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World View

World View is Nature’s must-read weekly rapid response opinion column, which offers senior figures and commentators a platform to discuss events that affect the world’s scientific community. It covers everything from the interaction between science and policy and the media to issues discussed among bench scientists and funders. Readers are encouraged to join the debate in the online comments.

World View

  • Peer reviewers need more nurturing

    Richard Catlow explains why three national scientific societies are calling for research evaluators to be highly valued and trained.

    Nature 552 ( )

  • Immunization needs a technology boost

    Tracking who receives vaccines is essential, but will be impossible without innovations in digital technologies, says Seth Berkley.

    Nature 551 ( )

  • Build the Ebola database in Africa

    To build trust, capacity and utility, put local researchers in charge of planned platform, says Brian Conton.

    Nature 551 ( )

  • Cancer biology still needs physicists

    Considering game theory and the role of physical forces could lead to better treatments for cancer, says Robert Austin.

    Nature 550, 431 ( )

  • Give researchers a lifetime word limit

    Brian C. Martinson imagines how rationing the number of publications a scientist could put out might improve the scientific literature.

    Nature 550, 303 ( )

  • Statues that perpetuate lies should not stand

    Monuments to the ‘father of gynaecology’ cannot be defended as historical documents because they hide grave injustices, says Harriet A. Washington.

    Nature 549, 309 ( )

  • Keep on marching for science education

    Scientists might have made a difference, had they protested against laws that now threaten what can be taught in our classrooms, argues Brandon Haught.

    Nature 548, 501 ( )

  • To reduce gender biases, acknowledge them

    A former Google engineer’s memo on diversity reveals psychological blind spots, not biological differences, says Debbie Chachra.

    Nature 548, 373 ( )

  • A little democracy could go a long way

    The Middle East is freezing out Qatar. A science academy could help — and would set an important precedent for the region, says Ehsan Masood.

    Nature 548, 261 ( )

  • Capitalize on African biodiversity

    Under-exploited plants offer untold medical and economic promise that should be pursued, urges Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.

    Nature 548, 7 ( )

  • Kill the myth of the miracle machine

    Unchallenged assumptions about how science works threaten its support and decrease its ability to contribute to society, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 547, 139 ( )

  • We need a science of philanthropy

    Billions of dollars are being donated without strong evidence about which ways of giving are effective, says Caroline Fiennes.

    Nature 546, 187 ( )

  • Planetariums — not just for kids

    Planetariums are not just for education, or even astronomy: they could display all sorts of data, if only scientists thought to use them, says Tom Kwasnitschka.

    Nature 544, 395 ( )

  • Doom and gloom won't save the world

    The best way to encourage conservation is to share our success stories, not to write obituaries for the planet, says Nancy Knowlton.

    Nature 544, 271 ( )

  • Label the limits of forensic science

    This week marks a chance to curb the misuse of crime-scene evidence in US courts and spare innocent people from going to jail, says Robin Mejia.

    Nature 544, 007 ( )

  • Brexit must preserve advisory networks

    Policymakers in charge of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union have a duty to maintain benefits of collaboration, says James Wilsdon.

    Nature 543, 591 ( )

  • How dare you call us diplomats

    Amaya Moro-Martín is furious about Spanish government attempts to brand her and other exiled scientists as strategic partners.

    Nature 543, 289 ( )

  • The perfect grant and how to get it

    To help scientists build a career, Panayiota Poirazi says funders must earmark cash, reduce emphasis on collaboration and improve the application process.

    Nature 543, 151 ( )

  • Don’t let useful data go to waste

    Researchers must seek out others’ deposited biological sequences in community databases, urges Franziska Denk.

    Nature 543, 007 ( )

  • Shout about the European Union’s success

    As people in other nations watch the UK prepare to sever ties, Herman Goossens urges more scientists to stress what the EU does for them.

    Nature 542, 273 ( )

  • We must urgently clarify data-sharing rules

    Scientists have worked hard to ensure that Europe’s new data laws do not harm science, but one last push is needed, says Jan-Eric Litton.

    Nature 541, 437 ( )

  • Where science and nonsense collide

    After a decade of progress, Argentina’s scientists are battling a government bent on twisting public conceptions of their role, writes Alberto Kornblihtt.

    Nature 541, 135 ( )

  • Post-truth: a guide for the perplexed

    If politicians can lie without condemnation, what are scientists to do? Kathleen Higgins offers some explanation.

