Editorials

On the eve of budget decisions, the scale of cuts to basic research funding remains ill-defined.

Reference datasets should be accessible independently of scientific papers in a citable form, allowing attribution.

A supplement contextualizes key advances in light microscopy over 400 years, while the Tara expedition sets sail to explore oceanic ecosystems at the microscopic level.

The cell biology literature contains manipulated data that distort findings, usually in an attempt to 'beautify' and, rarely, to commit fraud. A new National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report considers data integrity, as well as accessibility and archiving. However, the scientific record can also be distorted through miscitation.

Women remain underrepresented in senior academic positions, despite similar numbers of male and female graduates. The imbalance is best addressed by focusing on the reasons for divergent career choices.

An English High Court judgement highlights the need for reform of a libel law that discourages open scientific discourse.

Author contribution statements are now mandatory and author responsibilities have been clarified.

New rules for the presentation of statistics.

Nature Cell Biology will publish online methods in more detail.

On the eve of a decision on a new gene diagnostics law in Germany, the debate about risks and benefits, although important, must not derail essential legislation.

A collection of seven reviews surveys how microorganisms subvert host cell biology.

A series of essays describing pivotal events in the careers of cell biologists.

Is the UK still committed to basic biology research?

The impact of the continuing economic woes on science funding remains uncertain. Surprisingly, the crisis may actually reinvigorate research. Investment in science and education is a prerequisite not only for emergence from the economic downward spiral, but also for addressing pressing global needs.

The double anniversary of Darwin's bicentenary and 150 years since publication of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection provides the perfect pretext to enhance the public understanding of evolution.

Citations are an important component in the assessment of academic performance. Yet, the growing literature, combined with format constraints of journals, encourage citation of reviews in preference to primary research. This diverts academic credit from the discoverer.

Silvio Berlusconi's government seems set on its course to reform Italy's troubled education system through heavy cuts in funding to schools, universities and scientific research, prompting a belated flurry of protests.

This year's Nobel Prizes mark the most significant technological advance in cell biology, GFP et al., as well as two discoveries in virology with major health implications.

The European Life Sciences Organization is set to close shop at the end of the year by fusing with EMBO.

Biological research is benefiting from an explosion of data. There is an urgent need to invest in bioinformatic infrastructure and education to interpret this data and guarantee its archiving.