America's new leadership

摘要

Editor's note: This column, which went to press before the 4 November US election, is written based on the poll indicators at the time - which pointed strongly towards a Democratic victory. The US presidential campaign goes on for so long that it's hard to imagine life without it. But pundits and policy advocates can adjust quickly, shifting from speculating about who the president will be to speculating about what he will do. And when it comes to science, the victory of Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress has created an enormous sense of anticipation.