Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
Producing a popular research tool will make you a lot of friends in science. But meeting requests to supply the material puts a heavy burden on your lab. David Cyranoski examines a system under pressure.
The Alliance for Cellular Signaling is exploring new frontiers, both in fundamental scientific terms and in the way in which research in cell biology is conducted. Alison Abbott reports.
The human genome fired the public's imagination. But for many geneticists, the genome of their main experimental mammal — the mouse — is even more exciting. Nature's reporters sample the buzz in three leading laboratories.
The human genome fired the public's imagination. But for many geneticists, the genome of their main experimental mammal — the mouse — is even more exciting. Nature's reporters sample the buzz in three leading laboratories.
The human genome fired the public's imagination. But for many geneticists, the genome of their main experimental mammal — the mouse — is even more exciting. Nature's reporters sample the buzz in three leading laboratories.
The whole-genome shotgun method has assembled a high-quality draft mouse sequence. Future projects will wed the shotgun's speed and economy to established, map-based methods, says Declan Butler.
One of the main differences between the mouse and human genomes lies in the activity of 'junk' DNA sequences called retrotransposons. Carina Dennis considers what these sequences might be doing.
Scientific wagers have a long and colourful history. Are they just harmless fun, or can they help to frame and clarify important issues? Jim Giles surveys the odds.
Hydrologists are gearing up for a second attempt to restore the altered environment of the Grand Canyon, by letting the Colorado River run free. Kendall Powell discovers the lessons learned from the first, fruitless flood.
A small but growing group of astronomers wants to put the night sky on the Internet. But will staring at a computer screen ever replace peering through a telescope? Geoff Brumfiel logs on.
If we can understand why a woman's body does not reject her fetus, it could help us to treat infertility and prevent problems in pregnancy. Helen Pearson reports.
With one French gene-therapy patient having developed a form of cancer, a frantic detective effort is under way to determine what went wrong — and to assess the risks faced by others. Erika Check reports.
In the 1960s, a Russian physicist considered the properties of a material that didn't yet exist. Now researchers appear to have fulfilled his predictions — but is everything as it seems? Liesbeth Venema investigates.
NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts aims to turn speculative ideas into tomorrow's space missions. Tony Reichhardt attends its latest get-together, and asks whether the investment is worth it.
In many countries, students are turning away from the hard sciences. Can initiatives that give young people hands-on experience of research help to lure them back? Sally Goodman goes back to school.
“When you are addicted, there is no euphoria when you shoot up,” explains Christian. “You only want heroin. Food and sex are not interesting. You are capable of being aroused, but you have no desire.” Can neuroscientists explain why addicts feel this way? Alison Abbott investigates.
Japan wants to reform its university system, in part to match the competitive and entrepreneurial spirit of US academia. That won't be easy, says David Cyranoski.
Recent controversies over scientific fraud and other disputed findings have raised questions over the way in which journals select papers for publication. Is there a problem? And what more could be done to weed out dubious results? David Adam and Jonathan Knight investigate.
Commercial fisheries worldwide are being driven to collapse. Quirin Schiermeier wonders why fisheries scientists are failing to halt this pillage, and asks what hope is there for the future sustainability of fish stocks.
