Bioethics isn’t just about science, but about the human uses of science. There’s always a danger of neglecting the ethical dimension because of our fascination with new technology. Is Barack Obama in danger of succumbing? Hopefully not, but a speech in late December suggests that his rhetorical gifts can sometimes outrun his commonsense. “Today, more than ever before,” he said, “science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation.” Not economics or politics?

Perhaps it is a sign that the incoming President is going out of his way to court the favour of scientists. Intially, at least, it won’t be hard, as many of them believe that the Bush Administration conducted a “war on science”. So Mr Obama had soaring words for his science supporters: “The truth is that promoting science isn’t just about providing resources—it’s about protecting free and open inquiry. It’s about ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology. It’s about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s inconvenient—especially when it’s inconvenient.” ~ change.gov, Dec 20