Nature Podcast - July 02, 2009
This week, making stem cells for therapy, how salamanders regrow their limbs, three huge studies of genetic variation and schizophrenia, and how plants keep carbon dioxide above a certain level in the atmosphere.
The Great Beyond
The Great Beyond
Archive by category: On Nature News
July 02, 2009
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On Nature News - July 02, 2009
Funding boost for African science
Wellcome Trust grants £30 million to help build research capacity.
Salamander cells remember their origins in limb regeneration
Cell tracking shows that axolotl cells in a regrowing leg retain distinct roles.
African science drops down G8 agenda
Researchers lament poor progress on commitments to developing nations.
June 30, 2009
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On Nature News - June 30, 2009
Q&A: Observing the scars of the Arctic thaw
Ecologist Breck Bowdon talks about the consequences of thawing permafrost in Alaska.
Chief scientist quits California stem-cell agency
Departure raises questions over leadership at flagship centre.
Lawsuit puts flu-vaccine contract in doubt
Biotech company sued by creditors.
Vital marine habitat under threat
Destruction of seagrass on a par with loss of rainforests and coral reefs.
June 26, 2009
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On Nature News - June 26, 2009
A helping hand for addicts
A neuropsychologist talks about the challenges of studying the addicted brain.
Climate refugee fears questioned
Few figures to back up prophecies of mass migration to rich countries.
Female promiscuity may not benefit offspring
'Higher quality' male seed beetles lose post-copulatory battle.
June 24, 2009
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Nature Podcast - June 24, 2009
This week's Nature Podcast is a science journalism special. Listen in as we ask whether science journalists are cheerleaders or watchdogs for science, hear how technology is changing reporting from conferences, and get the inside scoop on how science gets turned into front page news. Plus, the produce of the Nature News team in our weekly science news chat.
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On Nature News - June 24, 2009
Sodium traces hint at subsurface ocean on Enceladus
Measurements rule out geysers on Saturn's moon.
US human spacefaring questioned
Review panel takes a hard look at NASA's goal of returning astronauts to the Moon.
New protein structures replace the old
Dutch software to weed out errors in Protein Data Bank.
June 19, 2009
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On Nature News - June 19, 2009
UK climate effects revealed in finest detail yet
Detailed projections met with caution by climate scientists.
BRIEFING: NASA's Moon goals under review
But work on the first of the agency's new rockets continues.
The virus spy
Yan Li talks about spotting the novel swine flu virus at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory.
Special: Apollo 40 years on
Exploring the legacy of the first manned lunar missions.
Drug quells anxiety in early trials
Angst-fighting compound lacks side effects of current treatments.
June 18, 2009
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On Nature News - June 18, 2009
Italy cancels G8 research meeting
Scrapped ministerial summit may jeopardize pressing climate change decisions.
Dinosaur's digits show how birds got wings
A new dinosaur species looks set to solve an old evolutionary puzzle.
Beijing's clean air claims questioned
Environment ministry now plans to monitor ozone and small particles.
June 16, 2009
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On Nature News - June 16, 2009
Patchy pig monitoring may hide flu threat
Experts call for increased surveillance of animals.
Climate talks snarled up
Two-pronged negotiations fail to bridge divide between nations.
Feather growth limits size of flying birds
Time required for moulting may be a more important factor than weight.
June 11, 2009
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Nature Podcast - June 11, 2009
This week, typhoons that trigger earthquakes, worms that refuse to die, and the search for extra terrestrial life starts on Earth.
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On Nature News - June 11, 2009
Glimpse of Earth as seen from afar
Lunar eclipse paints portrait of Earth that could aid hunt for distant habitable planets.
Typhoons trigger gentler tremors
Small quakes may act as a release valve that prevents catastrophic convulsions.
Avian influenza aided readiness for swine flu
Despite gains from threat of bird flu, pandemic preparedness is patchy.
June 08, 2009
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On Nature News - June 08, 2009
Too few women in clinical trials?
Cancer-drug studies fail to reflect true incidence of disease in the population.
Mars missions get in line
NASA planetary competitions to no longer favour Mars.
UK science pulled back to business
Government reshuffle abolishes short-lived research and education department.
June 05, 2009
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On Nature News - June 05, 2009
Q&A: Zipping around on the ocean floor
Ocean scientists hunt for Canadian deep-sea corals.
Historic deal for german science
Eleventh-hour deal secures billions of euros for research.
War and migration may have shaped human behaviour
Demographic factors could be behind diverse aspects of social evolution.
Human-ape links heard in laughter
Similarities between laughter of tickled apes and humans mirrors genetic ties between species.
June 03, 2009
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On Nature News - June 03, 2009
Warning for diplomats over misuse of science
Use science to build partnerships, urge government science advisers.
Open access publishing gains another convert
University College London joins rapidly growing throng.
African ministers lay out climate-change policy
Common vision still lacks specifics.
Role reversal undermines speed-dating theories
Women become less choosy when they, rather than men, move from table to table.
June 02, 2009
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On Nature News - June 02, 2009
Drug giants unite to develop cancer therapy
Merck and AstraZeneca collaboration could launch a new trend — if their work yields results.
Earliest evidence for pottery making found
Fragments from a Chinese cave push back the dawn of the craft by more than 1,000 years.
Crunch time for German science programmes
Billions of euros in university funding could be delayed or lost.
June 01, 2009
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On Nature News - June 01, 2009
Boost for conservation of plant gene assets
Financial worries accompany award of first grants under international treaty.
Dark energy particle spotted?
Reported 'chameleon' particle would change its mass to match its environs.
Electrodes spark neuron growth
Deep brain stimulation could help make memories.
