Last week's inauguration of US President Barack Obama had several Nature bloggers asking what his 'change' motto would mean for science. Notably, writing on The Niche, Nature Reports Stem Cells editor Monya Baker summarizes policy recommendations from three groups that support lifting the federal ban on embryonic-stem-cell research (http://tinyurl.com/8dhblz).

The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, the Center for American Progress and the Center for Genetics and Society have all issued reports outlining how best to fund the research and provide ethical and regulatory oversight.

Nature Medicine senior editor Charlotte Schubert, writing on Spoonful of Medicine, reports the mood on the streets of Washington DC a day before the inauguration and provides a playful rundown of the new administration's top science appointments and nominees (http://tinyurl.com/8eq9q5). Among the picks are Steven Chu, “a scientist to head the Department of Energy? Wow!” and Jane Lubchenco, “a bona fide fish-hugger”, invited to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.