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Economics and physics are two disciplines that, contrary to widespread perceptions, have significant common agendas. Shame, then, that the professionals don't do more to recognize the fact.
Viruses are often thought of as simple creatures. But their staggering diversity and genetic promiscuity could make them the most creative force in evolution, says Garry Hamilton.
Some economists had hoped that physicists might shake up the rigid theories typical of mainstream economics. But so far, they're unimpressed by physicists' handling of the markets. Philip Ball reports.
Europe's contribution to the global advancement of science and the promotion of learning is in decline. Better funding of universities and research institutions is needed to reverse this trend, argues Christopher Patten.
Amide bonds underpin protein stability, but distortion from their preferred geometry makes them reactive. An archetypal twisted amide has at last been made, and its chemistry will be revelatory.
Is it time to stop worrying over whether the ancient structures called stromatolites are of microbial origin? ‘Yes’ is the answer to emerge from field and lab work on a 3,430-million-year-old marine ecosystem.
A two-laser trick that renders opaque media transparent can be achieved in systems of tiny optical resonators — with potentially profound consequences for optical communication and information processing.
Rather than merely firing in a digital on–off fashion, vertebrate neurons may have an analogue aspect to their signalling too — a finding that will not surprise many who have worked on invertebrate neurons.
Received wisdom relates that static stress change associated with an earthquake mainshock is the prime mover of its aftershocks. But a fresh look at the data points the finger at wave-surfing dynamic stress.
A method that combines techniques for performing chemical synthesis, separation and measurement on a single device illustrates the considerable potential of integrated lab-on-a-chip technology.
A combination of computer modelling and in vivo transplants demonstrates that the Notch signalling pathway maintains coherent oscillations in gene transcription — silencing the ‘noisy’ gene expression present in the early embryo.
The detection of singly and doubly ionized carbon and neutral atomic oxygen explains the presence of the edge-on disk surrounding the β Pictoris star — as carbon is extremely overabundant relative to every other measured element, the carbon overabundance should keep the gas disk in keplerian rotation.
A new model is proposed for dense granular flows in three dimensions, inspired by the behaviour of visco-plastic fluids such as toothpaste — the results could serve as a basic tool for modelling complex flows in geophysical or industrial applications.
The first chemical synthesis, isolation and full characterization of bicyclic bridgehead lactams — those containing a twisted amide bond — was successful due to the decision to generate the compound by a route other than classical amide bond formation.
Genetic mosaic analysis in Drosophila melanogaster shows that there are two classes of cells in the budding tracheal branches: those that migrate to the tip, and those that follow these lead cells and form a tube. The position of the cell results from competition within the population, with those expressing the highest level of FGF taking the lead positions at the tip, and the others forming the branch stalk.
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) can be isolated from chicken blood, propagated in culture indefinitely, and genetically modified to make transgenic chickens — in addition, the chicken PGCs can be induced in vivo to differentiate into embryonic germ cells that contribute to somatic tissues.
The dynamic motility of GAL genes becomes confined at the nuclear periphery after activation — components of the SAGA histone acetyltransferase complex are required for this confinement, as well as an mRNA export factor.
Interfering with localization of the HXK1 gene — by antagonizing its association with the nuclear periphery or promoting it — can affect gene expression.
With its top academic institutions, Boston has long been a Mecca for biotechnology companies. But the demand for more academic input into industrial science is luring top drug companies there too, says Corie Lok.
