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Meticulous reconstruction of the former extent of a glacier high in the mountains of New Zealand will help in interpreting global-scale climatic adjustments that occurred at the end of the last glaciation.
Advances in stem-cell technology have broken the barrier to gene targeting in mammals other than mice. A wide array of research opportunities now opens up, especially in studies involving the laboratory rat.
An electrifying evolutionary radiation has evidently occurred among elephant fish in Africa's Ivindo basin. An implication is that open niches for communication can result in species diversification.
Noise in biochemical processes can compromise precision in cellular functions. An analysis involving information theory suggests that there is a strict limit to how far noise can be suppressed by feedback.
Tiny holes have been drilled through individual layers of graphene — atomically thin sheets of carbon — using an electron beam. These nanopores might be useful for the ultrarapid sequencing of single DNA molecules.
Presenilin proteins have a major role in normal cellular processes, but some contribute to disease, for example through the formation of amyloid-β. The way in which these different roles are regulated is now becoming clearer.
An optical device has been designed that performs a function exactly opposite to that of a laser. It perfectly absorbs incoming coherent radiation and turns it into thermal or electrical energy.
Scientists report the conversion of one type of differentiated cell, the fibroblast, into another — the cardiomyocyte. This approach may find use in regenerative strategies for the repair of damaged hearts.
Theoretical models of the dynamics of self-driven systems predict the collective motion of biological systems, such as insect swarms. An experimental model has been developed to test the predictions.
A charitable deed by a few cells in a bacterial culture can help the rest of that population survive in the presence of antibiotics. This finding can aid further research into a major problem in public health.
The detection of water vapour in a carbon star has challenged the understanding of ageing stars. The discovery that such water can be warm shows that our knowledge of these objects is still rudimentary.
A game for three or more players called 'guess your neighbour's input' reveals common ground between classical and quantum physics — at the expense of more exotic, super-quantum, theories of nature.
Tumour viruses can cause cancer by altering gene expression and protein activity in the host cell. Tumour adenoviruses, however, seem to go to great lengths to ensure that one particular host cell protein, p53, is suppressed.
How many pairs of electrons and 'missing electrons' can sustain collective motion in a semiconductor? The limits of this electron–hole dance are found by probing the dance floor using ultrashort laser pulses.
The retinoblastoma protein is essential for accurate DNA replication, and its loss is commonly associated with cancer. It emerges that this protein also regulates another stage of the cell cycle.
Coat proteins of vesicles involved in intracellular membrane trafficking have closely related molecular architectures. The structure of COPI extends known similarities, and strengthens the case for a common evolutionary origin.
Aggregates and mutations of the proteins ataxin-2 and TDP-43 have been implicated in distinct neurodegenerative disorders. An interplay between these proteins is now reported for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
