Is Pluto a planet

Viewpoint: Yes, Pluto's status as a planet has been continually defended by the International Astronomical Union. Although its size and elliptical orbit do differ from those of the solar system's other planets, these criteria are arbitrary traits that do not discount its status as a planet.

Is the International Space Station the appropriate next step for humanity's exploration of space

Viewpoint: Yes, the ISS provides an effective platform from which manned exploration of the solar system can begin, and it represents an important model for international cooperation.

Does the accumulation of "space debris" in Earth's orbit pose a significant threat to humans, in space and on the ground

Viewpoint: Yes, the probability of collisions between operational spacecrafts (including satellites) or between spacecraft and existing debris is increasing, and the presence of nuclear-powered spacecraft makes any collision potentially disastrous.

Historic Dispute : Is Urbain Le Verrier the true discoverer of Neptune

Viewpoint: Yes, Le Verrier's calculations and his tenacity in compelling others to search for Neptune make him the true discover of the planet.

Did life on Earth begin in the "little warm pond"

Viewpoint: Yes, the theory that life began in the "little warm pond" has supporting evidence from a number of experiments, and competing theories are more problematic.

Did water once flow on the surface of Mars

Viewpoint: Yes, evidence from various Mars missions indicates that water once flowed on Mars and helped shape the current landscape.

Are hazards due to earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone overestimated

Viewpoint: Yes, major earthquakes in the Midwest are rare, and the geological features of the NMSZ are quite different from the earthquake-prone regions of the West Coast.

Historic Dispute : Are Earth's continents stationary throughout geologic time

Viewpoint: Yes, the best available and most widely accepted models of Earth's structure once precluded large-scale horizontal motion of continents.

Will a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine exist within the next decade

Viewpoint: Yes, battery-powered, fuel-cell electric, and hybrid vehicles are technologically viable alternatives to the internal combustion engine now, and they are likely to be economically viable within the decade.

Will wind farms ever become an efficient, large-scale source of energy

Viewpoint: Yes, wind power is already the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in the world, and economic trends, technological advances, and environmental concerns will eventually transform it into a large-scale contributor of energy.

Do the potential dangers of nanotechnology to society outweigh the potential benefits

Viewpoint: Yes, from unforeseen pollution to deliberately designed weapons of mass destruction, nanotechnology holds significant risks, and the legal, technical, and cultural work that must be done to tip the balance toward safety is not being conducted.

Have technological advances in sports such as tennis, golf, and track and field supplanted the athletic achievements of the participants in those sports

Viewpoint: Yes, advanced technology in sports has significantly narrowed the gap between world record holders and the way the athletic achievement is perceived.

Should the threat of foot-and-mouth disease be met by the destruction of all animals that might have been exposed to the virus

Viewpoint: Yes, all animals that might have been exposed to the foot-and-mouth disease virus should be destroyed.

Are XYY males more prone to aggressive behavior than XY males

Viewpoint: Yes, the best studies of XYY males indicate that they are more prone to aggressive behavior than XY males.

Were dinosaurs hot-blooded animals

Viewpoint: Yes, the most recent fossil evidence indicates that at least some dinosaurs were hot-blooded animals.