| Nature |
Editorials |
Patching together a world view
Data sets encapsulating the behaviour of the Earth system are one of the greatest technological achievements of our age — and one of the most deserving of future investment.
Africa's academies
Robust scientific institutions won't be built in a day.
Shared genomes
Nature's publishers are expanding the licence for reuse of genome papers.
Research Highlights |
Journal Club |
News |
Columbus begins voyage of discovery
Europe's space lab finally reaches the launch pad.
UN talks only one part of the negotiations needed on climate
Parallel discussions have important role to play.
Solar power: California's latest gold rush
Green-energy companies are enjoying a boom in investment. But will they live up to expectation, asks Declan Butler.
Model predicts structure of crystals
Software solves long-standing chemical frustration.
Sidelines
Scribbles on the margins of science.
Saudi–Italian biomedical institute gets go-ahead
Hospital and cancer-research centre will form part of Red Sea development.
Asia plans first cancer network
Regional initiative will coordinate data sharing and epidemiology.
Fund boost for German science
Coalition government ploughs cash into research.
Correction |
Business |
Smart networking
Theoreticians have combined their expertise to form a network to help other scientists design materials or understand biological pathways. Katharine Sanderson reports.
News Features |
Earth Monitoring: The planetary panopticon
Technology will soon allow the world to be mapped in near-real time and at high resolution. Declan Butler investigates the potential for operational monitoring of the planet.
Earth Observation: Not enough eyes on the prize
The capacity of the United States to monitor Earth's vital signs is being stymied by tight budgets and poor coordination. Alexandra Witze reports.
Correspondence |
Commentaries |
Earth monitoring: Cinderella science
On-the-ground monitoring is unglamorous work, seldom rewarded by funding agencies or the science community. But we neglect it at our peril, warns Euan Nisbet.
Earth monitoring: Vigilance is not enough
Global surveillance is key to tracking potential pandemic viruses such as H5N1. But we need to share samples more rapidly, increase testing in endemic areas and track more than one virus, argues Walter Boyce.
Books and Arts |
The ultimate Romantic adventure
Napoleon's invasion of the Middle East enhanced rather than diminished the world's intellectual heritage.
Science in culture
Cartography and power have long gone hand in hand, as this pilgrimage plan illustrates.
Essay |
Earth Monitoring: Whole Earth comes into focus
To understand how our planet uses energy, we must integrate genetic data from microbial studies with satellite views of our planet.
News and Views |
Diabetes: Missing links
Researchers have now probably pinpointed all the genes in the MHC genomic region that are risk factors in type 1 diabetes. As the MHC is unusually rich in genes involved in immunity, this is truly exciting.
Condensed-matter physics: Shear madness
Cooled to temperatures just above absolute zero, solid helium starts to behave very oddly. But its 'supersolid' behaviour might just be the result of imperfections that change the bulk properties of the crystal.
Relativity: Still special
Is special relativity a clapped-out classical theory, to be replaced by a shiny new quantum model as soon as possible? On the contrary, it would seem: the theory still has a youthful ability to surprise us.
Cancer: Immune pact with the enemy
Progress comes from the latest investigations into a long-standing question in immunology — the role of the immune system in maintaining small, potentially cancerous lesions in a state of dormancy.
Microbiology: Bilingual bacteria
Many bacteria use chemical signals to coordinate group behaviour. A signal that suppresses virulence has been identified in the bacterium that causes cholera, and could be a new therapeutic target.
Palaeoclimate: Slush find
A coupled model of palaeoclimate and carbon cycling turns up the heat on the idea that Earth once became a giant snowball. It supports instead a milder 'slushball Earth' history — but piquant questions remain.
Obituary: Arthur Kornberg (1918–2007)
Passionate biochemist with a love for enzymes.
News and Views Q&A |
Sustainable technology: Green chemistry
Modern life depends on the petrochemical industry — most drugs, paints and plastics derive from oil. But current processes for making chemical products are not sustainable in terms of resources and environmental impact. Green chemistry aims to tackle this problem, and real progress is being made.
Brief Communications Arising |
Articles |
Letters |
Naturejobs |
Prospect
Prospects
Salaries for scientists and engineers remain healthy — but differ by field, sector and country.
Career View
Jose Alonso, director, Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, Homestake, South Dakota
Richard Myers leaves Stanford genome centre for Huntsville.
How to handle drug withdrawal
Pfizer's move out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, has left a hole that local institutions are attempting to fill — with mixed success.
A conference too soon
I like going to meetings. But I've got to bide my time and mind my budget.
Futures |
Life, abundant and with simple joy
Found in translation.
