July 2 - A recent study in the journal Toxicological Sciences reports that exposure of mice to dioxins during pregnancy can affect the development of mammary cells, which under normal conditions proliferate rapidly beginning early in pregnancy. The inhibition of growth has been reported to result in reduced breast-milk production.

June 26 - A Supreme Court opinion issued yesterday, which ruled that defendants have a right to cross-examine forensic analysts, cites a National Research Council report on forensic science released in February.  The majority opinion noted the report's findings that the reliability of forensic methods varies widely and that forensic labs -- which are usually under the control of law-enforcement agencies -- may feel pressured to sacrifice appropriate methodology for the sake of expediency.

June 26 - The recent search for wreckage from the crash of Air France Flight 447 off the coast of Brazil has highlighted a tragedy of a different sort: marine litter that biodegrades slowly and kills sea turtles, birds, fish, and marine mammals. Marine litter is so abundant that Brazilian authorities sounded a false alarm when they found what they thought was wreckage from the downed plane, when in fact, it was run-of-the-mill garbage.

June 17 - The Obama administration released a new report, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, which provides detailed information on current and pending impacts of global climate change in the U.S. and says it is important to act now, rather than later, to minimize those impacts.

June 11 - For many decades, some of Africa's most talented and educated citizens have migrated to other parts of the world. It is estimated that approximately one-third of native-born African scientists live and work in developed countries. In a statement issued today to governments attending next month's G8+5 summit in Italy, the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) -- representing 13 science academies across the continent -- calls for a new approach to Africa's "brain drain."