Today’s physics news: Tuesday, 26 January

China in scientific charge
If current trends continue, judged by volume of scientific papers published, China will ‘lead world scientific research by 2020.’  The Daily Telegraph reflects on China’s impressive track record in chemistry and materials sciences and strong levels of public investment in schools, universities and research programmes.

Daily Telegraph

World-leading ET hunters on weak signals and unformed response plan
With the world’s leading experts on extraterrestrial life gathered in London the first, in what is likely to be a flurry of, ET stories has been reported. Most widely reported today is comment from Dr Frank Drake who claims that our digital revolution has led to emission of weak digital signals that make it more difficult for intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe to detect us.  Nature reports on the lack of regulatory and ethical policies concerning the detection of intelligent life – what would we actually do if we detected intelligent life elsewhere?  And finally, Michael Hanlon, the Daily Mail’s science editor, reflects in a column on the massive impact that detecting intelligent ET would have on humankind.

Daily Telegraph on weak digi signal
Nature on lack of response infrastructure
Daily Mail comment on ET impact

Glaciers ARE melting and climate chief remains
Following a tough week for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the World Glacier Monitoring Service has stepped out in the organisation’s defence to insist that glaciers are melting worryingly fast. The BBC reports that Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the IPCC, will not resign following the uncovering of the Himalayan glacier mistake. 

Guardian on melting glaciers
BBC on Rajendra Pachauri

Universities UK challenges Mandelson to confirm no more cuts
In continuing tit-for-tat Guardian columns about university funding cuts, Professor Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, asks Mandelson to confirm whether or not universities can now rest assured that no further cuts will be made.

Guardian