Nikita Khrushchev

There’s at least one clear advantage President Obama has over Mitt Romney: experience being a head of state on the world stage. But does foreign policy experience matter for presidential candidate?

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There was instant global awe for the Soviet satellite, just under 2 feet in diameter, which circled the earth every 96 minutes. It was the beginning of the space age, but it wasn’t just a technological marvel: it had a lasting impact on American culture, language, and design. Richard Paul looks into why Sputnik has never really left our orbit.

Toby Smith is vice president for Policy at the Association of American Universities and co-author of the book “Beyond Sputnik: U.S. Science Policy in the 21st century.” He examines why we still need good science to stay ahead.

Twenty years ago, the Soviet Union’s military retreated from Afghanistan in disarray. Their bloody nine-year conflict has often been called ‘Russia’s Vietnam.’ Now some Russians see America and its NATO allies heading for a similar destiny.