Scientists from Japan, the UK and Jordan were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating molecular constructions with potential to help combat climate change.
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi will share 11 million kronor ($1.2 million) for creating molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm said in a statement Wednesday. Applications for the so-called metal-organic frameworks include capturing carbon dioxide and harvesting water from desert air.
Anti-science religion in USA has dire consequences for USA economics, jobs and health!
There’s been no summer break in the Trump administration’s relentless campaign against science.
While the numbers I share here are not inclusive of every single possible attack, they are part of a now well-established pattern of behavior in the administration: sidelining, ignoring, or willfully undermining science in their decisions and policies.
These attacks follow the plan laid out in Project 2025, whose authors inside and outside of government have seen 47% of their proposals implemented in just the first eight months of the second Trump presidency. These decisions and policies have clear and tangible negative impacts on real people, our communities, and our planet.
Between January 20th and August 31st 2025, there have been 479 attacks on science. These are 479 actions, decisions, or policies that undermine, co-opt, or blatantly ignore science in the federal government.
It’s understandable if seeing this number is discouraging, but there are wins happening for federal science too. As I did in my last round-up, I’ll start by sharing a win for federal science (I always like to start with the good news). Before sharing some resources for how to get more involved in the fight to defend federal science, I’ll go into more detail on some of the attacks we tracked in August and why they matter for you and your community.
Taking it to the Hill
At the end of July, the Center for Science and Democracy, along with one of our organizational partners, EarthJustice Action, facilitated meetings between experts from across the country (including members of UCS’ Science Network) and staffers from Congress members’ offices. These 18 different experts spoke to staffers about the importance of scientific integrity, the Integrated Risk Information System program (housed in the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. These experts stressed the importance of federal science and why it needs to be protected.
Over the course of two days, our team of facilitators and scientists met with 30 different Congressional offices, including Republican and Democratic members. This “Hill Day” allowed direct conversations between members of Congress and their constituents, who were able to give very tangible examples of why federal science is so important for people and the planet. By putting a human face on the outcomes of federally-supported research, constituents helped legislators see the direct connection between policy decisions and everyday lives.
This event sparked more conversations with decision makers, more research to illustrate the importance of federal science, and more organizing with experts and UCS supporters from across the country. If you’re interested in becoming more involved in this type of advocacy, like future Hill Days, keep an eye on our Action Center that’s regularly updated with more events and ways to get involved, as well as our Scientific Integrity action page. And if you’re an expert in your respective field, whether you’re in the natural or social sciences, become a member of our Science Network!