Editorials in 2013

Scientists must embrace funding-agency efforts to track research outputs and encourage open access to the literature.

Increasing scientific globalization is welcome, but could compromise national efforts.

Japan’s government must stick by its promise to help women’s careers to prosper.

Despite the small number of entries, the genomics X prize is to be commended for attempting to push the boundaries of DNA sequencing technology.

It is risky to oversimplify science for the sake of a clear public-health message.

Scientists must ensure that they take the lead in the ethical debate surrounding the therapeutic use of stem cells derived from human clones.

Budgetary delays exacerbate dire outlook for US research.

To reach a sustainable future, we must merge economic and environmental agendas.

The US National Center for Science Education teaches researchers how to fight for their cause.

The proposed European Data Protection Regulation will rightly preserve people’s privacy — but, without exceptions for scientific research, it could hinder or prevent medical discoveries.

Federal regulators could learn much from California’s low-carbon fuel programme.

The US Supreme Court should overturn the 2003 law that requires federally funded HIV/AIDS programmes abroad to denounce prostitution.

Confidence is rising among scientists defending animal research. It should be encouraged.

The reform of English libel law is a victory, even if it doesn’t achieve everything that was hoped.

Research on transgenic crops must be done outside industry if it is to fulfil its early promise.

The White House urgently needs to set out a clear plan for how it intends to monitor the state of Earth.

Diagnostic boundaries separating mental disorders hamper effective treatments.

China’s well-handled response to outbreaks of H7N9 avian influenza belies the country’s bad reputation from its past dealings with disease. But there are still improvements to be made.

Nature’s podcast charts 12 landmark discoveries in the history of science.