Featured
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News |
Iran frees scientists who studied big cats in surprise move
Six-year ordeal for researchers studying Asiatic cheetah and Persian leopard ends in prisoner amnesty.
- Michele Catanzaro
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Editorial |
The EU’s ominous emphasis on ‘open strategic autonomy’ in research
A reboot of the flagship Horizon Europe fund risks prioritizing a mindset geared towards security over open, future-facing research collaboration.
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Nature Index |
Larger or longer grants unlikely to push senior scientists towards high-risk, high-reward work
A survey of US professors suggests that broad changes to grant schemes might be needed to incentivize new approaches to research.
- Dalmeet Singh Chawla
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News |
China–US climate collaboration concerns as Xie and Kerry step down
The friendship between the two men survived hostile moments between their countries.
- Smriti Mallapaty
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News |
Biden seeks to boost science funding — but his budget faces an ominous future
The US president proposes a 2025 budget even as negotiations continue over federal funding for 2024.
- Jeff Tollefson
- , Max Kozlov
- & Alexandra Witze
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Book Review |
Act now to prevent a ‘gold rush’ in outer space
As private firms aim for the Moon and beyond, a book calls for an urgent relook at the legal compact that governs space exploration.
- Timiebi Aganaba
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News |
‘Despair’: Argentinian researchers protest as president begins dismantling science
Javier Milei’s actions after taking office have research institutions facing shutdown.
- Martín De Ambrosio
- & Fermín Koop
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News |
Trump versus Biden: what the rematch could mean for three key science issues
Depending on the winner of November’s election, researchers anticipate two completely different paths ahead for the environment, public health and more.
- Jeff Tollefson
- , Natasha Gilbert
- & Mariana Lenharo
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Editorial |
Science can drive development and unity in Africa — as it does in the US and Europe
A plan to establish Africa’s first continent-wide science fund should not be delayed any longer.
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World View |
How to boost your research: take a sabbatical in policy
Academic researchers have a unique opportunity to benefit society — and their research — by spending time in government.
- Jordan Dworkin
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Editorial |
It’s time for countries to honour their million-dollar biodiversity pledges
Promises to safeguard biodiversity need to be translated into money in the bank.
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News |
US and China likely to delay renewal of key science pact again
Relations have changed between the two nations, so negotiators are hashing out new terms in the 45-year-old agreement.
- Natasha Gilbert
- & Smriti Mallapaty
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Editorial |
Cyberattacks on knowledge institutions are increasing: what can be done?
For months, ransomware attacks have debilitated research at the British Library in London and Berlin’s natural history museum. They show how vulnerable scientific and educational institutions are to this kind of crime.
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Book Review |
Science and government: can the power struggle ever end?
Similar goals but different strategies underlie tensions between science and the state, an in-depth analysis explains.
- Rhona Mijumbi
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News |
Israel is flooding Gaza’s tunnel network: scientists assess the risks
The plan to target Hamas involves filling parts of a 500-kilometre-long network of underground tunnels. Researchers warn this could affect Gaza’s water supplies.
- Josie Glausiusz
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News |
Crackdown on skin-colour bias by fingertip oxygen sensors is coming, hints FDA
Devices can overestimate blood oxygen levels in people with dark skin, affecting medical care.
- Max Kozlov
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News |
Brazil’s deforestation ‘police’ on strike — threatening climate goals
Environmental workers in the government have stopped field operations, and might halt work altogether.
- Meghie Rodrigues
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News |
Trump’s presidential push renews fears for US science
If he wins a second term, the former US president has promised to limit the authority of federal agencies and employees, including scientists.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News |
Leading US particle-physics lab faces uncertain future
Several organizations are vying for the contract to manage Fermilab, after it received failing grades from the US Department of Energy.
- Dan Garisto
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Correspondence |
New UK immigration rules threaten academic mobility
- Alexander C. Lees
- & Ben C. Sheldon
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World View |
How a surge in organized crime threatens the Amazon
The global community needs to break the web of transnational crime networks and corruption threatening one of the world’s largest carbon sinks.
- Bram Ebus
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Correspondence |
Is Brazil ready for gender equality in science?
- Fernanda Staniscuaski
- , Leticia de Oliveira
- & Charikleia Tzanakou
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News |
COP28 climate summit signals the end of fossil fuels — but is it enough?
As nations make historic pledge to ‘transition’ energy systems away from fossil fuels — some scientists are disappointed by the softened wording.
- Katharine Sanderson
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News Feature |
How Earth’s first global heat officer is tackling climate change
Eleni Myrivili is helping the world to prepare for the threats of climate change as the United Nations chief heat officer.
