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It has long been proposed that stem cells function by dividing to generate an identical daughter cell and a cell that becomes more specialized. New work illustrates such asymmetric division and its molecular basis.
Lack of oxygen causes the cells of certain tumours to spread to new locations. It also activates a homing mechanism that enables the migrating cells to target specific organs.
Pairs of viral genomes work together to destroy their hosts more quickly. How this might occur remains unknown, but study of the phenomenon should provide insight into how genetic systems evolve.
Information about atmospheric conditions far back in Earth's history is embedded in the isotopic composition of fossil microbes. Such studies are technically demanding, but hold considerable promise.
A centuries-old technique for transporting timber is the inspiration for a new method of assembling nanowires into large-scale, ordered patterns that could form the basis of a new generation of electronic devices.
A form of gene regulation that uses small RNA molecules to bind to longer RNAs was first described over a decade ago, but was thought to be of little significance in controlling cellular processes. No longer.
A laser that operates through repeated emission from a single atom is very different from the lasers we know. The beam of light produced has a more orderly photon stream than even the quietest laser.
Random collisions between asteroids would seem to cause their spin axes to be tilted in all directions. Surprisingly, the gentle recoil force of thermal re-radiation may bring their spin axes into alignment.
The mechanism by which the TIMP-2 protein inhibits blood-vessel formation has been uncovered — and it is not as expected. The finding has implications for treating a cancer by cutting off its blood supply.
Reducing food intake increases lifespan in many species. A small molecule that occurs naturally in plants seems to mimic the beneficial effects of caloric restriction and extend longevity in yeast.
