Arctic Climate Change, Pot Pesticides, and Student Data

At a global conference to discuss priorities in the Arctic, President Obama said that climate change was “a challenge that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other.” How does this sentiment hold up in light of the recent decision to open up the Arctic to drilling? Science journalist Brooke Borel, of Popular Science and the blog Our Modern Plagues, discusses this and other science stories in the news this week.

Plus, learning apps are beginning to find their way into the classroom. But with the introduction of any new technology comes the collection of big data. Are these learning tools worth the potential trade-off in privacy? New York Times reporter Natasha Singer tells us the good and bad of collecting student data.