- Alexandra Witze
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Nature Index |
US agency launches experiments to find innovative ways to fund research
Caleb Watney explains how the National Science Foundation’s ‘science of science’ programme will find efficiencies and support ‘high-risk, high-reward’ studies.
- Dalmeet Singh Chawla
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Editorial |
Frugal innovation: why low cost doesn’t have to mean low impact
Science is starting to recognize the movement to create mass-market products using local knowledge and materials to improve lives around the world.
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News |
First cash pledged for countries devastated by climate change: COP28 starts with historic decision
Draft resolution on a ‘loss and damage fund’ has attracted more than $400 million, but climate-vulnerable countries say more cash is needed.
- Katharine Sanderson
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Nature Index |
Why is China’s high-quality research footprint becoming more introverted?
Data from the Nature Index suggest China-based authors are increasingly publishing without international colleagues.
- Brian Owens
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Editorial |
Global science is splintering into two — and this is becoming a problem
The United States and China are pursuing parallel scientific tracks. To solve crises on multiple fronts, the two roads need to become one.
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News |
‘My collaborations would see me jailed’: Australian researchers fear proposed new laws
Under the proposal, technology with potential military use would need authorization to be shared with non-Australian colleagues.
- Bianca Nogrady
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Nature Index |
Science in cities benefits rural communities, too
Shouting about the far-flung impact of city-based research can help counter attempts at urban–rural division.
- Simon Baker
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Correspondence |
China: personalized carbon accounting for consumers
- Li Zhang
- , Lan Tao
- & Fangyi Yang
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News Feature |
Is it too late to keep global warming below 1.5 °C? The challenge in 7 charts
Chances are rapidly disappearing to limit Earth’s temperature rise to the globally agreed mark, but researchers say there are some positive signs of progress.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News |
‘Extremely worrying’: Argentinian researchers reel after election of anti-science president
As part of his plan to address the country’s economic crisis, Javier Milei has promised to slash research funding and shut down key science agencies.
- Martín De Ambrosio
- & Fermín Koop
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News |
Progress on plastic pollution treaty too slow, scientists say
As national divisions widen over how to address the global waste crisis, researchers fight for more input into the process.
- Nicola Jones
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News |
Major US climate disasters occur every three weeks, report finds
Fifth National Climate Assessment says nowhere is safe from warming, but some communities are impacted harder than others.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News Explainer |
Why is Delhi’s air pollution so bad right now?
The post-monsoon season creates ideal conditions for air pollution to accumulate in the Indian megacity.
- Dyani Lewis
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News |
Researcher resignations from UKRI mount amid Israel–Hamas row
Academics are furious that the funder complied with a demand from the government to suspend an advisory panel over comments made about the conflict.
- Carissa Wong
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Nature Index |
China must draw on internal research strength
The domestic pool of talent is deep, but international links are still crucial for maintaining the country’s role in the search for global solutions.
- Cong Cao
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Editorial |
Cutting health and science support should not be an option in Argentina’s election
As the nation chooses its next president, citizens must consider the wider benefits of research investment — long-term prosperity, well-being and growth.
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News |
Japanese research is no longer world class — here’s why
Despite a strong workforce, Japan’s research continues to slide down the indicators of quality.
- Anna Ikarashi
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Editorial |
China’s Belt and Road Initiative is boosting science — the West must engage, not withdraw
China is deepening scientific links with low- and middle-income countries. Europe and the United States would be wise to join this effort, which could help to resolve economic, environmental and political crises.
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Nature Index |
AI could be an opportunity for research managers
The head of Europe’s main body for research-management professionals talks about the impact of artificial intelligence and the continued battle for recognition for those supporting scientists’ work.
- Simon Baker
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World View |
Science is under threat in Argentina — we must call out the danger
Extreme-right presidential front runner Javier Milei plans to disband ministries and privatize research. That would be disastrous for Argentina’s science and for the nation.
- Victor A. Ramos
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News |
Argentina election: front runner vows to slash science funding
If elected president, economist Javier Milei has pledged to eliminate government spending on research and shut down the environment and health ministries.
- Martín De Ambrosio
- & Fermín Koop
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Career Q&A |
I advocate an African research agenda for African development
As Uganda’s science minister, Monica Musenero pushes to connect scientific research to economic development in her country and her continent.
- Christopher Bendana
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News |
US science agencies on track to hit 25-year funding low
Despite last year’s CHIPS and Science Act, which was meant to boost innovation, report predicts that Congress will cut spending on science.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News Explainer |
How a US government shutdown could disrupt science
Tens of thousands of federal researchers might have to stop work on 1 October — but the shutdown’s effects could ripple well beyond government.
- Jeff Tollefson
AI-fuelled election campaigns are here — where are the rules?