July 2004

• Earth-like planets may be more rare than thought

  In cosmic terms, our solar system could be special after all.

  30 July 2004

• White elephant spotted in Sri Lanka

  Albino pachyderm may boost conservation efforts.

  30 July 2004

• Unlikely chart-toppers

  Forget cosmology and quantum mechanics. A list of most important physics papers from the past century reveals condensed matter physics is where it's really at, says Philip Ball.

  30 July 2004

• Bone-devouring worms discovered

  Deep-sea species may have completely new form of metabolism.

  29 July 2004

• Lab-made prions trigger mad cow symptoms

  Result shows protein alone can act as infectious agent in disease.

  29 July 2004

• Francis Crick

  DNA code-breaker dies at 88.

  29 July 2004

• Odyssey of a Moon rock

  Chemical analysis illuminates 4-billion-year history of desert meteorite.

  29 July 2004

• US Democrats embrace stem-cell issues

  Ronald Reagan's son speaks on embryonic research at political convention.

  28 July 2004

• Branching gene could beautify bushes

  Genetic discovery shows how plants organize their shape.

  28 July 2004

• The search for life on Mars

  Briefing: As Mars Express sends back the best ever data about the chemicals present in the martian atmosphere, rumours abound that scientists are beginning to detect signs of life on the red planet. news@nature.com weighs up the evidence so far.

  27 July 2004