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Japan's politicians have to face scientific uncertainty, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. They should mobilize diplomatic means, and not sacrifice scientific integrity, in their fight with North Korea.
The sequence of the ‘feminine’ X chromosome is a prime hunting ground for geneticists interested in the evolution of the cognitive and cultural sophistication that defines the human species. Erika Check reports.
Grenada's monkeys have thrived despite a huge degree of inbreeding. But now they face a new genetic bottleneck in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. Sharon Levy investigates.
The human X chromosome is a study in contradictions. The detailed sequence of the X, and a survey of inactivated genes in females, help to illuminate this unique ‘evolutionary space’.
Discoveries made with the High Resolution Stereo Camera on the Mars Express orbiter show that, as recently as a few million years ago, the surface of Mars was being shaped by flowing water, lava and ice.
Pictures of strange, gelatinous deep-sea worms have intrigued zoologists, as they hinted at the solution to an evolutionary puzzle. But does the first specimen to be obtained in good condition back the theories up?
When electric currents are made sufficiently small, the electrons can be seen moving one by one. This is accomplished in a microelectronic circuit, providing a means of obtaining an accurate standard for current.
The p53 protein is notorious for its involvement in many cancers. Studies in mice are helping to clarify how mutations in the human p53 protein produce a wide variety of tumours.
Now that the sequence of the human genome is almost complete, the human genomics community is turning its attention towards what, genetically speaking, makes people different.
Human language is based on syntax, a complex set of rules about how words can be combined. In theory, the emergence of syntactic communication might have been a comparatively straightforward process.
Playing, listening to and creating music involves practically every cognitive function. Robert Zatorre explains how music can teach us about speech, brain plasticity and even the origins of emotion.
Understanding the science behind aesthetic perception could guide and restrain the ‘shock of the new’ approach to music. Composer Roger Reynolds explains how.
Greater specialization means the culture gap between art and science has perhaps never been so extreme. It is hard to find today a true artist- scientist like Leonardo da Vinci, as noted for his science and engineering skills as his Mona LisaandLast Supper. There is just too much to know. But recently there has been an increasing awareness on the part of some artists of the heritage of scientists and vice versa. This supplement aims to reflect, and place in context, some of this awareness.