May 29, 2009
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On Nature News - May 29, 2009
Sweden snares neutron facility
Lund will play host to European Spallation Source.
Failure is certainly an option
Conservation scientists plead for better reporting of negative results.
Getting science into policy
New Zealand's first ever chief science adviser talks about how he will make an impact on government decision-making.
May 28, 2009
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On Nature News - May 28, 2009
Taking a fossil primate on the road
Ida's promoter defends science and showmanship.
Hot times ahead for the Wild West
American west threatened by more heatwaves than past models have predicted.
The nail in the coffin for group selection?
Benefits to an individual and its family may be enough to account for altruistic behaviour.
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Nature Podcast - May 28, 2009
This week, transgenic monkeys that glow green, quantum states that change as soon as you look at them, and a new approach to the war on cancer.
May 27, 2009
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On Nature News - May 27, 2009
Former shuttle pilot nominated as NASA head
Charles Bolden lined up to take over space agency.
Draft stem-cell guidelines criticized
Researchers complain that previously approved cell lines would not be covered.
Russia makes major shift in climate policy
Putin emphasizes the need for action on global warming.
May 22, 2009
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On Nature News - May 22, 2009
Old seasonal flu antibodies target swine flu virus
Lab results could explain why young patients are hardest hit by current H1N1 strain.
GPS signal under threat
A few years of reduced precision might affect scientists worldwide.
Flagship drug-development initiative picks projects
European project awards pharmaceutical research funding.
May 20, 2009
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Nature Podcast - May 20, 2009
This week, we investigate the link between cancer and Down's syndrome, find out how life on Earth survived multiple meteorite impacts 3.9 billion years ago, and discover why it's so hard to lose weight by dieting.
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On Nature News - May 20, 2009
Reunion of fossil halves splits scientists
Well-preserved primate suffers identity crisis.
Q&A: Reaping the rewards of health research
The director of the University of Oxford's institute in Vietnam on studying disease in poor countries.
Exploration divides geographers
Campaigners pledge to fight on after Royal Geographical Society rejects resolution to bring back big expeditions.
May 19, 2009
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On Nature News - May 19, 2009
Public donations to lift research
Website paves way for people power.
Sunny outlook for Australian science
Research programmes win big in budget, but critics say environment is 'overlooked'.
NASA chief nearly named?
President Obama to meet with former astronaut Charles Bolden.
May 18, 2009
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On Nature News - May 18, 2009
Q+A: Mapping the world's oldest submerged town
Underwater archaeologist Jon Henderson is hoping to reveal the secrets of the ancient Greek town of Pavlopetri.
Q&A: Defending basic research in Israel
The country's science minister speaks out on proposed budget cuts.
Thoughts of money soothe social rejection
Handling cash also eases physical pain.
May 14, 2009
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Nature Podcast - May 14, 2009
This week we discover a 35,000 year-old figurine with exaggerated breasts, look back to the origins of RNA, look forward to a new light source that could replace ugly fluorescent strip lights, and we ask: is free will an illusion?
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On Nature News - May 14, 2009
Q&A: Marie-Paule Kieny
The vaccine research director of the World Health Organization, on swine flu.
RNA world easier to make
Ingenious chemistry shows how nucleotides may have formed in the primordial soup.
Ancient Venus rewrites history books
Female figure was carved from a mammoth tusk 35,000 years ago.
May 13, 2009
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On Nature News - May 13, 2009
Asteroid impact may have gassed Earth
Did dinosaur-killing space rock create enough carbon monoxide to trigger extreme global warming?
Erupting gas may cause lunar flashes
Eyewitness reports of flickering Moon lights stand up to scrutiny.
Q+A: The way forwards for Britain's environment policy
Bob Watson, the UK environment department's chief scientist, discusses research priorities.
May 12, 2009
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On Nature News - May 12, 2009
Synthetic biology gets ethical
UK centre hopes to blend science, policy and outreach in burgeoning field.
Swine flu spread matches previous flu pandemics
New analysis supports pandemic designation.
How thalidomide makes its mark
Drug's effects on embryonic blood-vessel growth may be the source of malformed limbs.
Making war not love
Fiercest warriors in Amazon tribe left fewer descendants.
May 08, 2009
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On Nature News - May 08, 2009
Q&A: Bill Chadwick
A volcanologist reveals how undersea eruptions can be a boon for some species.
Austria to quit CERN
Move will end 50-year participation in physics laboratory.
Obama requests US science funding
After a massive stimulus injection in February, requests for research monies level out.
May 07, 2009
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On Nature News - May 07, 2009
'Hobbit' was a dwarf with large feet
Studies suggest Flores man was a distinct species.
DNA twisted into boxes
Molecular keys can open tiny containers.
China joins world-class synchrotron club
Nation's costliest science facility is unveiled.
May 06, 2009
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Nature Podcast - May 06, 2009
This week on the Nature Podcast, we’ve got miniature hippos and even smaller hominids, birds with culture written into their genes, a lockable box made of DNA, and a tale of Two Cultures. Plus we announce the winner of our science haiku competition.
May 01, 2009
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On Nature News - May 01, 2009
Universities warned about swine flu threat
Government agencies in the US and UK issue advisories over flu on campus.
Age-defying dinosaur collagen
Hadrosaur, dead 80 million years, yields oldest protein yet sequenced.
Q+A: German virologist's race for swine flu test
Christian Drosten talks to Nature about tackling the threat of a pandemic.
April 30, 2009
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'The coming climate crunch' - April 30, 2009
This week’s issue of Nature looks in detail at “the coming climate crunch”.
As my colleague Quirin Schiermeier explains on the Climate Feedback blog, “What’s it all about then? Well, Gavin Schmidt and David Archer, in their news and views piece, get to the heart of it: “Dangerous climate change, even loosely defined, is going to be hard to avoid.’”
