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The military has for many years been one of the biggest investors in scientific research. The fruits of its spending are clear to see in ever more sophisticated weapons of offence and defence. But many advances based on military research have found their way into everyday, peaceful use. In this issue of Nature, we examine the achievements, deficiencies and ethics of all aspects of military research.
Unfounded fears about vaccines are already reaching worrisome proportions. No public figure should stoke them — as US presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann has done.
Ann Finkbeiner explains JASON, the autonomous group of academics that has been reporting to the US government on military matters for more than 50 years.
As Japan strives to overcome the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Nick Pidgeon reflects on Charles Perrow's classic book about why complex technologies fail.
Robert Stone, director of the Human Interface Technologies Team at the University of Birmingham, UK, develops 'serious games' for training soldiers and sailors. He explains how immersion in virtual worlds can prepare military personnel for their experiences on the battlefield — and help them to heal after they return.
Increased expression of sirtuin proteins has been shown to enhance lifespan in several organisms. New data indicate that some of the reported effects may have been due to confounding factors in experimental design. Here, experts discuss the significance of these data for research into ageing. See Letter p.482
The slick interior of the pitcher plant has inspired a slippery material possessing self-lubricating, self-cleaning and self-healing properties. The secret is to infuse a porous material with a liquid that repels oils and water. See Letter p.443
Scientists have begun to overhaul a yeast's genome to make it more stable, engineerable and evolvable. Remarkably, the part-natural, part-synthetic yeast cells function and reproduce without obvious ill effects. See Letter p.471
Single-electron circuitry is a promising route for quantum information processing. The demonstration of single-electron transfer between two distant quantum dots brings this technology a step closer. See Letters p.435 & p.439
The genetic basis of traits can be understood by comparing the DNA of varieties of the same species. The genomes of many varieties of a model plant organism have now been sequenced, and the results are revelatory. See Article p.419
Newly discovered neutralizing antibodies that target sites on the envelope proteins of HIV-1 provide a window on how some of the most powerful of these antibodies acquire their potency and breadth of activity. See Letter p.466