Although damage from the specific incident "is relatively well contained," the issue threatens the agency's reputation for high-quality science and goes counter to its standards, according to a USGS official.
conflict & debate
Posted inEditors' Vox
Controversy: A Crucial Ingredient for Scientific Progress
Heated debates are inevitable whenever different theories compete to explain the natural world, but scientific publishing facilitates a fast resolution.
Posted inNews
Controversial Pacts Aim for Dam Removals on Western U.S. River
New agreements regarding the Klamath River in Oregon and California would enable the largest U.S. dam removal project ever. Critics say water quality will suffer, decry hydropower loss.
Posted inNews
Reduced Middle East Air Pollution Linked to Societal Disruption
Invasions, armed conflict, sanctions, and economic distress correlate with cleaner air in high-resolution satellite data that reveal air quality at the individual city level.
Posted inNews
Floods Fail in War, Win as Weapon Against Sea Level Rise
A historical look at flooding used as a war strategy in the Netherlands found that the tactic often failed but, in the long run, has helped to protect the land against future floods and sea level rise.
Posted inScience Updates
Climate, Land Use, and Conflict in Northern Africa
MPI-M/CliSAP Workshop on Climate, Land Use, and Conflict in Northern Africa; Lübeck, Germany, 22–25 September 2014
Posted inNews
Does War Influence Forest Growth?
Research focused in South Sudan shows that armed conflict can have a subtle effect on regional ecology.
Posted inOpinions
Science Communication in the Post-Expert Digital Age
In the post-expert digital age, all perspectives can get airtime. To deal with the challenges of communicating with the public in this environment, the scientific community needs new strategies.