The Real Climate blog focuses on two papers which look at the chances of staying below 2°C warming. “Both find that the most directly relevant quantity is the total amount of CO2 ultimately released, rather than a target atmospheric CO2 concentration or emission rate,” the blogging team writes. “This is an extremely useful result, giving us a clear statement of how our policy goals should be framed.”
Much of the coverage focuses on the suggestion in one of these papers that once humanity has added a trillion tonnes of carbon to the atmosphere 2°C is inevitable (eg: Wired).
In the Guardian, Myles Allen, author of one of the papers, writes:
Like all scientists, most of what I do is arcane and technical and of very little interest to outsiders. For once, however, I'm involved in a couple of studies (published today in Nature), that my fellow parents might just find interesting. The headline result of both papers is that the risk of dangerous climate change is primarily determined by the total amount of carbon dioxide that we, the human race, release into the atmosphere over all time, not by emissions in any particular year.
Joseph Romm, of the Climate Progress blog, is unimpressed though. He writes that our issue “fails utterly to provide its readers with the two must-haves in any comprehensive coverage of the issue:
-A clear and specific understanding of the plausible worst-case scenario impacts facing the world post-2050 on our current emissions path.
-A clear and specific understanding of the core climate solutions, policies for their rapid deployment, and an understanding of why the total cost of action is so darn low — one tenth of a penny on the dollar.”
Make up your own mind: all the content is here.
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On Nature News - April 30, 2009
Swine flu goes global
New influenza virus tests pandemic emergency preparedness.
California in clean-fuel drive - Premium content
State rule says biofuels aren't so green.
Japan goes for the sun - Premium content
Government pushes to regain national lead in solar-energy research.
April 29, 2009
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Nature Podcast - April 29, 2009
This week we've a climate special: Nicholas Stern tells us how the recession could help curb global warming, Nature's climate science editor is in the studio to talk us through the latest research, and we imagine what the world would look like in the worst-case scenario of 1000ppm of CO2. Also on the show, autism genes and how to fix a broken heart.
April 28, 2009
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On Nature News - April 28, 2009
Research for development
The UK Department for International Development's research chief discusses priorities.
Obama promises spending boost for science
Ambitious target for economically tough times.
Swine flu outbreak sweeps the globe
Genetic code of new influenza strain could contribute to its rapid spread.
Briefing: Swine flu jumps continents
Influenza virus spreads around the world.
April 24, 2009
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Vote for us! - April 24, 2009
Nature.com has been nominated for a Webby Award. You can find us in the Society section under Science.
April 23, 2009
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Nature Podcast - April 23, 2009
On this show, a newly discovered fossil reveals clues to the origin of flippered mammals, we get stuck into the glue that holds species together, and mobile phone tracking: is it science or stalking?
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On Nature News - April 23, 2009
Cancer drug hits setback
Results from early-stage colon cancer trial turn spotlight on recent acquisition.
Green technologies win £1.4 billion in UK budget
Carbon reduction sees a stimulus — but blue-skies research may be at risk.
China's plants absorb a third of its carbon emissions
But another study shows vegetation will absorb less carbon dioxide as nations cut pollution.
April 22, 2009
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On Nature News - April 22, 2009
Exoplanets lighten up
More Earth-like planets spotted outside our solar system.
Why big eruptions don't always fuel mass extinctions
Rocks near the site of a volcano could determine whether an eruption causes catastrophic climate change.
Genetic profiling used to tailor cancer therapy
Tumour screening leads to more effective treatment for some patients.
April 21, 2009
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On Nature News - April 21, 2009
Q&A: Prepare to be digitized
The World Digital Library's director explains his vision.
Platinum pollution issue gets measured
Demand for catalytic converters has spread osmium around the globe.
Designer immune cells fight prostate cancer
'Living drug' shows promise in early clinical trials.
April 17, 2009
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On Nature News - April 17, 2009
Dying trees may exacerbate climate change
Forests could emit more carbon than they store if temperatures rise.
Writing about values shrinks racial grades gap
Short essays raise school scores of low-achieving African-American students for two years.
Life thrives beneath Antarctic glacier
Unique chemistry enables microbes to survive harsh conditions.
April 16, 2009
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Nature Podcast - April 16, 2009
This week, we unzip nanotubes to make some graphene nanoribbons, challenge the idea that closely related species have similar cognitive abilities and hear about the world's largest network of cosmic ray detectors in Argentina. All that, plus our weekly NewsChat in which we celebrate the life of John Maddox, former editor of Nature.
April 15, 2009
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On Nature News - April 15, 2009
Q+A: Hong Kong university chooses new president
Nature talks to Tony Chan about his vision for the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Germany bans GM maize
State defies European Union directive on genetically modified crops.
Time to sequence the 'red and the dead'
New projects could tackle the genomics of species both critically endangered and already extinct.
April 14, 2009
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On Nature News - April 14, 2009
Making new eggs in old mice
A textbook-challenging finding revives debates about extending female fertility.
Bendy laser beams fired through the air - Premium content
Curved tracks could help direct lightning or steer particle beams around colliders.
Disease in a warming climate - Premium content
Fears of a global rise in infectious conditions may be unfounded.
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Sir John Maddox, the former editor of Nature, has died at the age of 83.
RIP John Maddox - April 14, 2009
UPDATE – Current Nature editor Philip Campbell’s tribute, John Maddox 1925–2009, is now on our website:
It was with great sadness that I and my colleagues at Nature learned of the death on Sunday of Sir John Maddox — or 'JM', as his colleagues always referred to him.There was puzzlement, too. Yes, John had been looking frail recently, but, well, this was JM — the perpetually restless, irresistible, unstoppable force. The editor who conducted some gatherings with 'shock and awe' as some recall. The 'man with a whim of iron' as others used to call him. And the man who survived countless cigarettes and glasses of red wine, many consumed late into the night as he wrote the week's Editorials at the last possible moment.
