Science: "2015: A Look Ahead"

From the journal Science:

British chemist Humphry Davy once said that “nothing is so fatal to the progress of the human mind as to suppose that our views of science are ultimate … that there are no new worlds to conquer.” In that spirit, Science takes a look at trends and ideas that preoccupied the scientific community last year—and makes some guesses at what new themes are likely to take hold in 2015. Our—subjective!—list, in no particular order, for your consideration: 

 What's hot | What's not 

Soft robots | Stiff robots

Sorry, R2-D2: Inspired by animals and armed with better materials and compact hardware, squishy robots take center stage.

Polio in Pakistan | Polio in Nigeria

As the disease disappears from its African stronghold, cases are soaring in Pakistan.

Senator Lamar Alexander (R–TN) | Representative Lamar Smith (R–TX)

Reforming federal oversight of U.S. higher education may eclipse last year's brawl over National Science Foundation peer review.

Europa or bust | Asteroid capture

Congress lights a fire under NASA to visit Jupiter's moon.

European Political Strategy Centre | E.U. science adviser

Anne Glover's stint in Brussels ends; a new entity will give the European Commission scientific advice.

Next Generation Science Standards | Common Core 

Science advocates hope to avoid missteps that have plagued math and reading standards.

iPS cell clinical trials | STAP cells

A simple recipe for stem cells was too good to be true, but reprogrammed adult cells move ahead.

ISRO, CNSA | NASA

NASA's mission drifts while the ambitions of India's and China's space programs grow.

Chikungunya | MERS

Worries about the respiratory virus in the Arabian Peninsula ease, but a mosquito-borne agent is exploding in the Americas.

Paris climate talks | Lima climate talks

The debate moves away from whether developing nations should cut carbon emissions … to by how much.

Exoplanet atmospheres | Exoplanet orbits

We know where extrasolar planets are—now the more penetrating questions begin.

“I'm not a scientist.” | Direct attacks on science

U.S. politicians reframe their rhetorical assaults on climate change and evolution.

Reproducibility | Glamour journals

As retractions mount in high-profile journals such as Science, Nature, and Cell, the community pushes for reproducible experiments.

Ebola drug and vaccine trials | U.S. Ebola panic

Efficacy trials in West Africa will likely determine whether an Ebola vaccine works—and can help end this epidemic....

MUCH MORE