Peer Reviewed

Researchers at the RIKEN Plant Science Center (PSC) have clarified a key epigenetic mechanism by which an enzyme in the model plant Arabidopsis protects cells from harmful DNA elements.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Astronomy: Hot Jupiters in a spin; Stem cells: Generation of liver cells from fibroblasts; Comment: WHO needs change; Ageing: How dietary restriction extends nematode lifespan Microbiology: New group of ‘hidden’ fungi discovered; Physics: How to control complex network systems; And finally… Sulphur so good

The whole picture of the damage is not clear yet, but coastal disaster professionals including myself were not able to specifically predict such a devastating disaster in Japan. Although I think there are many hardships in restoring the coastal areas, I believe that we are responsible for supporting restoration of the devastated areas.

A severe earthquake and massive tsunami hit the Pacific coastline of eastern Japan on March 11, 2011. A total of six nuclear power plants automatically shut down because of the earthquake. Power from outside the plant was also lost. Emergency diesel generators started operating.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Neuroscience: Generalizing fear; Geoscience: Unexpectedly high earthquake risk east of the Andes; Nature: Marsupial ménage in the Palaeocene; Geoscience: Impact-generated nitrogen on Titan?

The Faculty of Dentistry at CMU has Developed an Orthodontic Tool to Help Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate, Winning a TRF Research Award, 2010.

In Nature China this month - Microbiology: Duck amuck; Public health: Rural virus turns a ruckus; Invertebrate palaeontology: Spider queen; Medical genetics: Follow your heart; Superconductors: The right description

Novel tuberculosis treatments could result from success in artificially synthesizing sugar-based structures of the bacterium’s cell wall

Measurements of fundamental particles provide a sensitive method to probe the spin composition of protons

IHPC’s William Yim from Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) was part of a research team that has made an impactful discovery.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Evolution: A candidate for a pair of wings; Physics: Materials for efficient recovery of waste heat

Professor Wolfgang Johannes Reinhard Hoefer, from Singapore’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) has been recognized by his peers as an authoritative pioneer in the field of microwave research. He will be receiving the prestigious "Microwave Pioneer Award" from the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT) Society.

Graphene, the one-atom-thick carbon lattice that is the subject of last year’s Nobel Prize in Physics, has found application in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensing.

A 20-member delegation of the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council (HKYIC) visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 27 April to see the latest development of the University and to exchange views on Hong Kong's industries.

A protein-devouring enzyme complex uses two different mechanisms to determine which targets to destroy

A key regulator of nervous system development works by blocking a signaling protein with multiple roles in stem cell maturation

Newly available data on rare, neutron-rich isotopes reveal shortcomings of models describing the synthesis of elements

The discovery of a simple, inexpensive method for making large quantities of unnatural amino acids could reduce the cost of many pharmaceuticals

A novel photochemical process allows catalytic and magnetic metals to be deposited onto semiconductor nanorods without effort

Systematically designed ultrasmall peptides mimic the molecular assembly processes observed in neurodegenerative diseases

A germanium–tellurium alloy could form the basis for reconfigurable electronic switches

Motion-sensing technologies developed at A*STAR could revolutionize human–computer interaction.

Hitachi Asia Ltd. and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Data Storage Institute (DSI) recently entered into a strategic partnership to research a new generation storage system for genome sequencing data.

‘Good citizens’ in the human gut bacterial community produce protective compounds that help prevent onset of food poisoning

Titanium oxide doped with cobalt produces magnetic properties at room temperature via a newly discovered mechanism

Social learning occurs in specific nerve cells in the cerebral cortex of the brain that become fully active only when observing others

Summaries of newsworthy papers on Learning and memory; Energy conversion with polymers; Quantum memory with a single atom; A Rosi-coloured view of food intake and on Obesity-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has strengthened its efforts in nurturing hospitality graduates to address the growing demands of the hospitality and tourism industry in Hong Kong and the region.

Summaries of newsworthy papers on Patenting Ethics; The rise of people power; The role of Agulhas leakage in climate control; How the Grand Canyon and its neighbours got grand and Keeping rats up past their bed time

Analysis of mutations of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus by researchers at the RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC) has revealed major genetic differences between the virus in its early phase of infection in Japan and in its peak phase.