    Nature 540, 009 ( )

  • Stand firm on hormone disruptors

    Ahead of a key meeting on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, Leonardo Trasande argues that policy must follow the science.

    Nature 539, 469 ( )

  • The insect crisis we can’t ignore

    We must start an ambitious and professional global programme to explore and preserve invertebrate biodiversity, says Axel Hochkirch.

    Nature 539, 141 ( )

  • Divisive campaigning damages democracy

    In the final days before the US election, political leaders must speak out to boost confidence in the democratic process, says Andrew Daniller.

    Nature 538, 429 ( )

  • It’s time to get real about conservation

    To protect endangered species from extinction, the ecological community must become more politically involved, argues Aaron M. Ellison.

    Nature 538, 141 ( )

  • Corporate culture has no place in academia

    ‘Academic capitalism’ contributed to the mishandling of the Macchiarini case by officials at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, argues Olof Hallonsten.

    Nature 538, 007 ( )

  • Illusory fears must not stifle chimaera research

    Human–animal embryos have great biomedical potential — but scientists will have to quell public alarm if funding for such work is restored, says Insoo Hyun.

    Nature 537, 281 ( )

  • The debate over GM crops is making history

    An archive of material from all sides of the UK genetic-modification controversy is up and running and welcomes contributions, says Vivian Moses.

    Nature 537, 139 ( )

  • China's soil plan needs strong support

    The government must accompany its action plan on soil quality with effective laws and remediation measures, says Hong Yang.

    Nature 536, 375 ( )

  • Watch out for cheats in citation game

    The focus on impact of published research has created new opportunities for misconduct and fraudsters, says Mario Biagioli.

    Nature 535, 201 ( )

  • Find the time to discuss new bioweapons

    The Biological Weapons Convention needs to take the assessment of emerging scientific dangers more seriously, argues Malcolm Dando.

    Nature 535, 9 ( )

  • Stop teaching Indians to copy and paste

    Major reform of education in India should encourage original thinking to boost the nation's research, argues Anurag Chaurasia.

    Nature 534, 591 ( )

  • Bring climate change back from the future

    The ‘shock’ over an Australian extinction shows that we still don’t accept that global warming is a problem for now, says James Watson.

    Nature 534, 437 ( )

  • Speak up about subtle sexism in science

    Female scientists face everyday, often-unintentional microaggression in the workplace, and it won't stop unless we talk about it, says Tricia Serio.

    Nature 532, 415 ( )

  • Origins of the obesity pandemic can be analysed

    Statistical and biological methods are available to probe why the prevalence of obesity has risen more in some countries than in others, says John Frank.

    Nature 532, 149 ( )

  • Recognize the value of social science

    A professional body for UK social scientists can help to improve research practice — and not just in public engagement, says Andrew Webster.

    Nature 532, 7 ( )

  • Sugar tax could sweeten a market failure

    Britain has announced a tax on sugary drinks. Countries should go further and target foods that have large carbon footprints, says Adam Briggs.

    Nature 531, 551 ( )

  • The elephant in the room we can’t ignore

    If Donald Trump were to trigger a crisis in Western democracy, scientists would need to look at their part in its downfall, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 531, 277 ( )

  • Change the system to halt harassment

    Universities and their senior staff must do more to deter, detect and punish all forms of inappropriate behaviour, says Joan Schmelz.

    Nature 530, 131 ( )

  • New chemistry revives elementary question

    The periodic table is a public symbol of chemistry. But as it grows larger, we must stress that science is not just about producing lists, says Philip Ball.

    Nature 529, 129 ( )

  • Talks in the city of light generate more heat

    Rather than relying on far-off negative-emissions technologies, Paris needed to deliver a low-carbon road map for today, argues Kevin Anderson.

    Nature 528, 437 ( )

  • Use data to challenge mental-health stigma

    Web surveys of attitudes towards mental illness reveal the size of the problem — and offer a way to find fixes, says Neil Seeman.

    Nature 528, 309 ( )

  • Time to cry out for academic freedom

    Giving staff and students a say in how institutions are run would strengthen governance and clip the wings of administrators, argues Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 527, 277 ( )

  • Forensic DNA evidence is not infallible

    As DNA analysis techniques become more sensitive, we must be careful to reassess the probabilities of error, argues Cynthia M. Cale.

