TWITTER AS WRITER’S BLOCK FIX – Mary Spiro, the Baltimore Science News Examiner, had an article today about how Twitter helps her find content for her column.

Trying to keep up with changes and innovations in the world of science presents quite a few challenges for me. Information overload does not begin to describe my frustration in deciding what to write about.

But thanks to Twitter, the highly criticized (or much beloved) microblogging tool, I am able to keep up with all sorts of new information happening in the world of science and technology. So in a way, there are nearly 250 people contributing to the content produced for my column at the Baltimore Science News Examiner… [MORE]

You can find Mary on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Mary_Spiro

DNA ORIGAMI – We came across a great video in the Wall Street Journal’s tech section today. It takes a complex concept and explains it in a way that’s easily understood and resonates with a wide audience.

It’s also worth reading the full article accompanying the video for more context.

HOUSE LIBERALS INSIST ON GOV’T HEALTH PLAN AS PART OF REFORM PACKAGE – As the healthcare reform debate continues on Capitol Hill, House Liberals stepped up their demands for a public health plan. From The Hill:

The tough posture taken by the Democratic Party’s left wing underscores the challenges congressional leaders and the Obama administration have at keeping their own house in order.

In its letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders, including the committee chairmen writing the bill, the liberal group rejects any healthcare reform plan that excludes a public plan or, as some centrists have suggested, or includes a public plan that would only be “triggered” if private insurers fail to extend coverage.

The progressive caucus, along with the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus sent similar letters to Democratic congressional leaders and Obama earlier this year.

The liberals’ letter notably comes a day after the Blue Dog Democrats, a group of House centrists, expressed their strong opposition to any public plan unless it “only as a fallback” if the private insurance market does not improve.

GOP SAYS PUBLIC PLAN IS A DEAL BREAKER – On the other side of the aisle, Republicans are angry over President Obama’s letter earlier this week, saying that Americans must be able to choose between private and public insurance. From Politico:

the tensions spilled into negotiating sessions Thursday between key senators.

“It wasn’t helpful,” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said of the president’s letter. “Words make a difference, and it made a difference.”

Republicans on the Finance Committee emerged from a two-hour meeting Thursday with Democrats sounding ever-more impatient with the process. Even Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) acknowledged some frustration.

But several hours later, after a separate meeting with the leaders of key committees on health care, Baucus told reporters the process was on track and the parties were working together.

“There is not a lot of disagreement over what needs to be done to get meaningful health care reform passed,” Baucus said.

As soon as Baucus walked away, however, a visibly agitated Grassley made comments suggesting the talks were not going well.

“Our caucus is very, very much against a public option,” he said. “It is just very, very difficult. But I suppose that somewhere out there is something politically realistic that is not a public option that satisfies Republicans and Democrats but isn’t a government-run system.”… [MORE]

Republicans also expressed frustration over the Baucus’s timetable for a bill, which he insists must be wrapped up by the end of June…it’s certainly going to be an interesting month…

BENEFITS OF BIOFUELS – From Mike Howie at Nebraska Corn Kernels  we learn that researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) have developed a “Life Cycle Impact Assessment” to measure the benefits on human health that might result by switching from gasoline to biofuels. According to the post:

Early results from the study show that a biofuel like ethanol replacing just 10 percent of current gasoline pollutant emissions would have a substantial positive impact on human health, especially in urban areas.

You can find more info on the study here.

SENATOR TOM HARKIN DISPUTES EPA ON INDIRECT LAND USE – Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) told reporters yesterday he doubts that the final rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a new renewable fuel standard will include the same concept of indirect land use change that has drawn fire from biofuels advocates:

Harkin said Thursday that more than 100 scientists have questioned this theory.

“I think EPA is way off the mark on this,” he said…

“Quite frankly, I can tell you, we’ll never see it,” he said, because, with so many factors influencing land use in other nations, it’s impossible to show that biofuel crops are responsible.

If the concept remains in EPA’s final rule, “I’m relatively confident we have the votes here [in the Senate] to say no and overturn that.” …[MORE]