Editorials in 2016

Attempts by the European Union to stimulate innovation are stifled by bureaucracy.

We are gratified when a politician shows that they know about science, but they all should.

China, with its freedom from the ethical pressures experienced by researchers elsewhere, is poised to become the go-to country for work on non-human primates.

Scientists must help to inform regulators wrestling with how to handle the next generation of genetically engineered crops.

Findings from the Akatsuki mission should rekindle interest in Earth’s closest neighbour.

Don’t get too excited about that successful appeal against a grant rejection.

Mental illness is moving up the global agenda — but there is still much to do.

To boost nuclear security, research reactors must eliminate highly enriched uranium.

The first outbreak of yellow fever in Angola in almost 30 years illustrates the danger of a short attention span when confronting epidemic threats.

Attempts by digital companies to curb unpleasant behaviour online could make the Internet a more welcoming and useful space.

Artificial fixes to make the most of summer time may do more harm than good.

Psychology drives some overindulgence — and it could help us to resist.

Now that gravitational waves have been discovered, it is time to put them to use.

The Chinese government’s professed commitment to transparency and responsiveness has had a rocky start. That bodes ill for the desire to attract the best science brains from around the world.

Scientists must unite to stop Turkey from removing the right to freedom of expression.

Growing urbanization is heralding a new era of science in the city.

A new forum promises to bring deserved prestige to outstanding African researchers, and demonstrates the continent’s untapped potential.

The promise of DNA origami shows signs of coming to fruition a decade after its debut.

The risks and rewards of genome editing resonate beyond the clinic.

A recreation of how early humans managed to eat a diet of meat hundreds of thousands of years before they had fire to cook it with, shows an ingenious use of tools to cut down on chewing time.