Time trends in political climate influence the choice and popularity of themes in applied science. During a period in Sweden, the attitudes toward population studies were favorable, which also increased the popularity and quality of such research. During periods when applied research gains popularity, universities must limit the number of students by introducing strict rules for acceptance, as well as financial rules. Research ethics committees are necessary, but can also inhibit research development. There are risks that societal politics can influence ethical decisions. There is a need for researchers to receive education on how to handle journalist interviews. The rapid growth of scientific journals creates new problems. There is a risk of quality loss in published research when a large number of journals depend on payments from researchers who want to publish.