Your Guide to the Year in Science: 2008

The Dark Side of the Olympics

Who said anything about sports? China has been using this summer's Games to flamboyantly tout its scientific and technological prowess. But with many foreign journalists in China complaining that they don't have the complete freedom to write independent stories, how much of what you read can be trusted?-Melinda Wenner

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR: Beijing's air has among the world's highest levels of nitrogen dioxide, but China will try to clear it by shutting down factories and taking a million cars off the streets. WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR: Up to 70 percent of Beijing's summer particulate pollution originates outside the city, so it won't do much good to shut down the city itself.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR: Last July, after adopting more-stringent water-quality standards, the local authorities announced that Beijing's formerly nonpotable tap water is now safe to drink. WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR: Sure, the water is safe if you're standing right next to the treatment plant, but those same authorities admit that city pipes often contaminate the water.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR: Beijing is cracking down on doping by doubling the number of drug tests it will administer to its athletes (compared with 2004). WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR: Despite a lot of noise about stricter testing policy, China has a reputation for doping. Before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 27 athletes withdrew from the games after some had suspicious test results.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR: China guarantees rain-free opening ceremonies. It plans to "seed" the clouds before the games with silver iodide.

WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR:
Nobody knows if cloud seeding actually works. In 2003, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences called the science behind it too weak to confirm.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR:Beijing is building a plethora of new stadiums and subways as part of a complete Olympic renovation.

WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR:
By one count, the construction boom will have forced 1.5 million Chinese out of their homes, and it's further polluting the air by releasing tons of dust.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR: China plans to shut down 4,000 of its unsafe (and highly polluting) coal mines. WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR: China has tried this before without much success. It's next to impossible to monitor the area's many mines for compliance.

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