Business in 2006

The Pentagon is sinking millions of dollars into developing the next generation of supercomputers — and plans to let non-military scientists and engineers share the benefits. Heidi Ledford reports.

A spin-off from a UK university has established a solid niche as a leading supplier of microsatellites. But taking the company to the next level is a challenge. Geoff Brumfiel reports.

The job of cleaning up Britain's nuclear plants is up for auction — so who might profit from the newly privatized industry? Andrea Chipman reports.

Geneticists' desire to track the roots of complex diseases has shaken up the market for gene chips. Meredith Wadman reports on two firms jostling for position in a business potentially worth US$500 million.

The US Food and Drug Administration may soon approve the use of cloned livestock for food. But regulatory roadblocks aren't the only thing keeping clones off the menu, as Heidi Ledford reports.

One US nanotechnology start-up has hit the jackpot — but for others the prospect of such overnight success seems remote. Colin Macilwain reports.

Drug companies lose hundreds of millions of dollars when large-scale human clinical trials fail. Helen Pearson examines whether alternative procedures could help avoid such disappointments.

London is seeking to compete with the Nasdaq as the preferred global venue for science-based companies trying to raise cash. Andrea Chipman reports.

'Product Red' is the private sector's bid to fight HIV. But is it too little too late? Colin Macilwain investigates.

The crash of a demonstration train in Germany casts a shadow on magnetic levitation technology. Ned Stafford reports.