Seeing as my last post of 2006 was about awards, it’s not such a bad idea to start 2007 with something along the same lines.

Chemistry (and nanotechnology) has a new knight – not sure if that comes with shining armour or not though! In the New Year’s Honours List, Fraser Stoddart, professor at UCLA, receives a knighthood for his services to chemistry and molecular nanotechnology. I wonder if Sir Fraser will be rubbing shoulders with ‘Sir’ Bono, who received an honourary knighthood this year…?!

Stuart

Stuart Cantrill (Associate Editor, Nature Nanotechnology)

Rare muscle fibres could improve sporting prowess.

A genetic tweak has converted mice into endurance runners by enriching a little-known form of muscle fibre. The discovery could help boost sporting abilities, or reveal ways to slow muscle wasting.

Read the story here.