Sir John Maddox, the former editor of Nature, has died at the age of 83.
As Walter Gratzer, of King’s College, London, wrote recently, “John Maddox brought an old-fashioned Nature into the modern age from the mid-1960s.” (History of Nature feature.)
A full appreciation from Nature will follow shortly. Meanwhile, here is what the world is saying.
Without too much trouble I could probably fill blogs for a month with tales of John: of waiting at the typesetter while he finished an editorial way beyond deadline; of a plan to visit Mexico together when we wined and dined the very attractive press attache at the Mexican Consulate; of how he regularly set fire to his waste-paper basket. Of being sent to the wine bar with a fiver for a bottle of Chateau Thames. Of him disappearing on a Friday night and saying, as the door closed, that he wanted a thousand words from me by Monday for the following week’s issue – on anything I pleased. Of many cases of exasperation and irritation, and many more acts of kindness.- Henry Gee, Nature editor
He was one of those fellows who shaped the direction of science for quite a long period of time with the power of one of the most influential science journals in the world. I suspect every scientist of my generation read his editorials in our weekly perusal of the journal.
- PZ Myers, Pharyngula
One of the toughest adversaries I’ve ever wrangled with is Sir John Maddox. He was hard-headed, scarily knowledgeable, hyper-articulate, unfailingly gracious even as he ripped you a new one.- John Horgan, Director of the Center for Science Writings at Stevens Institute of Technology
As Editor of Nature, he restored the journal to an unchallenged position as the place to publish interesting research quickly, and did so at a time when Britain’s influence in world science was otherwise declining. His judgments, sometimes quirky but never dull, were always backed by persuasive argument and a sense of humour.
It was a mark of his skilled editorship that Nature could publish a paper on, say, the Loch Ness monster without sacrificing its authority.“He took command of Nature in a big way,” the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins said. “He had a tremendous grasp of science in the full range, from physics to biology to public affairs as they affected the world of science.”
Martin Rees, the president of the Royal Society and Britain’s astronomer royal, called Mr. Maddox “a dominant figure,” adding that “he helped establish Nature’s status internationally and built it up by developing supplements to increase its coverage.” After retiring as editor in 1995, he assumed an influential elder statesman role, acting, Mr. Rees said, “as a general guru of science and scientific policy.”
- NY Times
"He adored science and talked about it all the time," she [his daughter, Bronwen Maddox] says. "He was enormously enthused by it. He was a physicist, and took to the biological sciences with enthusiasm, but I think his heart stayed in physics."
April 09, 2009
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On Nature News - April 09, 2009
Q&A: John Holdren
President Obama's science adviser talks about his new job.
Analysts spar over launch image
North Korean rocket trajectory may be too shallow for satellite launch.
One drug, two targets
Antimalarial compound fights disease and fends off drug-resistant parasites in mice.
April 08, 2009
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Nature podcast - April 08, 2009
This week we uncover a new twist in our understanding of the Great Oxidation Event, find out why some people are better than others at repairing radiation damage in their cells, and delve into the 'cancer genome' to discover more about how cells turn cancerous.
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On Nature News - April 08, 2009
Amazonian reserves have fewer fires
Satellite data reveal less deforestation in Brazil's protected parks.
Open-access policy flourishes at NIH - Premium content
Researchers, institutions and publishers have complied with the mandate, but it still has its opponents.
Volcanoes ignite monitoring efforts
Efforts intensify after eruptions in Alaska and Chile.
April 07, 2009
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On Nature News - April 07, 2009
Testosterone boost doesn't fuel risky behaviour in women
Hormones could matter less on the trading floor than suspected.
Korean satellite misses orbit
Third time unlucky as payload plunges into the Pacific.
A tiny litmus test for cells
Nanomachine senses cellular pH in real time.
April 03, 2009
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On Nature News - April 03, 2009
World leaders fail to kick-start green economy
G20 summit a missed opportunity, say climate campaigners. (See also: Nature's Climate Feedback blog.)
Muslim students weigh in on evolution
In Indonesia and Pakistan, questions about how science and faith can be reconciled.
Carbon dating shows humans make new heart cells
The cold war helps settle a hot debate about how hearts grow.
April 02, 2009
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On Nature News - April 02, 2009
Bendy displays close to market
Second-generation e-paper can be rolled up, use almost no power and even display video.
Tracing carbon dioxide's fate underground
Greenhouse gas dissolves in water rather than becoming locked into minerals.
China to spearhead anti-tuberculosis drive
Gates Foundation partners health initiative.
News Feature - The textbook of the future
Undergraduate textbooks are going digital. Declan Butler asks how this will shake up student reading habits and the multi-billion-dollar print textbook market.
April 01, 2009
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Nature Podcast - April 01, 2009
This week on the Nature Podcast, a history lesson for Obama and his science advisers. Plus, we look at the world through the eyes of an autistic toddler, and find out if it's safe to store CO2 underground.
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On Nature News - April 01, 2009
Ocean mercury on the increase
Rise may affect neurotoxin levels in fish
Migrating nanotubes add to asbestos concern
Initial tests suggest the tiny tubes can pass through the lung lining.
China denies US ship access to Taiwan Strait
Research vessel's seismology studies compromised by politics.
March 31, 2009
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On Nature News - March 31, 2009
Experimental design could reduce need for animal tests
Accounting for environmental changes may be better than trying to control them.
Anti-HIV protein made in plants
One greenhouse could produce a million doses of virus-blocking chemical.
