them thoroughly is helpful for children’s cognitive development, says Dr. Kathleen Corriveau of Boston University.
Corriveau’s studies build on previous research about the importance of
read moreLoneliness Is Bad for Your Health, but How?
March 28, 2018
Feeling lonely and unloved are bad for your heart, and not just in the figurative sense. In fact, studies show that loneliness, marital distress, and lack of social support are linked with a host of negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular illness, obesity and its related complications, and even increased rates of morbidity. Our emotional states are inextricably linked with our physical health, so why don’t we pay as much attention to stress and loneliness as we do
read moreFY 2018 Federal Funding Set, but Work Continues on NIH Clinical Trials
March 28, 2018
The omnibus bill to fund the federal government in FY 2018 was signed into law on Friday, March 23, 2018. The two-year budget deal reached on February 9, 2018, increased spending caps for both defense and nondefense in the budget, making it easier to get the FY 2018 bills over the finish line. Still, it wasn’t easy, and took almost six months into the fiscal year to complete.
The $1.3 trillion omnibus, over 2200 pages in length, included all twelve annual spending
read moreChallenges Remain for NSF Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences in FY 2019
March 28, 2018
The House Committee on Space, Science and Technology (SST) held a hearing on March 16, 2018, to review the Administration’s 2019 fiscal year budget proposal for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Witnesses present at the hearing included Dr. France Cordova, Director of the NSF; Dr. Maria T. Zuber, Chair of the National Science Board (NSB); and Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy, CEO of the NSF.
Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and other Republican members of the committee stated
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