Machine learning, the use of cellphones as data collection devices in science, energy efficiency in computing and privacy are the four research topics that Internet gigant Google pursues by university research funding, writes Steve Lohr in a NY Times blog post (1.2.2010). Approx 5.7 million US-Dollars are spent for a dozen university research projects.

As early as year 1928 researchers found clues that blows to the head results in brain injuries and a higher risk of dementia. However, sports managers ignore the scientific facts, writes Deborah Blum in an opinion piece for the NY Times (4.2.2010).

Theoretical physicists around Martin Plenio from Imperial College, London, propose to introduce into research papers by short videos that highlights the essentials of the paper and the results. The video is self-made by a small webcam and posted to the Quantiki portal. The video may be linked to the pre-print server arxiv.org, where researchers in the branches of mathematics, theoretical physics, and astronomy are used to deposit their papers in advance to publication.

The main goal is to give users an easier access to research, to expand the audience and to push scientists to explain their research to a broader readership. The video is essentially a presentation with maximum 6 minutes length.

Cristine Russell shows in her contribution for the Columbia Journalism Review (14.11.2008) how the press staff with universities, organisations and industry triggers science stories picked up by news reporters. And take it the other way round, science editors become dependent on the news release outlets - there's only the science in your paper delivered by Science, Nature, Eurekalert et al to your doorstep.

Impact factors and citation indices are a somewhat gold standard to measure quality and productivity of a scientist. But critics question the validity of these measures. Now, Jürgen Kaube writes in FAZ (24.7.2008) about a statistical report on impact factors commissioned by the International Mathematical Union (among others). The conclusion is, the significance of these citation measures like the impact factor or the Hirsch index is poor, if not nil.

Lisa Margonelli reviews in the NY Times (15. June 2008) the book "Bottlemania" by Elizabeth Royte. The message: "So why did Americans spend nearly $11 billion on bottled water in 2006, when we could have guzzled tap water at up to about one ten-thousandth the cost? The facile answer is marketing, marketing and more marketing." We know, tapped water is as good as bottled water, or even better. Royte gives now a broader picture, including political, economic and cultural background. I guess, all speaks for the tap.

William Broad investigates for the NY Times (15.4.2008) whether the Titanic sank in 1912 because the ship's builder used not the best available material for the thousands of rivets but second choice.