    Nature 526, 611 ( )

  • Indigenous peoples must benefit from science

    To drive sustainable development, Dyna Rochmyaningsih argues, science must empower rural communities — not just serve industry and governments.

    Nature 526, 477 ( )

  • Science must prepare for impact

    To maintain public support, researchers need to be able to adapt to the rapidly changing needs of society and politicians, warns Guy Poppy.

    Nature 526, 7 ( )

  • Tackle Nepal’s typhoid problem now

    As post-earthquake conditions increase the risk of a typhoid epidemic, Buddha Basnyat calls for a widespread vaccination programme.

    Nature 524, 267 ( )

  • The future of science will soon be upon us

    The European Commission has abandoned consideration of 'Science 2.0', finding it too ambitious. That was the wrong call, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 524, 137 ( )

  • We need a measured approach to metrics

    Quantitative indicators of research output can inform decisions but must be supported by robust analysis, argues James Wilsdon.

    Nature 523, 129 ( )

  • Judge by actions, not words

    Sexist comments made by my former boss Tim Hunt are not an indication that he is biased against women, argues Alessia Errico.

    Nature 522, 393 ( )

  • Rethink our approach to assessing risk

    The ‘post-normal science’ framework would make regulatory decisions about research in humans more effective, says Frederick Grinnell.

    Nature 522, 257 ( )

  • No more hidden solutions in bioinformatics

    Precision medicine cannot advance without full disclosure of how commercial genome sequencing and interpretation software works, says Mauno Vihinen.

    Nature 521, 261 ( )

  • Regulate gene editing in wild animals

    The use of genome-modification tools in wild species must be properly governed to avoid irreversible damage to ecosystems, says Jeantine Lunshof.

    Nature 521, 14 ( )

  • Why I teach evolution to Muslim students

    Encouraging students to challenge ideas is crucial to fostering a generation of Muslim scientists who are free thinkers, says Rana Dajani.

    Nature 520, 409 ( )

  • Test the effects of ash on jet engines

    To judge the safety of flying during an eruption, the airline industry cannot just rely on advances in volcanic monitoring and prediction, says Matthew Watson.

    Nature 520, 133 ( )

  • Change the cancer conversation

    The 'war on cancer' has run off course. Efforts must refocus on the best interests of patients, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 520, 7 ( )

  • Intelligent robots must uphold human rights

    The common fear is that intelligent machines will turn against humans. But who will save the robots from each other, and from us, asks Hutan Ashrafian.

    Nature 519, 391 ( )

  • Share the risks of Ebola vaccine development

    Ebola vaccines have little in the way of commercial markets, so the risks should be shared between governments and industry, says Seth Berkley.

    Nature 519, 263 ( )

  • And the winner is: not science

    Portrayals of science in the cinema are growing in sophistication — but not exactly at the speed of light, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 518, 139 ( )

  • Major biodiversity initiative needs support

    An effort aimed at protecting ecosystems, modelled on the agency battling climate change, will need protecting from powerful enemies, warns Ehsan Masood.

    Nature 518, 7 ( )

  • The rising pressure of global water shortages

    Water is becoming more scarce as populations increase, potentially leading to conflict. The age of hydro-diplomacy is upon us, says Jan Eliasson.

    Nature 517, 6 ( )

  • Assess the real cost of research assessment

    The Research Excellence Framework keeps UK science sharp, but the process is overly burdensome for institutions, says Peter M. Atkinson.

    Nature 516, 145 ( )

  • Science should keep out of partisan politics

    The Republican urge to cut funding is not necessarily anti-science, and the research community ought not to pick political sides, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 516, 9 ( )

  • Open access is tiring out peer reviewers

    As numbers of published articles rise, the scholarly review system must adapt to avoid unmanageable burdens and slipping standards, says Martijn Arns.

    Nature 515, 467 ( )

  • How terror-proof is your economy?

    Scientists can help to develop a financial safety net by providing transparent market data and loss-impact analysis, says Erwann Michel-Kerjan.

    Nature 514, 275 ( )

  • Istanbul canal needs environmental study

    Scientists must ensure that the ambitious plan of Turkey’s president does not move forward without a thorough impact assessment, says Derin Orhon.

