Articles in 2014

Extracts from selected News & Views articles published this year.

Hong Kong has enjoyed 17 years of prosperity and academic freedom since the transfer of sovereignty from the UK to China. But with political unrest and increasing competition from mainland cities, it needs to rethink its long-term strategy.

Aaron Hirsh celebrates the 75th anniversary of the marine-biology classic by Ed Ricketts, the bohemian scientist who inspired John Steinbeck.

Magnetoelectric materials allow magnetism to be controlled by an electric field. The discovery of an indirect path for switching electrical polarization in one such material brings this idea close to practical use. See Letter p.370

Discoverer of the tau lepton subatomic particle.

The Internet offers ways to broaden your contacts and assist you in your job search, says Peter Fiske.

A description of the terminology and methodology used in this supplement, and a guide to the functionality available online at natureindex.com.

Crystal structures of the complete RNA polymerases from influenza A and B viruses provide insight into how these enzymes initiate RNA synthesis, and reveal targets for antiviral drug design. See Articles p.355 & p.361

Nanjing has long been a hotbed for scientific discovery and technological innovations. Now, through promoting materials science and astrophysics, the former capital city hopes to step out from the shadows of its neighbour and rival Shanghai.

Discovery of hydrogen-rich waters hints at unexplored microbial ecosystems.

Endocytosis is a process by which molecules gain access to a cell. An unusual mode of endocytosis has now been shown to regulate cell signalling, and to be highjacked by bacterial toxins. See Article p.460 & Letter p.493

An iron catalyst has been developed that mediates bond formation between a wide range of alkene reactants, opening up short synthetic routes to compounds that were previously accessible only through arduous pathways. See Article p.343

For 65 years, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been a rich source of technological innovation, scientific discovery and aspiring minds. Making the leap from a regional to a global leader, researchers are taking the intellectual powerhouse to soaring new heights.

Tiny particles found in sea-floor sediment point to partial solution to 'missing plastic' problem.

Beijing, the political centre of China for nearly a millennia, has seen unprecedented growth in its research output, scientific impact and technological innovation in the last 15 years. And the momentum shows no signs of abating.

The development of RNA-based devices called toehold switches that regulate translation might usher in an era in which protein production can be linked to almost any RNA input and provide precise, low-cost diagnostics.