Stern message for G20 summit
Stimulus packages must focus more resources on clean energy and averting climate change, report says.
March 30, 2009
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On Nature News - March 30, 2009
Fungus farmers show way to new drugs
Ant colonies could be key to advances in biofuels and antibiotics.
Methane-producing mineral discovered on Mars
But it may not explain the presence of the gas on the Red Planet today.
Geometer wins maths 'Nobel'
Abel prize awarded to Mikhail Leonidovich Gromov.
March 27, 2009
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On Nature News - March 27, 2009
Settling of dust warms tropical Atlantic
A decline in aerosols could account for most of the rise in regional ocean temperatures.
Q&A: Steve Squyres on planetary priorities
Chief of Mars rover missions talks about short-listing missions for US planetary science.
Could nanomachines give friction the slip?
The quantum stickiness between very close surfaces produces no drag when they move, researchers claim.
Geometer wins maths 'Nobel'
Abel prize awarded to Mikhail Leonidovich Gromov.
March 26, 2009
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Nature Podcast - March 26, 2009
This week, we become stellar detectives to solve a supernova whodunit, find out how volcanos spawn tornado-like dust devils and investigate a curious chemical imbalance in our oceans. All that plus our weekly News Chat.
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On Nature News - March 26, 2009
Networking out of natural disasters
Open-source software could transform response to disease outbreaks and natural disasters.
Porton Down veterans not at greater health risk
Military personnel exposed to chemical warfare agents should be "reassured".
Graphene gets ready for the big time - Premium content
Physicists are talking about how to make practical use of a former laboratory curiosity.
March 24, 2009
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On Nature News - March 24, 2009
Classic behavioural studies flawed
Nobel prizewinner took short cuts to show that the way gulls feed is instinctive.
Q&A: Save or study?
Modelling can help conservationists decide when they have collected enough data.
NOAA chief ready to tackle climate
Jane Lubchenco takes the helm at oceanic and atmospheric agency.
Q&A: Jane Lubchenco
The new head of NOAA talks priorities.
March 23, 2009
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On Nature News - March 23, 2009
Scuttled ship endangers marine science
Weak pound forces UK to postpone building of research ship.
Pancake ice takes over the Arctic
Researchers work to put changing ice types into climate models.
Trapped under ice
Nature talks to the team behind a risky submarine mission to map the underside of an Antarctic glacier.
March 20, 2009
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On Nature News - March 20, 2009
VIDEO: Carbon nanotubes make artificial muscle
Electricity flexes strong, bendy aerogel.
UK researchers lament grant ban
A string of unsuccessful proposals means being barred from making further applications.
Promiscuous antibody targets cancer
Single molecule can bind firmly to two different antigens.
March 19, 2009
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Nature Podcast - March 19, 2009
This week the Nature Podcast is making tiny components for molecular machines, investigating heat flow in the Earth's crust, modelling the collapse of an Antarctic ice sheet, and looking into the current state of science communication.
March 18, 2009
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On Nature News - March 18, 2009
New Zealand to consolidate agricultural research
Proposed merger aims to create world-class research institute.
Society sues journal over right to reply
Row between Max Planck Society and Wiley escalates.
Cognitive enhancement drug may also cause addiction
Modafinil's effect on the brain suggests it could be addictive for some.
March 17, 2009
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On Nature News - March 17, 2009
Big interest in heavy drugs
The drug industry is seeking profits by modifying hydrogen in existing medications.
Incoming chief to tackle woes of US food and drug agency
Obama nominates Margaret 'Peggy' Hamburg as FDA chief.
US agencies brace for flood of grant applications
Online system has high risk of failure, officials say.
European clinical trial rules under fire
European medical research strangled by red tape, scientists warn.
March 13, 2009
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On Nature News - March 13, 2009
A lighter Higgs makes particle hunt harder
Longer search promised after physicists exclude heavy masses for the 'God particle'.
Copenhagen summit urges immediate action on climate change
Scientists report intensifying impact of global warming.
Rising air pollution clouds climate debate
Darker skies have uncertain effect on global warming.
There's more to life than sequences
The shape of DNA can play a crucial role in genetics, says Philip Ball.
March 12, 2009
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On Nature News - March 12, 2009
Peking Man older than thought
Classic Homo erectus fossils in Zhoukoudian caves are more than 700,000 years old.
Lithium batteries charge ahead
Researchers demonstrate cells that can power up in seconds.
The lowdown on animal testing for cosmetics
European Union continues phasing out animal experiments.
Turkish scientists claim Darwin censorship
Science-funding agency accused of removing evolution article — and its editor — from mainstream magazine.
Cosmic strings could solve positron mystery
Collapsing defects in the Universe's structure may generate antimatter excess.
March 10, 2009
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On Nature News - March 10, 2009
Web usage data outline map of knowledge
Analysis offers fresh perspective on role of humanities and social sciences.
Atomic nucleus takes two shapes
The squashed heart of a sulphur isotope fluctuates between different states.
Phytoplankton survival clouded by dust particles
Aerosols can kill as well as nourish ocean organism.
March 09, 2009
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On Nature News - March 09, 2009
Genetic test predicts eye colour
Forensic tool could help catch criminals.
Obama overturns stem-cell ban
President's executive order will allow US human embryonic stem-cell research to thrive at last.
Red tape blights European Union research programme
Independent review calls for "radical overhaul" to cut complexity.
March 06, 2009
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On Nature News - March 06, 2009
The resurrection of a disease-linked gene
An unusual tale of a gene lost, then found, during human evolution.
Evidence for ancient horse ranch uncovered
Traces of earliest known milking of horses in Kazakhstan.
Briefing: Climate change crisis for rainforests
Drought could turn carbon sinks into sources.