    Nature 513, 461 ( )

  • Europe needs a research leader who will lead

    The next research commissioner for the European Union will need the drive and confidence to clear a daunting in-tray, argues Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 512, 7 ( )

  • Cause is not everything in mental illness

    Welcome steps have been made in uncovering a biological basis for schizophrenia, but for many, the question of ‘why’ is unimportant, says David Adam.

    Nature 511, 509 ( )

  • Not all plagiarism requires a retraction

    Papers that plagiarize only text can still contribute to the literature, but any errors or omissions should be prominently corrected, says Praveen Chaddah.

    Nature 511, 127 ( )

  • Academy 'reform' is stifling Russian science

    Insufficient funding, more bureaucracy and an inefficient government funding system are sapping the life from Russian research, says Alexey Yablokov.

    Nature 511, 7 ( )

  • China must continue the momentum of green law

    A plan for improved environmental protection is a good first step, but all levels of society will need to work together for it to succeed, says Hong Yang.

    Nature 509, 401 ( )

  • Is it right to reverse extinction?

    Several groups are working to bring back long-dead species, but these efforts could undo some hard-learned lessons, argues Ben Minteer.

    Nature 509, 261 ( )

  • Time to settle the synthetic controversy

    If synthetic biology is to thrive, the world needs to decide now how the field should be regulated and supported, says Volker ter Meulen.

    Nature 509, 135 ( )

  • Political borders should not hamper wildlife

    Given the lack of global legislation, nations should work hard to establish cross-border protections for vulnerable species, says Aaron M. Ellison.

    Nature 508, 9 ( )

  • Wanted: Fraud-buster with political antennae

    A mild-mannered man’s fiery resignation leaves a troubling vacancy at the world’s largest office for investigating scientific fraud, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 507, 275 ( )

  • WHO plans for neglected diseases are wrong

    Research and development into diseases affecting the world’s poorest people will not benefit from the agency’s policy, warns Mary Moran.

    Nature 506, 267 ( )

  • Don't stop the quest to measure Big G

    Pinning down the coupling constant in Newton's law of gravity is challenging, but with ultra-stable labs it can be done, says Terry Quinn.

    Nature 505, 263 ( )

  • Physiological data must remain confidential

    Electronic devices that track our emotions, heart rate or brain waves should be regulated to protect individual privacy, says Stephen Fairclough.

    Nature 505, 263 ( )

  • This was no Antarctic pleasure cruise

    After his polar vessel became trapped in shifting sea ice, Chris Turney defends the scientific basis of the expedition.

    Nature 505, 133 ( )

  • Emerging powers need a more-inclusive science

    Fast-growing economies can learn from the West's mistakes and couple social and 'hard' sciences to address their own societal needs, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 505, 7 ( )

  • Academics should not remain silent on hacking

    The revelation that US and British spy agencies have undermined a commonly used encryption code should alarm researchers, says Charles Arthur.

    Nature 504, 333 ( )

  • How sexual harassment changed the way I work

    As a flurry of interest in workplace discrimination subsides, efforts to raise awareness and eliminate abuses continue, says Kathleen Raven.

    Nature 504, 9 ( )

  • Time for global statistics we can count on

    Public policy is too often derailed by assessments based on faulty data, says Martin Rees, as he calls for the formation of an international data watchdog.

    Nature 502, 273 ( )

  • Improving genome understanding

    The cost and accuracy of genome sequencing have improved dramatically. George Church asks why so few people are opting to inspect their genome.

    Nature 502, 143 ( )

  • Behavioural insights are vital to policy-making

    Governments should embrace the scientific approach and use controlled trials to test the impact of policies on people’s behaviour, says Olivier Oullier.

    Nature 501, 283 ( )

  • The Himalayas must be protected

    Climate change and human activities are pushing the fragile ecosystem ever closer to instability, warns Maharaj K. Pandit.

    Nature 501, 283 ( )

  • It is time to update US biomedical funding

    The effects of federal budget cuts provide an opportunity to revisit the funding structure of the National Institutes of Health, says Frederick Grinnell.

    Nature 501, 137 ( )

  • Deep-sea trawling must be banned

    Industry interests should not be allowed to derail a European Union vote on whether to prohibit a destructive fishing technique, says Les Watling.

    Nature 501, 7 ( )

  • What is to be done about Russian science?

    Government reforms to the Russian Academy of Sciences have met with controversy, but some form of change is needed, argues Mikhail Gelfand.

