Editorials in 2006

Because of trends in submissions, Nature's Brief Communications will bow out at the end of the year.

Six medical workers in Libya face execution. It is not too late for scientists to speak up on their behalf.

Brain scans are forcing researchers to reconsider the state of outwardly unresponsive patients.

The US Congress should reverse a pernicious removal of protection of federal employees.

Government agencies, stakeholders and fellow researchers need to support primate researchers.

The history of energy research highlights the importance and inadequacies of markets, and a yawning gap in the priorities of governments. It's time for a radical change.

Immigration restrictions imposed after 11 September 2001 have eased, but improvements must continue.

How to excite an organic chemist.

False perceptions are hindering access to new research on in vitro fertilization.

Controversies over Homo floresiensis reflect a flourishing science.

A new agreement by stakeholders to improve the sharing of flu data should eventually stimulate research on many infectious diseases. Now to make it work.

In praise of chat.

The anniversary of Hurricane Katrina should remind scientists to keep disaster recovery plans in order.

Effective AIDS prevention requires far better understanding of why existing strategies do not succeed.

More support is required to tackle obesity as a means of cancer prevention.

Planets are spherical, and the International Astronomical Union's attempt to make this part of their definition has merit.

Whatever its motivation, Iran's support for education and science is to be welcomed.

Clashing perspectives on the ethics of the donation of human eggs for research purposes are likely to complicate international collaboration — whether stem-cell researchers like it or not.

The international AIDS meeting still has a purpose.

Sequestration of greenhouse gases could play an important role in capping emissions.