Test tube disease models one step closer
Skin cells from Parkinson's patients transformed into tailor-made neurons.
March 05, 2009
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On Nature News - March 05, 2009
Warmer caves may save bats from deadly fungus
Shivering bats need help to fight off white-nose syndrome.
FDA-approved warning labels won't protect companies
US court says people harmed by drugs can still sue.
Peering at proteins inside cells
Nuclear magnetic resonance spies the atomic details of proteins in action.
March 04, 2009
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Nature Podcast - March 04, 2009
On this week's Nature Podcast - This week, we find out about a microbicide gel that works magic on the monkey form of HIV, track down two black holes for the price of one, and watch proteins 'at work' inside living cells. Plus, a sociologist of science calls a ceasefire.
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On Nature News - March 04, 2009
Genome scan may save Tasmanian devils from cancer
Scientists say identifying resistant animals could be key to combating a contagious tumour.
Budget numbers for US science looking up - Premium content
Big boosts for climate and basic research in President Barack Obama's proposed spending for next year.
Looking for worlds like this one
NASA's Kepler mission is the best shot yet at detecting an Earth-sized planet elsewhere in the Galaxy.
March 03, 2009
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On Nature News - March 03, 2009
Engineered viruses fight bacteria
Viruses that target bacteria could help give antibiotics a boost.
Falsified data gets India's largest generic drug-maker into trouble
US Federal Drug Administration withdraws approval for a score of drugs from Ranbaxy.
March 02, 2009
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On Nature News - March 02, 2009
Virus-free pluripotency for human cells
Stem-cell advance could bring tailored treatments closer.
Brown pledges to protect science during downturn
Focus of UK economy should shift from finance to science, says Prime Minister.
Origin of 'T. rex' protein questioned
Dinosaur samples may have contained traces of ostrich.
February 27, 2009
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On Nature News - February 27, 2009
Science grants rise with stimulus spending
Extra money has researchers scrambling to join the queue.
African grant comes with no strings attached
Carte blanche for Malawi and Kenya to spend health research funds from international donors.
February 25, 2009
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Nature Podcast - February 25, 2009
On this week's Nature Podcast - This week the Nature Podcast plunges into the ocean to find see-sawing temperatures and a fish fossil that sheds light on the origins of sex. We also explore the ethics of brain-machine interfaces and trace the ‘footsteps’ of migrating planets.
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On Nature News - February 25, 2009
Nations pull together to cut mercury emissions
Nairobi meeting kicks off negotiations.
Stem-cell inaction prompts concern
Legal complexities may underlie the delay in fulfilling election pledge.
Satellite to monitor carbon sinks sinks
Orbiting Carbon Observatory crashes into sea.
February 23, 2009
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On Nature News - February 23, 2009
New antibodies block a range of influenzas
Discovery hints at the possibility of broad-spectrum vaccines.
Briefing: Iran's nuclear plans
Do a satellite launch and a tonne of enriched uranium add up to an arsenal?
Child abuse leaves lasting 'scars' on DNA
Lingering marks on DNA could amplify stress responses.
February 18, 2009
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On Nature News - February 18, 2009
India protects traditional medicines from piracy
Access to national database eases search for existing treatments.
European disarray on transgenic crops
Forthcoming decisions set to bring disagreements to a head.
Tumours spark stem-cell review
Russian treatment linked to cancerous growths.
Rethinking silk's origins
Did the Indian subcontinent start spinning without Chinese know-how?
February 17, 2009
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On Nature News - February 17, 2009
Nitrogen fertilizer warning for China
Farmers could cut use by two-thirds without lowering crop yield.
Hollywood star could restart damaged particle accelerator
Tinseltown goes to CERN as Tom Hanks promotes latest thriller.
Swedish authorities embroiled in furore over academic freedom
Journal removes paper from website after company threatens legal action.
February 16, 2009
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Nature at the AAAS: Part II - February 16, 2009
Nature reporters are still at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago. Here are some recent dispatches from the science news front line. Full coverage is over on our In the Field blog.
Bowser blazes the trail
Whenever I see Elaine Ostrander talk about dogs, I feel sorry for human geneticists. Ostrander, a researcher at the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute on Bethesda, Maryland, studies the hundreds of dog breeds that exist in the world. And because human breeders have simplified dog genetics enormously, it’s a lot easier to answer questions about the genetic basis of all kinds of traits in dogs than it is in humans.
Darwin the Buddhist
Ordinarily, Paul Ekman is to be found doing rigorous, detailed studies of facial expression, body movement, emotion and deception...
Climate issue getting "more complicated"
A leader of the the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change told the meeting today that the world's climate is likely to change much faster than predicted, leaving the world with two choices: start cutting carbon emissions earlier, or make the cuts deeper.
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On Nature News - February 16, 2009
BRIEFING: Obama may be tough on Canada's tar sands
How will future US emissions regulations affect North America's biggest oil owner?
Strike stalls reform of French universities
Sarkozy on the ropes as scientists take to the streets.
Drug banishes bad memories
Take pill, remember fear, remove fear.
February 11, 2009
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Nature Podcast: special Darwin edition - February 11, 2009
For this special edition of the Nature Podcast we're at Down House, the Darwin family home for over 40 years. Join us on the hunt for Darwin's pigeons, for poetry from a Darwin descendant, and to find out how Darwin dabbled in psychology. Plus, we talk to actor Paul Bettany about playing Darwin in the new movie 'Creation'. You can hear an extended version of that interview in our Podcast Extra.
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On Nature News - February 11, 2009
Obama puts focus on FDA after peanut poisonings - Premium content
Salmonella outbreak prompts review of US food safety.
