The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today its selection of Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) as Legislator of the Year for 2011-2012. Senator Menendez receives the award at today's BIO Legislative Day Fly-In reception.

Atheists and nonbelievers gathered on the National Mall Saturday (March 24) in a bid to show politicians, voters and even themselves that they have grown into a force to be recognized and reckoned with.

Conservatives who consider themselves well-informed and educated are also deeper in denial about issues like global warming...the “smart idiots” effect: The fact that politically sophisticated or knowledgeable people are often more biased, and less persuadable, than the ignorant.

Being vocally anti-science has become a defining mark of a current style of politics, an intentional ignorance that recalls the Scopes Monkey Trial, argues law professor Robert Benson in this Miller-McCune article. "Republicans are falling over themselves in a rush to ridicule the science that shows our use of fossil fuels is producing greenhouse gases that are warming the planet to disastrous levels... anti-scientists are undaunted by facts. More than half of the incoming Republican caucus denies the validity of climate ch...

Apparently, yesterday, Apple decided to release information regarding Ping, their new social network tied into iTunes. It should probably not be confused with Bing, the new Microsoft search engine, or what ever Bing is. It should also not be confused with anything from Mom, including her eyePhone. Apple has, however, had some problems with their tendency to censor things that run through them. This includes a webcomic that included gay characters. Apparently, this also included a Tweet from Lady Gaga supporting the overturn...

The FDA is trying to discourage meat producers from using too many antibiotics as it has been recently found that they are a threat to public health.

A newly proposed bill would give the government the ability to shut down web access nationwide and give access to user information.

The state Department of Transportation plans to apply for $400 million to $500 million in federal grants this summer to upgrade the New Haven to Springfield rail line.

Proponents of a high-speed train that would link this High Desert city to Las Vegas say they are confident that the impending completion of environmental and financial plans will allow construction of a new rail line to begin in 2011.

More and more, life is resembling the chat room,” says Dr. Elias Aboujaoude, director of the Impulse Control Disorders Clinic at Stanford. “We’re paying a price in terms of our cognitive life because of this virtual lifestyle.”

Beverly Bell of Truthout reports that "Monsanto will be donating 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn seeds and vegetable seeds, some of them treated with highly toxic pesticides to Haitian farmers. The Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) has committed to burning Monsanto's seeds, and has called for a march to protest the corporation's presence in Haiti on June 4, for World Environment Day." The entry of Monsanto seeds into Haiti is seen as "a very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity, on Creol...

The Wonk Room's Lee Fang previews the fight the telecoms are going to wage against Net Neutrality during the FCC's rule making process. They'll be falling back on proven tactics fear mongering and astroturf.

President Barack Obama on Thursday called for spending at least $13 billion to launch a "new era" of high-speed passenger rail transportation, sparking competition among states and providing a potentially rich new market for rail equipment makers.