Ecologists fear plan to seal off the United States from Mexico would put wildlife at risk. With Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talking about walling off the United States from Mexico, ecologists fear for the future of the delicate and surprisingly diverse ecosystems that span Mexico’s border with the southwestern United States. “The southwestern US […]
Nature
‘Ransomware’ cyberattack highlights vulnerability of universities
Staff at Canadian university given little guidance on how to mitigate future problems. The first Patrick Feng knew about a cyberattack on his university was when one of his colleagues told him that her computer had been infected by hackers and rendered unusable. Feng, who studies technology and sustainability policy at the University of Calgary […]
Winners and losers emerge in UK funding shake-up
Government’s ‘global challenges’ fund hoovers up extra cash for developing-world problems, cutting grants elsewhere. Funds dedicated for research on developing-world problems will eat into the core science grants of the United Kingdom’s research councils over the next five years, documents released by the councils show. After enduring years of flat funding, scientists had celebrated in […]
Data sharing: Access all areas
Advocates say that open science will be good for innovation. One neuroscience institute plans to put that to the test. In the cut-throat world of early-stage clinical development, where aggressive defence of data and intellectual property is thought to be key to amassing profits, one academic institute is opting out. Over the next five years, […]
Nature Outlook: Batteries
Batteries have the potential to transform the way we use energy, to make electric cars mainstream and to allow renewable energy sources, which tend to be intermittent, to be integrated into the power grid. Today’s best batteries are reaching their limits, but researchers are experimenting with new chemistries and designs. Read more in this Nature Outlook that […]
Drug development: The treasure chest
Pharmaceutical research into the chemicals found in cannabis has so far supplied only one licensed medicine. But scientists think there could be hundreds more. The annual meeting of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) is a highly unusual scientific conference. It has been closed to all media since its inception 25 years ago, lending an […]
Outlook: Addiction
Addiction is a chronic disease that can destroy the lives of individuals and their families. Researchers are teasing apart the complex neural, genetic and behavioural factors that drive people to lose the ability to resist damaging substances, and are looking for ways to treat, reverse or even prevent addictions. Read more in this special Outlook supplement […]
Researchers track eye movements to sway moral decisions
Altering the timing of a decision on the basis of gaze manipulates choices. People asked to choose between two written moral statements tend to glance more often towards the option they favour, experimental psychologists say. More surprisingly, the scientists also claim it’s possible to influence a moral choice: asking for an immediate decision as soon […]
Outlook: Melanoma
Melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — is on the rise in many parts of the world. But new treatments, and efforts to tell people how to prevent it, could mean we will soon gain the upper hand on the disease. Read more in this Nature Outlook I edited.
Fungi borrowed bacterial gene again and again
Multiple independent gene transfers gave fungi ability to colonize plant roots. A single gene from bacteria has been donated to fungi on at least 15 occasions. The discovery shows that an evolutionary shortcut once thought to be restricted to bacteria is surprisingly common in more complex, eukaryotic life. Bacteria frequently trade genes back and forth […]