Neglected disease boost
Fresh funding aims to raise awareness and improve control measures.
Prostate cancer marker found in urine
A simple urine test for sarcosine could be used to detect cancer.
February 10, 2009
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On Nature News - February 10, 2009
Microbicide gel may help against HIV
Early results suggest possible role against infection.
LHC faces further delay
Collisions won't come before November.
Briefing: Australian bushfires rage
Heatwaves and fires will become more frequent in a warming world.
Hidden memories guide choices
Images slip unnoticed into the brain.
February 09, 2009
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On Nature News - February 09, 2009
Test balloon breaks endurance record
NASA's pumpkin-shaped balloon stays aloft for more than 42 days.
Genome sequencing: the third generation
Companies unveil data from their latest technologies.
The world's top ten telescopes revealed
The best observatories ranked by their scientific impact.
February 06, 2009
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On Nature News - February 06, 2009
Make methane while the sun shines
Nanotubes help turn carbon dioxide and water into natural gas.
What causes schizophrenia?
Findings from a 'brain training' study challenge theory.
Pygmies share a recent common ancestor
The rise of farming may have caused formation of diverse groups.
February 05, 2009
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On Nature News - February 05, 2009
Scientists find world's biggest snake
'Titanic' boa fossils provide clues to past tropical climate.
India's drug problem
Chemists show how waste-water contamination affects ecosystem.
French scientists revolt against government reforms - Premium content
Strike threatens to undermine Sarkozy's overhaul of universities.
February 04, 2009
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Nature Podcast - February 04, 2009
On this week's Nature Podcast - Three record-breakers on this week's show: we uncover fossil evidence of the world's longest snake, discover chemical signs of the earliest animal life, and take a look at light from the oldest quasar known to mankind.
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On Nature News - February 04, 2009
Inheriting memory
Mothers that have led rich lives may have offspring with longer memories.
Fossil of pregnant whale found
Position of fetus suggests that early whales gave birth on land.
Former MIT biologist penalized for falsifying data
Faked figures found in seven published papers and five grant applications.
February 03, 2009
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On Nature News - February 03, 2009
Hybrid embryos fail to live up to stem-cell hopes
Strategy for creating pluripotent cells called into question.
Tiniest exoplanet found
Satellite spots a planet less than twice the width of Earth.
Paper sparks fossil fury
Palaeontologists criticize publication of specimen with questionable origin.
February 02, 2009
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On Nature News - February 02, 2009
Briefing: Halting the African armyworm
Liberia prepares for second plague of caterpillar pests.
Briefing: Clean-energy agency recruits its founding members
Nations have begun to hammer out the mandate for the International Renewable Energy Agency.
MS stem-cell trial shows promise
Multiple sclerosis treatment seems to reverse symptoms.
January 30, 2009
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On Nature News - January 30, 2009
Fake finger reveals the secrets of touch
Fingerprints help amplify vibrations detected by nerves deep under the skin.
Feather colour indicates survival strategy in birds
Colourful plumage linked to immune response in tawny owls.
Short RNAs protect chemical memory of genes
Epigenetic changes to plant DNA preserved through successive generations.
January 28, 2009
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Nature Podcasts - January 28, 2009
You lucky people, there are two Nature podcasts for you this week.
Nature Podcast - This week on the Nature Podcast, how iron in the oceans could clean up carbon, the genome of the hardy plant sorghum is revealed, chemists make a nausea-inducing molecule and we talk to news editor Mark Peplow about stem cell trials, abandoned plutonium and mimicking the sun’s fusion.
NeuroPod, the neuroscience podcast from Nature – This month, we celebrate fifty years of pheromones, discover how brain cells know who to network with, why imaging might be giving us a misleading picture of brain activity, and how sleeping lightly at night could be making you forgetful the next day.
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On Nature News - January 28, 2009
Science minister wants focus on fewer disciplines
Plan would concentrate UK funds on research of benefit to the economy.
Stem cells ready for prime time
US regulatory agency gives the go-ahead for first clinical trials of a human embryonic stem-cell treatment.
Pfizer to buy Wyeth in $68-billion deal
Drug giant chases stake in biologics.
Goodbye Galapagos goats
Conservationists complete the largest-ever eradication of an island-invasive mammal.
January 27, 2009
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On Nature News - January 27, 2009
First IVF pregnancy after rapid egg screening
Colourful procedure finds missing or extra DNA.
Farmer defies GM 'ban'
Environmentalists see red over maize harvest in formerly GM-free Wales.
Cutting calories may improve memory
Elderly people benefit from caloric restriction.
Humans and sponges may share a slimy ancestor
Placulan origin re-roots the tree of life.
January 23, 2009
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On Nature News - January 23, 2009
Old plutonium found in dump
Weapons-grade material discovered at Hanford nuclear site.
Europe failing to meet research targets
Europe could struggle to keep up with emerging economies.
North American tree deaths accelerate
Mortality increase correlates with climate change.
Atom takes a quantum leap
Ytterbium ion is the first element to be teleported over a distance.
January 21, 2009
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On Nature News - January 21, 2009
Reversing helps bacterial swarms to spread
Social microbes march forwards by taking a few steps back.
A fly by any other name
Drosophila experts argue over reclassification proposal
$630-million for push to eradicate polio
Gates Foundation leads group of donors promising cash for vaccination, monitoring and research
Cheating bacteria could treat infections
Freeloading microbes could help their hosts by undermining cooperation between pathogens
Brain imaging measures more than we think
Anticipatory brain mechanism may be complicating MRI studies.
January 20, 2009
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On Nature News - January 20, 2009
Green light for UK stem-cell trial
Stroke patients to be treated with tailor-made brain cells.
