Commentary

Carbon sinks play a key role in slowing the growth of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. These sinks are at risk as the world warms, but their demise is not inevitable, say Dave Reay and his colleagues.

Some UK universities offer science degrees in complementary medicine. David Colquhoun argues that these are not science but anti-science, and asks who is to blame.

All-or-nothing targets for global access to basic amenities such as drinking water and sanitation are outdated. The time has come, says Jamie Bartram, for a more fluid approach.

Keeping track of new species names is a growing challenge for modern taxonomists. Sandra Knapp, Andrew Polaszek and Mark Watson make the case for electronic publication of scientific names.

As we celebrate the visionary genius of Carl Linnaeus, it is time to analyse how professional taxonomy interfaces with the rest of biology and beyond. Where next for Linnaeus's heirs, asks H. C. J. Godfray?

How best to serve patients' interests in large clinical trials? Martine Piccart, Aron Goldhirsch and their colleagues argue that maintaining academic independence is essential to early breast cancer trials.

The Clean Development Mechanism can be viewed not only as a market, but also as a subsidy and a political mechanism. Michael Wara argues that it has been most effective, so far, in achieving its political goals.

Renewed attention to policies for adapting to climate change cannot come too soon for Roger Pielke, Jr, Gwyn Prins, Steve Rayner and Daniel Sarewitz.

How best to study the effects of genes and environment on US health? In the first of two commentaries, Walter C. Willett and his co-authors argue that investing in existing studies is the most efficient approach.

Are some ways of measuring scientific quality better than others? Sune Lehmann, Andrew D. Jackson and Benny E. Lautrup analyse the reliability of commonly used methods for comparing citation records.

Effective diagnosis, paired with treatment, for developing-world diseases can have far-reaching impacts, says the Global Health Diagnostics Forum.

The pursuit of responsible nanotechnologies can be tackled through a series of grand challenges, argue Andrew D. Maynard and his co-authors.

Building a knowledge-based society in today's Arab world depends on overcoming primarily political obstacles to progress. Nader Fergany analyses the reforms required for an Arab renaissance.

Muslim nations must take a big leap forward in developing science and technology to catch up with the rest of the world, argues Herwig Schopper, or they risk falling behind in the global economy.

An international data bank of nuclear explosives is needed to determine the source of nuclear materials following an explosion, argue Michael May, Jay Davis and Raymond Jeanloz.

To maximize the resources allocated to science and technology during the next US administration the science community must prepare now, argues Thomas Kalil.

With scant evidence that market-based conservation works, argues Douglas J. McCauley, the time is ripe for returning to the protection of nature for nature's sake.

Women who donate their eggs for stem-cell research should be compensated in the same way as other healthy research volunteers, argues Insoo Hyun.

For policymakers, biodiversity can present more complex challenges than climate change, argue Michel Loreau, Alfred Oteng-Yeboah and their co-authors. So why isn't there an international panel of experts for biodiversity?