Peer Reviewed

The future of computing may emerge not from electronics, but from ‘spintronics’. This new technology relies on the transport of electrons whose quantum spin states—or internal angular momentum—are all the same.

Researchers at RIKEN’s Discovery Research Institute in Wako, in collaboration with researchers from Cornell University in the US, and Kyoto University, have refined a method that measures small electronic excitations in superconductors.

RIKEN scientists have discovered a new state of matter with unusual magnetic properties—its constituent electrons are in a continuous state of flux, even at incredibly cold temperatures.

Scientists might be better served by spending their time working with their representatives on Capitol Hill rather than trying to get candidates together for a debate.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Stem cells: Circadian rhythms, Planetary science: Evidence for water, Plants: Recovery from nitrogen, Neurodegeneration: The plaque to dementia, DNA vaccines: TBK1 is doubly important, Essay: Darwin’s Enduring Legacy, Tectonics: Slice of subduction and Holography: An added dimension

In Nature China this week - The iridescent colours on beetle wings are caused by microstructures that could be replicated for camouflage technology. Other papers include Chemotherapy: Improved packaging, improved performance, Sand dunes: Light as a feather, Gene evolution: History repeats itself and Brain evolution: What makes it bigger.

Natural products, including plants, animals and minerals, have been the basis of treatment of human diseases and have been exploited for human use for thousands of years. This new publication is a collection of 25 selected papers in Natural products

This new publication by the NAM S&T Centre exposes the difficulties of agricultural output, faced by mostly dry and saline parts of the world due to scarcity of clean water and fertile land for crop production.

The Group of 77 (G-77) have approved a multi-lateral collaborative project on ‘Sustainable Rainwater Harvesting and Ground Water Recharge in Developing Countries - HRD and Technology Transfer’ for implementation by the NAM S&T Centre

Interview with Masamichi Toyama, artist and Chairman of Smiles Co., Ltd, the first example of entrepreneurship within Mitsubishi. He established Soup Stock Tokyo, while on loan to KFC. Soup Stock Tokyo is a new high quality fast food culture for mainly young women in Tokyo which operates from more than 40 outlets.

Malaysia currently produces 39.8 million tonnes oil equivalent (mtoe) of NG and consumes only 19.5 mtoe. Hence, there is plenty of NG available for automotive use. This CNG/DI Engine and Transmission research project aim to produce a car designed specifically for use with NG.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Going beyond p53’s role in cancer, Natural selection shapes modern human populations and Ancient lymphocytes

Researchers solve the mystery of how biological clocks are disrupted - A team led by researchers from RIKEN has revealed how daily or circadian rhythms in mammals can be reinforced, shifted or disrupted by exposure to a burst of bright light.

Researchers show how spins freeze in a molecular magnet

Two different chemical compounds can be used to draw perpendicular molecular lines on the surface of silicon substrates

In Nature China this week - Scientists in China have developed a recombinant vaccine for SARS, Consultation rates of flu-like illness can be used as a predictor for the seasonality of influenza virus activity in Hong Kong and other tropical regions and more.

Singapore – Researchers and policymakers will meet on February 13-15, 2008 at the Grand Mirage Resort in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia to review the impacts of climate change in Southeast Asia and China and discuss what is being—and could be — done to respond.

A peer reviewer for The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) broke confidentiality rules and leaked a damaging report about the blockbuster diabetes drug Avandia to the drug’s manufacturer weeks ahead of publication, Nature has learned. Also ... Taking stock of the Big Apple’s air and water may soon be more difficult for researchers.

Summaries of newsworthy papers including: New cells’ effect on learning, Sugar rush to protect the heart, DNA blueprint for crystallization, Hurricanes: The temperature contribution, Piezoelectric pressure point, Controlling a double-edged sword, and Insight into a doublet of giant earthquakes

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature and Nature research journals including: When microbes ruled the Earth, Making waves in the ionosphere, Amyloid inhibitors are aggregates too, An amicable separation, Mother knows best, Sleep onset and duration uncoupled

“On the heels of avian influenza, the medical community has realized that, if you want to deal with emerging diseases, 75% of which come from animals, you have to deal with the animal side of the equation.”

New capacity and fresh insights are among the goals of the Teasdale-Corti global health program that aims to expand the influence of research over a wide range of health issues.

Molecular-scale rearrangements influence how receptors transmit their message, adding another layer of complexity to the regulation of cell signaling

X-rays, neutrons and theoretical modeling are used to explore the physics of quasi-crystals

Japanese researchers unravel how cells move to form the brain

Rice research community seeks to reach 18 million households with improved rice varieties, increase yields by 50% within 10 years

Summaries of newsworthy papers include The Mississippi’s carbon footprint, Repeat Offenders – are scientists publishing more duplicate papers?, The power of Jupiter’s jets, DARPA at 50, Growth of Hawaiian volcanoes, Towards realizing the benefits of spin and Insight into a tropical ecosystem

Plants have evolved disguise proteins to cheat pathogenic bacteria.

Asia has been experiencing “an extraordinarily rapid transformation,” observes Stephen McGurk. As IDRC’s New Delhi-based Regional Director for South Asia and China, McGurk has seen in the cityscape around him reflections of both positive and negative aspects of this transformative growth.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Animals: Turn up the heat on sex determination, Volcanoes under ice, From little seeds do laser beams grow, The dark side of X-ray imaging, A stem cell-based therapy to treat muscular dystrophy, Genetic variants associated with susceptibility to lupus