Secondary forests are worth saving
Biodiversity there isn't as rich as untouched rainforest, but should still be conserved, some argue
January 19, 2009
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On Nature News - January 19, 2009
Dinosaur fossils suggest speedy extinction
Arctic find challenges the idea that the massive reptiles declined slowly.
Tiny springboards detect viruses in fluids
Wobbily cantilevers 'feel' pathogens lock onto their targets.
January 16, 2009
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On Nature News - January 16, 2009
ESA seeks to join US dark energy mission
Deal would boost JDEM budget but scupper Europe's Euclid.
Hong Kong inaugurates Institute for Advanced Study
Nature talks to university president Paul Chu about his vision of a 'mecca for great scholars'.
Europe set to crack down on pesticides
Controversial rules that could ban many agents are a step closer to approval.
FDA ready to regulate transgenic animals
Agency unveils path to approval after decade-long delay.
Science wins big in US economic plan
Congressional stimulus package includes billions in extra research funding.
January 15, 2009
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On Nature News - January 15, 2009
Fish are crucial in oceanic carbon cycle
Chemistry models need to incorporate new discovery.
Crops that cool
Could shinier farmland help combat global warming?
Scientists weave invisibility cloak
Metamaterial sheet shields objects from prying microwaves.
Nuke code cracks stellar mystery
A nuclear weapons lab program simulates the birth of massive stars.
January 14, 2009
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On Nature News - January 14, 2009
Nature Podcast - This week we uncover a fishy fossil head, build a synthetic cellular clock, discover that natural killer cells have a memory, and ponder how science has fared under the Bush administration and it's future in the hands of Obama.
Science tipped to score in Obama cash stimulus - Premium content
Researchers jockey for a piece of the US economic package.
Genetic 'clock' made in lab
Synthetic metronome keeps time inside mammalian cells.
Ocean fertilization experiment suspended
German science ministry demands environmental assessment before nutrient dumping can begin.
Study fails to catch plants making methane
Greenhouse gas emitted from plants might just be passing through.
January 13, 2009
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On Nature News - January 13, 2009
What is the link between autism and testosterone?
Controversial theory of autism makes headlines, but leaves scientific community unconvinced.
Venus may have had continents and oceans
Granite highlands point to past water — and perhaps life.
Brain imaging studies under fire
Social neuroscientists criticized for exaggerating links between brain activity and emotions.
January 12, 2009
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On Nature News - January 12, 2009
Steven Chu prepares for power
Energy agency may be in for a shake-up.
How to spot moons far, far away
The search for life on another planet is about to be extended – to moons.
Mars rover needs a date
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory needs more money to reach the launch pad, and has less time.
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On Nature News - January 12, 2009
Ocean fertilization experiment draws fire
Indo-German research cruise sets sail despite criticism.
Grooming your way to the top
Nice chimps can be leader of the pack.
VIDEO: A waterway for one-way waves
There's no way back in a row of water-powered see-saws.
January 09, 2009
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On Nature News - January 09, 2009
A never-ending dance of RNA
The recreation of life's origins comes a self-catalysing step closer.
Temperature rises threaten global food security
Climate changes predicted to trigger food shortages across the world.
Earliest Americans took two paths
Genetic analysis suggests there were at least two migrations into the Americas.
Skin cancer on the rise
Increase in melanoma cases not due to better diagnosis.
January 08, 2009
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On Nature News - January 08, 2009
Did black holes form before galaxies?
Astronomers work on universe's chicken-and-egg problem.
Quantum force gets repulsive
Casimir–Lifshitz effect could help nanoengineers out of a sticky situation.
SPECIAL REPORT: Biotechs feel the pain - Premium content
The biotechnology industry is weathering the financial crisis better than some. That doesn't mean it's in great shape, reports Heidi Ledford.
European boost for particle therapy - Premium content
Treatment centres poised to use carbon-ion beams to tackle cancer.
January 07, 2009
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On Nature News - January 07, 2009
Nature Podcast - As the International Year of Astronomy kicks off, we look into the role of self-gravity in star formation, and discover a pair of unusual meteorites in Antarctica. Plus: what happens when you ‘over-squeeze’ photons, and our predictions for science in 2009.
China builds inland Antarctic base
Kunlun station to open later this month atop the frozen continent's oldest ice.
Companies racing into India's nuclear market
Deal between India and United States spurs investment rush.
January 05, 2009
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On Nature News - January 05, 2009
Science arts centre opens in a blaze of colour
Gallery launches Linz as European City of Culture.
'Mini-hibernation' essential for winter survival
A daily dose of torpor helps desert-dwelling marsupials make it through chilly nights.
Galaxies' collision history revealed
Massive mergers sparked bursts of star formation when the Universe was half its age.
December 24, 2008
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On Nature News - December 24, 2008
Rat embryonic stem cells created
Genetically engineered rats should follow soon, providing new models of human disease.
Synthetic opals show their colours
Tunable material could be used to make electronic books or advertising displays.
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On Nature News - December 24, 2008
Downturn hits Chicago's natural history museum
Staff and science cut as museum's endowments crash.
VIDEO: Optical fibres feel light's recoil
Experiment claims to resolve an old debate about how light behaves.
'Proto-spiders' made silk, but not webs
An arachnid with no talent for weaving may have excreted the first known spider silk 386 million years ago.
December 22, 2008
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On Nature News - December 22, 2008
Obama's picks underline climate focus
Strong roles for biologists as the president-elect chooses his science and technology team.
Blind man walking
Man navigates obstacles he can't consciously see.
Reprogrammed skin cells provide testing ground for new drugs
Induced pluripotent stem cells pass key milestone.
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On Nature News - December 22, 2008
Carbonate deposits found on Mars
Long-lost mineral could help explain planet's