The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced the winners of its 2008 MacArthur fellowships (or "genius grants").
- Maggie Mahar at Health Beat links back to past stories on geriatrician Dr. Diane Meier and critical care specialist Dr. Peter Provnost.
- Andrew Plemmons Pratt at Science Progress looks at the work of neuroscientist Sally Temple with stem cells.
- Jacob Goldstein at WSJâs Health Blog highlights the four doctors receiving awards.
- Tom Philpott at Gristmill congratulates urban farmer Will Allen.Â
 Elsewhere:
Anne Davis at RH Reality Check brings us the public comment submitted by organizations representing 288,400 medical professionals opposing the HHS proposal that would allow healthcare providers to withhold medical information based on their religious or moral beliefs.
Kate Sheppard at Gristmill summarizes the transit- and energy-related items in the economic recovery package that Senators Harry Reid and Robert Byrd have just unveiled.
Michael Stebbins at Scientists and Engineers for America Action Fund reports on a new, more-detailed plan from the Obama campaign about how Obama will manage US government science and science policy.
Nandini Ooman and Luke Easley at Global Health Policy, noting that Washington, DC's HIV prevalence rate is the same as that of Sub-Saharan Africa, fault both our domestic and global AIDS response for being weak on prevention.
Dave Loos at EnviroWonk gives us the scoop on the Great Lakes Compact (approved by the House and Senate and awaiting Bush's likely signature) that will protect the lakes' waters but has a large loophole allowing for bottled-water operations.
Maryn McKenna at Superbug explains the CDC's Do Not Board list, which seeks to keep people thought to be a communicable-disease risk to others from flying (hat tip to Effect Measure)
R. Craig Lefebvre at On Social Marketing and Social Change highlights findings from a National Cancer Institute monograph on the effect of media on smoking behaviors.