Economic Stimulus Package Will Boost Science and Green Tech

Following up on President Barack Obama's inaugural pledge to "restore science to its rightful place," the economic stimulus package working its way through Congress includes huge chunks of money for scientific research and the development of green technology. The bill's final composition is far from certain, as Republican senators are trying to cut some provisions to trim costs, and the Senate version will eventually need to be reconciled with the version already passed by the House of Representatives. But the proposed numbers are impressive: The current Senate bill includes $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $40 billion for the Department of Energy, and more than $1 billion each for NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Many scientists were surprised and pleased to find that the money isn't just intended for one-time costs like renovations and new equipment, but will also fund basic research. But that funding comes with conditions.