    Nature 500, 379 ( )

  • Halt the avalanche of performance metrics

    The increasing dominance of quantitative research assessment threatens the subjective values that really matter in academia, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 500, 255 ( )

  • Balancing privacy with public benefit

    Maximizing access to research data will greatly benefit science, and users can help to establish universal principles on how to do it, says Martin Bobrow.

    Nature 500, 123 ( )

  • China needs workers more than academics

    As it faces a glut of unemployed graduates despite labour shortages, China should end its worship of qualifications over skills, argues Qiang Wang.

    Nature 499, 381 ( )

  • Sharing information is preferable to patenting

    The US Supreme Court ruling on gene patents is a welcome boost to efforts to increase the free exchange of scientific information, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 498, 273 ( )

  • Be prepared for the big genome leak

    It is only a matter of time until idealism sees the release of confidential genetic data on study participants, says Steven E. Brenner.

    Nature 498, 139 ( )

  • Pure hype of pure research helps no one

    Congressman Lamar Smith hopes to ‘improve’ peer review by adding a layer of accountability, but his bill aims at imaginary ideals, argues Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 497, 411 ( )

  • Australian science needs more female fellows

    The Australian Academy of Science must take urgent steps to address the lack of gender equality among its elected fellows, warns Douglas Hilton.

    Nature 497, 7 ( )

  • H7N9 is a virus worth worrying about

    Warnings about the emergence of another influenza virus may elicit scepticism, but we should not be complacent, cautions Peter Horby.

    Nature 496, 399 ( )

  • The unlikely wisdom of Chairman Mao

    Self-criticism is a virtue seldom possessed by men, and never by the leaders of Western science, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 495, 143 ( )

  • Bees, lies and evidence-based policy

    Misinformation forms an inevitable part of public debate, but scientists should always focus on informing the decision-makers, advises Lynn Dicks.

    Nature 494, 283 ( )

  • Redefine misconduct as distorted reporting

    To make misconduct more difficult, the scientific community should ensure that it is impossible to lie by omission, argues Daniele Fanelli.

    Nature 494, 149 ( )

  • Genetic privacy needs a more nuanced approach

    Because confidentiality of health data cannot be guaranteed, people should consider both the risks and advantages of sharing them, argues Misha Angrist.

    Nature 494, 7 ( )

  • Scottish science is ready to go it alone

    Scientists in restless territories such as Scotland, Quebec and Catalonia should embrace change, Colin Macilwain suggests.

    Nature 493, 579 ( )

  • Ensuring health in universal health coverage

    Health systems must transcend clinical medicine and emphasize public-health approaches aimed at the drivers of disease, argues James D. Shelton.

    Nature 493, 453 ( )

  • Rumour research can douse digital wildfires

    Work on how rumours arise and spread could help to dampen the effects of damaging misinformation circulating on the Internet, says Nicholas DiFonzo.

    Nature 493, 135 ( )

  • Time to stop relying on things past

    US science advocates are depending on strategies and statistics that may not survive contemporary politics, says David Goldston.

    Nature 492, 313 ( )

  • Treat obesity as physiology, not physics

    The energy in–energy out hypothesis is not set in stone, argues Gary Taubes. It is time to test hormonal theories about why we get fat.

    Nature 492, 155 ( )

  • Extinction need not be forever

    Biotechnology can help to save endangered species and revive vanished ones. Conservationists should not hesitate to use it, says Subrat Kumar.

    Nature 492, 009 ( )

  • How resilient is your country?

    Extreme events are on the rise. Governments must implement national and integrated risk-management strategies, says Erwann Michel-Kerjan.

    Nature 491, 497 ( )

  • Throw off the cloak of invisibility

    Improving Wikipedia entries for notable women scientists should be only the start for a higher profile for women in science, says Athene Donald.

    Nature 490, 447 ( )

  • The secrets of my prizewinning research

    Serge Haroche, co-winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics, warns against the growing trend towards short-termism in science funding.

    Nature 490, 311 ( )

  • Gene therapies need new development models

    As with other medicines, the approval of gene therapies should hinge on a risk–benefit analysis for the patient, argues Fulvio Mavilio.

    Nature 490, 7 ( )

  • We must be open about our mistakes

    Greater transparency about the scientific process and a closer focus on correcting defective data are the way forward, says Jim Woodgett.

