Web focuses
- Latest biological sciences
- Latest earth and environment
- Latest horizons
- Latest physical sciences
- Latest science and politics
- Latest science, art and culture
Latest biological sciences
iPS cells
Recently scientists found that a special property of stem cells called pluripotency — the ability to renew and form all cells of the body — can be induced by introducing only four transcription factors into adult cells. This process creates powerful stem cells similar to embryonic stem cells. Now scientists are working to make the technique more efficient and safe, and are creating induced pluripotent stem-cell lines from individuals with diseases for use in drug screening and research into disease mechanisms.
Microbial genomics
Analyses of microbial genomes both at the level of a single species genome and at the community metagenome level have been providing many novel insights into microbial life and the impacts on its environment. This web focus presents a collection of recent studies on important human and plant pathogens, ocean microbes, the human microbiome, plant and animal symbionts, and environmental microbial communities.
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Latest earth and environment
EPICA Dome C: Greenhouse gases over eight glacial cycles -
Ice cores are invaluable archives of past environmental conditions on Earth. In 1996, the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) set out to provide the longest ice-core climate record yet, by drilling a core from 3,270 m thick ice at a site known as Dome C in East Antarctica. The team's findings to date, including a complete Antarctic climate record over the past 800,000 years and atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide records from 650,000 years ago to the present, have significantly advanced our understanding of the Earth's climate over the past eight glacial cycles. Here Nature presents the latest results, the complete records of atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide over the past 800,000 years, along with some of the previous Dome C ice-core papers and a collection of related articles.
Energy for a cool planet
The world, especially the developing world, needs new sources of energy. What it doesn′t need is any more carbon dioxide, the principal cause of man-made climate change. Reconciling those two requirements is the great technological challenge of our time. In this web focus, Nature has collected a suite of feature articles and associated material focused on new ‘clean energy’ technologies that seek to address this challenge. From mainstream possibilities like the expansion of nuclear power, to more offbeat subjects such as microbial fuel cells, this Nature web focus provides a compelling overview of the energy landscape.
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Latest horizons
Horizons
'Horizons' articles present experts' visions of the foreseeable future of a research theme. The articles are commissioned by Nature's editors, and usually published without peer review, given Nature's intention of capturing a respected individual perspective. The articles are intended to anticipate the future, but also to influence it.
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Latest physical sciences
Chemist's choice from News and Views -
For informed comment on the hottest papers in the chemical sciences, Nature's News and Views section is the place to look. This selection of recent articles provides a taster of what we have to offer, featuring commentaries from the likes of Stuart Schreiber, Chaitan Khosla and Craig Hill.
Year of Astronomy -
To mark in 2009 the International Year of Astronomy and 400 years since Galileo made his first telescope observations, Nature has commissioned a series of special articles and reviews. From telescopes to planets, stars, galaxies and cosmology, plus commentary on the state of the field from top experts, we hope they will make you look at the universe with new eyes.
Latest science and politics
Worldview
In World View, Nature's twice-monthly column collected here and launched in November 2009, two seasoned insiders comment on the interaction between science and politics. Daniel Sarewitz, Director of the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at Arizona State University, writes in the first issue of every month. Colin Macilwain, formerly editor of Research Fortnight/Research Europe and before that news and business editor of Nature, writes in the third issue of each month.
Meetings That Changed The World
This series covers six scientific meetings that had such a great impact, they can be said to have changed the world. Each piece is written by an expert who attended the conference in question. The authors recall what it was like to live through these momentous occasions, and reflect upon the events' broad and lasting legacies.
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Latest science, art and culture
Being human
Why do we behave in the way that we do? This series of Essays reveals how the latest research is altering our understanding of what it is to be human. Whether in relation to religion or to our collective behaviour in cities, experts explore the potential impact on society, now and in the future, of discoveries in psychology, anthropology, genetics, neuroscience, game theory and network engineering.
Hidden treasures series
Every month throughout 2008 Alison Abbott looks into the holdings and history of one of Europe's unique small collections or scientific monuments off the well-beaten museum track. The series will, we hope, inspire a greater interest in where scientists have come from, and encourage those on the conference circuit with a few hours to spare to visit these 'hidden treasures'. Delight is guaranteed.
