Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

Universities launch new programmes to train engineers after coming under pressure to better meet continent’s skills needs

Political battles over a planned New Zealand medical school illustrate how the subject of where doctors are trained excites public passions like no other in higher education, explains John Ross

Countering the US president’s divisive misuse of genetics starts with asking the right research questions, says Mareile Kaufmann 

As the Trump administration proposes enormous cuts for the US’ world-renowned science agencies, Jack Grove looks into what is driving the attacks beyond political malice – and what, if anything, can be done to plug the huge funding gaps

Canadian prime minister creates two new ministries focused on industry and innovation, but critics fear stripping science from job titles signals wrong approach

Whole role of science in societies ‘being threatened’ by period of great turbulence, says scholar who chaired Ireland’s Covid vaccination drive

Europe needs effective responses to attacks on science in the US and elsewhere, says Jan Palmowski

Australia must fund its universities in ways that reflect their mission – not just their margins, say Rhodri Davies and Dorrit Jacob

Bots’ tendency to display ‘unwarranted confidence’ and fixate on ‘pink elephants’ particularly risky in medical research, according to new paper

Tariffs and further economic barriers only likely to drive spend on science and technology higher, analysts predict, amid hopes innovation can kickstart recovery

As UK universities desperately seek savings, open science advocates must press both their moral and selfish cases, say Marcus Munafò and Neil Jacobs

Increased Treasury support must be accompanied by a greater risk appetite among institutions and investors, explain the University of Edinburgh scientists who recently sold their medical spin-out for millions of pounds

Eminent scientists express dismay after UK science academy reportedly confirms Tesla mogul will not by investigated

Yale University joins several other leading research institutions in pausing hiring or spending

Politicians pushing STEM courses ‘would be well advised to acknowledge that at present student demand is doing their work for them’, says Hepi report

Meeting over revoking fellowship of Tesla and SpaceX boss proves inconclusive, although academy promises to consider ‘potential further actions’

Researchers asked participants to stick pins in ‘stereotypical scientist’ to establish levels of aggression

Long-awaited expansion of medical places seen as threatening future of Korean science sector

Under-representation of women probably a key factor in country’s underperformance versus rest of Europe

All we are seeing is a necessary course correction to counter the infiltration of bad actors, say Leslie McIntosh, René Aquarius and Dorothy Bishop

Measurements, data, facts and ocean health top to-do list of newly anointed science diplomat

Right-wing trust deficit is pronounced in western Europe and North America but not Australasia, international survey finds

Lack of joined-up thinking and decline in funding has seen UK fall behind rivals, says House of Lords report

As more of the research process is exposed, the readiness and resources of researchers and their institutions must be considered, says Tim Errington

Generalists are needed to help India achieve its ambitious space goals, THE summit hears

Five years after a devastating fire, the Paris cathedral has finally reopened, with the help of a vast team of researchers

With vaccine sceptics taking top White House posts, there are concerns that attacks on scientists who counter misinformation may become more extreme

Breezy assertions about what research shows undermine public trust as, however confidently stated, they are easy to challenge, says Rob Briner

This year’s Maddox Prize nominations suggest that institutional challenges may be a bigger problem than online abuse, says Tracey Brown

Researchers need to get politicians to focus on addressing underlying issues instead of short-term problems, according to former chief scientific adviser

In this age of widespread mis/disinformation, non-scientists need help to better grasp which claims bear rigorous scrutiny, says Gary Atkinson

Biochemistry professor David Baker and Google DeepMind scientists Sir Demis Hassabis and John Jumper awarded the 2024 prize

‘Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield share prize for ‘foundational discoveries and inventions’

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun honoured for revealing new principle of gene regulation

A ground-breaking physics experiment underlines a proud scholarly tradition that relies on purpose, dedication – and money, says Keith Burnett

Scientists argue disciplines need their own ways of thinking about student belonging to reach diversity goals

Play celebrates the turbulent career of a pioneering female astronomer

Italian biologist makes the case for slower and smaller research

Australian stakeholders applaud indigenous focus but stress need for planning and resourcing

Studying the heavens might seem a detached activity but the impact of stargazing has been immense throughout history, explains Nobel laureate

Nobel prizewinner reflects on the early hype over graphene, why Brexit damaged British science, and how geopolitics is harming research

One of the advantages of a large majority is that there is more generous political cover for experts brought into ministerial roles, says David Willetts

European Molecular Biology Laboratory boss will lead the Crick from next summer as Nobel laureate director steps back

Covid-era chief scientific adviser backed party’s Great British Energy plan during the election campaign

John-Arne Røttingen warns that financial difficulties facing UK universities are putting research at risk

Game of Thrones creators return with sci-fi thriller focused on five friends with Oxford physics doctorates

Increased share of women in higher education overall masks continuing indifference towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics

US’ biggest charitable foundation, with focus on global health, abandons APCs in favour of preprint repositories

Institutions must also raise awareness and create more welcoming environment for women, experts say

If, as it must, engineering is to contribute to restoring the planet, it needs to attract holistic-thinking carers, says Tim Ibell 

UK universities should leverage Saudi resources to build partnerships that will advance science and technology for mutual benefit, says Andrew Griffith

The science secretary’s demand that UKRI take action against its EDI committee underlines how far UK science’s independence has slipped, says Fiona Fox

Power relations would be more equitable if all leading disciplinary journals and books were published in multiple languages, says Simon Marginson

Even though half of STEM students say that they are religious, atheist worldviews are perceived to dominate in the laboratory

Professors from different disciplines will join forces to tackle big societal questions

More miscarriages inevitable unless courts become ‘more science-sensitive’, learned academy warns

Sector predicted to grow significantly in next decade, spurring a flurry of research and start-up activities

Recent pronouncements and government actions could undermine ordinary Indians’ faith in science and stifle critical thinking, says Mukhtar Ahmad

Researchers mustn’t be obliged to second-guess which results might not play out well in public or with powerful interests, worries Tracey Brown

Norwegian public health official to succeed Sir Jeremy Farrar at biomedical science funder