Comment in 2011

International agreements are not enough. Interlinked national and regional tools are also needed to reduce carbon emissions, say Mark Maslin and Joanne Scott.

The time is right, says Martin Bobrow, to improve the governance of research involving animals that contain human genetic or cellular material.

Researchers like to work on projects that start small and slowly scale up. They must think bigger and faster, says Sandy J. Andelman, to tackle today's problems in time.

Jason Clay identifies eight steps that, taken together, could enable farming to feed 10 billion people and keep Earth habitable.

Medical genomics has focused almost entirely on those of European descent. Other ethnic groups must be studied to ensure that more people benefit, say Carlos D. Bustamante, Esteban González Burchard and Francisco M. De La Vega.

Peter Rowlett introduces seven little-known tales illustrating that theoretical work may lead to practical applications, but it can't be forced and it can take centuries.

Basing regulations on a term with no scientific justification will do more harm than good, argues Andrew D. Maynard.

A consortium of researchers, advocates and clinicians announces here research priorities for improving the lives of people with mental illness around the world, and calls for urgent action and investment.

Eight years ago, physicist Neil Turok set up the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in South Africa. The initiative is now set to expand across the continent.

Sub-Saharan Africa's most densely peopled mainland nation is determined to head off a population crisis. Others should take note, say Josh Ruxin and Antoinette Habinshuti.

Bassirou Bonfoh and others offer lessons from a West African institute that has survived ten years of conflict.

A staggering lack of undersea data hampers our understanding of earthquakes and tsunamis. Geophysicists must put more instruments offshore, says Andrew V. Newman.

Attempts to isolate the Chinese space community undermine US interests, says Gregory Kulacki.

Our brains are hard-wired to make poor choices about harm prevention in today's world. But we can fight it, says Daniel Gilbert.

Keith Lloyd and Jo White commend a way for patients, clinicians and scientists to set priorities jointly.

Researchers must collaborate to manage one of the planet's most precious and threatened resources — for food production and much more, says Steve Banwart.

Conservationists should assess organisms on environmental impact rather than on whether they are natives, argue Mark Davis and 18 other ecologists.

Practical support and psychosocial interventions are desperately needed to help those dealing with the fallout of AIDS, says Lucie Cluver.

Medical advances cannot help those who deny they are at risk of HIV and avoid HIV tests. Salim S. Abdool Karim describes how such attitudes may be overcome.

Ridding the world of polio requires a global initiative that tailors strategies to communities, say Heidi J. Larson and Isaac Ghinai.