    Nature 489, 7 ( )

  • Why we are poles apart on climate change

    The problem isn’t the public’s reasoning capacity; it’s the polluted science-communication environment that drives people apart, says Dan Kahan.

    Nature 488, 255 ( )

  • Arab liberals must stay in the game

    Islamist academics are gaining power in the Middle East and North Africa. But to build science needs liberal input, argues Ehsan Masood.

    Nature 488, 131 ( )

  • The time is right to confront misconduct

    After a generation of denial, research leaders are finally treating scientific fraud with the seriousness it deserves, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 488, 7 ( )

  • Writers should not fear jargon

    Researchers use complex language for a specific purpose, and science writers should be clear about what those reasons are, says Trevor Quirk.

    Nature 487, 407 ( )

  • Wildfires ignite debate on global warming

    As temperatures soar, forests blaze and houses burn, the media and public may be forced to face up to the reality of a changing climate, says Max A. Moritz.

    Nature 487, 273 ( )

  • Meet patients to get your motivation back

    Biomedical scientists risk forgetting what they’re working for if they don’t connect with the people who are affected by their research, says Tal Nuriel.

    Nature 487, 07 ( )

  • Open your minds and share your results

    An open approach is the best way to maximize the benefits of research for both scientists and the public, says Geoffrey Boulton

    Nature 486, 441 ( )

  • We must set planetary boundaries wisely

    The concept of environmental thresholds is compelling, but it has the potential to shift political focus to the wrong areas, says Simon L. Lewis.

    Nature 485, 417 ( )

  • Reach out to defend evolution

    Creationists seize on any perceived gaps in our knowledge of evolutionary processes. But scientists can and should fight back, says Russell Garwood.

    Nature 485, 281 ( )

  • Beware the creeping cracks of bias

    Evidence is mounting that research is riddled with systematic errors. Left unchecked, this could erode public trust, warns Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 485, 149 ( )

  • Commercial space flight takes wing

    The first private-sector flight to the International Space Station opens up a myriad of opportunities for science, says Alan Stern.

    Nature 484, 417 ( )

  • Deep-water drilling remains a risky business

    Donald Boesch argues that the lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill should be enshrined in legislation before they fade from memory.

    Nature 484, 289 ( )

  • Scientists and bankers — a new model army

    Bankers must now surrender more information on their activities. Scientists should use it to build better system-wide financial models, says John Liechty.

    Nature 484, 143 ( )

  • No theory is too special to question

    The flurry of research that followed the claim of faster-than-light neutrinos was far from a waste of time, says Giovanni Amelino-Camelia.

    Nature 483, 125 ( )

  • The man behind the machine

    Alan Turing is famous for many reasons. Andrew Hodges delves into why Turing's achievements took so long to be recognized.

    Nature 482, 441 ( )

  • Global health hits crisis point

    The Global Fund’s drive to ensure sustainability and efficiency means that it may not be able to meet its commitments to combat disease, says Laurie Garrett.

    Nature 482, 7 ( )

  • Cultural history holds back Chinese research

    Confucius and Zhuang have produced a culture in China that values isolation and inhibits curiosity. Neither is good for science, says Peng Gong.

    Nature 481, 411 ( )

  • Break down boundaries in climate research

    Scientists wanting to implement change must collaborate between disciplines. An ambitious Amazon study shows them how, says Paulo Artaxo.

    Nature 481, 239 ( )

  • Don't censor life-saving science

    Controlling who is allowed access to information about mutations in the H5N1 bird flu virus is unacceptable, says Peter Palese.

    Nature 481, 115 ( )

  • Blue-sky bias should be brought down to Earth

    High-prestige research hogs the money, while the needs — and value — of the US science agencies closest to the public are ignored, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 481, 07 ( )

  • Particle physics is at a turning point

    The discovery of the Higgs boson will complete the standard model — but it could also point the way to a deeper understanding, says Gordon Kane.

    Nature 480, 415 ( )

  • Time to stop celebrating the polluters

    The United Nations must include sustainability in its quality-of-life index to encourage countries to develop responsibly, says Chuluun Togtokh.

    Nature 479, 269 ( )

  • The road to fraud starts with a single step

    The extensive academic fraud of Diederik Stapel has rocked science. Social psychologist Jennifer Crocker traces the destructive path that cheats follow.

