The warship survived the first blast of wind it encountered on its maiden voyage in Stockholm Harbor. But the second gust did it in. The sinking of Vasa, on August 10, 1628, took place nowhere near an enemy. In fact, it sank in full view of a horrified public, assembled to see off their navy’s—and Europe’s—most ambitious warship to date. The 220-foot, triple-deck, 64-gun leviathan, elaborately adorned, had been rush-ordered for King Gustav Adolf’s war against Poland. But before it faced an opposing ship or fired a single shot, Vasa slipped beneath the waves.
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Europe mulls plans to boost research in poorer regions
Europe’s next elite research centers could be built in the poor regions in the south and east of the continent but managed by prestigious research institutions in, say, the United Kingdom, Germany, or Sweden. That’s one of several ideas now under discussion in the European Parliament to bolster research and innovation in areas where they haven’t thrived, in hopes of accelerating economic development. Continue reading Europe mulls plans to boost research in poorer regions
Argentine legislators approve open access law
Argentina is nationalising its science output, following last month’s nationalisation of energy company YPF. Only this time, the benefits should be international. On 23 May the house of representatives, Argentina’s lower house, approved a bill that would require the results of all scientific research conducted at the Argentina’s National System for Science and Research or by researchers funded by it to be made freely available in an online depository. Continue reading Argentine legislators approve open access law
UK drug development
A £250-million (US$397-million) investment in venture capital for translational research in the United Kingdom could create jobs. The European Investment Fund in Luxembourg City and Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the commercial arm of the London-based charity Cancer Research UK, are jointly investing £50 million in the development of potential cancer drugs. A separate £200-million initiative by the Wellcome Trust in London will support early-stage biotechnology firms. Keith Blundy, chief executive of CRT, says that experts in drug development should find opportunities as the funding helps to take more drug candidates through to clinical trials.