    Nature 479, 151 ( )

  • Genomic medicine has failed the poor

    A decade on from a landmark genetic-sequencing study, promised progress on typhoid fever has not materialized, says Stephen Baker.

    Nature 478, 287 ( )

  • Marine protection in the Arctic cannot wait

    Global economics, not declining sea ice, is driving ships to the Arctic Ocean. Only international regulation will protect the region, says Lawson Brigham.

    Nature 478, 157 ( )

  • Why animal research needs to improve

    Many of the studies that use animals to model human diseases are too small and too prone to bias to be trusted, says Malcolm Macleod.

    Nature 477, 511 ( )

  • Embrace failure to start up success

    An ambitious US programme aims to turn scientists into entrepreneurs. Go on, says Steve Blank, unleash your inner capitalist.

    Nature 477, 133 ( )

  • The dark clouds over US astronomy

    The proposed cancellation of NASA's latest space telescope shows the difficulties ahead. But there is a solution, says Michael S. Turner.

    Nature 476, 127 ( )

  • We thought trouble was coming

    Chris Funk explains how his group last year forecast the drought in Somalia that is now turning into famine — and how that warning wasn't enough.

    Nature 476, 007 ( )

  • My year as a stem-cell blogger

    Paul Knoepfler explains why he joined the ranks of the blogosphere, and why you should too.

    Nature 475, 425 ( )

  • Focus on quality, not just quantity

    China publishes huge amounts of scientific research. Now it must make more of it worth reading, says Changhui Peng.

    Nature 475, 267 ( )

  • The dubious benefits of broader impact

    Assessments of the wider value of research are unpopular. Proposed changes will only produce more hype and hypocrisy, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 475, 141 ( )

  • Fishery reform slips through the net

    Upcoming change fails to tackle the pernicious relationship between government advisers and the fishing lobby, says Rainer Froese.

    Nature 475, 7 ( )

  • Give the new generation a chance

    Romain Murenzi wants more young scientists in the developing world to be given the same opportunity to build careers that he was.

    Nature 474, 543 ( )

  • Supreme Court ruling is good, bad and ugly

    Monday's key US legal decision on emissions regulation was influenced by the unjustified attacks on climate science, says Douglas Kysar.

    Nature 474, 421 ( )

  • Can Europe build a framework for success?

    The European Framework programme, one of the world's largest science funders, has improved its reputation. Not by enough, says Colin Macilwain

    Nature 473, 421 ( )

  • Dubious assumptions prime population bomb

    The United Nations says there could be 10 billion people on Earth by the end of the century. Fred Pearce finds problems in its analysis.

    Nature 473, 125 ( )

  • Reform the PhD system or close it down

    There are too many doctoral programmes, producing too many PhDs for the job market. Shut some and change the rest, says Mark C. Taylor.

    Nature 472, 261 ( )

  • Governments must pay for clean-energy innovation

    The current obsession with nuclear power is a red herring, says Marty Hoffert. The United States and others should instead invest in a clean-energy revolution.

    Nature 472, 137 ( )

  • A long shadow over Fukushima

    One impact of Japan's nuclear crisis is a dim but definite echo of Chernobyl, says Jim Smith — decades of caesium-137.

    Nature 472, 007 ( )

  • Concerns over nuclear energy are legitimate

    Reassurances from 'experts' on the safety of nuclear power will not wash, says Colin Macilwain. The Fukushima crisis raises genuine questions.

    Nature 471, 549 ( )

  • Do not phase out nuclear power — yet

    Fission power must remain a crucial part of the energy mix until renewable energy technologies can be scaled up, argues Charles D. Ferguson

    Nature 471, 411 ( )

  • Science agencies must bite innovation bullet

    Before research can rebuild the US economy it must learn from the prosperous heyday of the military–industrial complex, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 471, 137 ( )

  • Give postdocs a career, not empty promises

    To avoid throwing talent on the scrap heap and to boost prospects, a new type of scientific post for researchers is needed, says Jennifer Rohn.

    Nature 471, 007 ( )

  • Unpublished results hide the decline effect

    Some effects diminish when tests are repeated. Jonathan Schooler says being open about findings that don't make the scientific record could reveal why.

    Nature 470, 437 ( )

  • China's water crisis needs more than words

    A new water strategy from the Chinese government is a step in the right direction, says Chaoqing Yu. But it will be difficult to put into practice.

    Nature 470, 307 ( )

  • Of course scientists can communicate

    Tim Radford takes aim at the popular myth that researchers are hopeless at explaining their work to a general audience.

    Nature 469, 445 ( )

  • Day of reckoning for Ecuador's biodiversity

    The world's indifference to a request for %3.6 billion to preserve a diversity hot spot may push the country to extract oil there, says Kelly Swing.

    Nature 469, 267 ( )

  • University cuts show science is far from saved

    Scientific leaders have been too quick to praise the reprieve for research money, says Colin Macilwain. The slashing of teaching funds will do real damage.

    Nature 469, 133 ( )

  • Save university arts from the bean counters

    Scientists must reach across the divide and speak up for campus colleagues in arts and humanities departments, says Gregory Petsko.

    Nature 468, 1003 ( )

  • Women scientists must speak out

    Female researchers still battle sexism. The media gives them an opportunity to be heard alongside male colleagues, says Jennifer Rohn.

    Nature 468, 733 ( )

  • Spending review leaves research in the lurch

    A revised research spending plan won't meet the challenges Britain faces from its international competitors or from climate change, argues David King.

    Nature 467, 1007 ( )

  • Publish your computer code: it is good enough

    Freely provided working code — whatever its quality — improves programming and enables others to engage with your research, says Nick Barnes.

    Nature 467, 753 ( )

  • Save British science, again

    The UK government is about to reveal a research spending plan that is too conservative for purpose, warns Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 467, 269 ( )

  • Politicize me

    Barack Obama is finding that sometimes politics needs to put science in its place, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 467, 26 ( )

  • Leaders wanted

    There's room at the top for more old-fashioned charisma, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 466, 919 ( )

  • Not by experts alone

    More and earlier public involvement is required to steer powerful new technologies wisely, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 466, 688 ( )

  • World view: ERA of austerity

    The economic crisis is a setback to the European Research Area, warns Colin Macilwain — and the research community is ill-placed to respond.

    Nature 466, 314 ( )

  • Entertaining science

    Efforts by the US National Academy of Sciences to popularize science through movies will sanitize it as well, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 466, 27 ( )

  • Talking the talk

    Without effective public engagement, there will be no synthetic biology in Europe, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 465, 867 ( )

  • Defending democracy

    Government surveillance technology programmes must aim to protect privacy and civil rights from the start, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 465, 546 ( )

  • Disaster, unmitigated

    An oil slick will not re-engage the public with environmental issues, warns Colin Macilwain, but it might lead to a saner US energy policy.

    Nature 465, 287 ( )

  • Brick by brick

    A small non-profit organization shows how to reduce the vulnerability of poor countries to earthquakes, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 465, 029 ( )

  • Moment of reckoning

    Tough choices lie ahead in UK research policy, and they need to be debated openly in the general election campaign, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 464, 975 ( )

  • Missing weapons

    The US defence department should be at the centre of the nation's energy policy, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 464, 672 ( )

  • What can little Europe do?

    Scientists must engage with the European Union's redesign of its research programmes to shore up the continent's competitive position.

    Nature 464, 349 ( )

  • Curing climate backlash

    Effective action on climate requires better politics, not better science, explains Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 464, 28 ( )

  • Calling science to account

    Scientists and the media are trapped in a cosy relationship that benefits neither. They should challenge each other more, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 463, 875 ( )

  • Better all the time

    Innovation policies are more likely to be successful if they leverage existing capabilities, argues Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 463, 607 ( )

  • Wild goose chase

    Quantitative research assessment is a bad idea whose time has come, argues Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 463, 291 ( )

  • Tomorrow never knows

    Science should focus more on understanding the present and less on predicting the future, argues Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 463, 24 ( )

  • Out of service

    Decaying infrastructure is an urgent threat that scientists and engineers must help to address, says Colin Macilwain.

    Nature 462, 846 ( )

  • A tale of two sciences

    An innovative approach to reducing toxic-chemical use scrambles to stay alive as big science prospers, says Daniel Sarewitz.

    Nature 462, 566 ( )

  • Experts and democracy

    Specialist advice can be invaluable in shaping policy, but, argues Colin Macilwain, democracies need to keep a careful eye on the powers acquired by an unelected elite.

    Nature 462, 275 ( )