Peer Reviewed

This paper highlights the research into developing conservation strategies, curbing illegal logging through forensic forestry, developing forest conservation strategies using molecular marker technology, molecular breeding to advance the breeding of specific traits, in vitro conservation of plant species and new drug discovery programs.

Bio-deterioration of wood products by micro-organisms and insects is a major problem. The current trend in the development of wood preservatives is to use biocide combinations which include both inorganic-organic and organic-organic binary mixtures.

Results from the early work on the Malaysian red list and conservation monitoring on critically threatened plant species provide a perspective into the underlying issues of conservation priorities.

Japanese biologists identify a protein critical to the normal development of the embryonic brain

RIKEN researchers are learning how to electrically control spin orientation for data storage technology photo

A team of scientists shows how to electrically control the polarization of nuclear spins

Summaries of newsworthy papers including: Mammals: Patterns of evolution, Remote control of tropical cyclones, A rotating ring current around Saturn, Fathoming giant rogue waves, Books: Seasonal kids' special, A gallery of protein pumps, Space: Halo halo, New compound comes out of the cool, and Why pregnant women don’t tip over

Homosexual men in China who seek sexual partners both on the Internet and in venues that traditionally attract homosexuals are at the highest risk of HIV transmission

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has appointed world-renowned architect Ms Zaha Hadid as the Architect of its new “Innovation Tower”. This building will be her first permanent architectural work in Hong Kong.

Recommend roadmap based on flexible, universally compatible technologies for good governance and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

At the Third Global Knowledge Forum (GK3), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and its research partners will be showcasing some of the innovative ways in which ICTs can foster human development. The GK3 will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 11-13, 2007

Ottawa, Canada, December 10, 2007 – Recognizing the serious consequences of climate change for development, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is helping developing countries adapt by supporting research and strengthening local institutions so they can better prepare for an uncertain future.

Summaries of newsworthy papers including: Complementing IPCC, Cooling the Cretaceous greenhouse, The pulse of the San Andreas, Re-examining firefly bioluminescence, Silicon nanowires restore optical signals, How protein modules fit together, Compact synchrotron demonstrated, Pathway to breast cancer, You must remember this & Romancing the fly

Superconductivity is found to be strengthened by a competing order of electrons

The first wave of cells giving rise to an early stem cell population are derived from cells of the neural tube

Discovering the structure of a key protein in human cells may lead to treatment for asthma and shock

Summaries of newsworthy papers including: Tracking volcanic activity on the Moon, Space: How close is too close? Joined-up thinking on bird flu, Cancer: A double agent exposed, Cinderella science, A quantum-dot light switch, Ancient magma ocean under Earth's mantle?, Snowball versus slushball, Are you a man or a mouse?

China's rapid economic development has accelerated biological invasion and more from Nature China this week

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature Geoscience including: In search of a plate boundary and Modern Arctic Ocean circulation exceptional?

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature journals including: Restoring bacterial killing in cystic fibrosis, Bad to the bone, Run away from your depression, Genetic risk factor for psoriasis, Genetic variants predispose to lupus, and Fuelling allergic inflammation

This is the first of a series of nine papers exploring the state of the science and practice of compensation and rewards for environmental services in the developing world.

Shinya Yamanaka and colleagues show how to convert adult mouse or human skin cells into cells that resemble embryonic stem cells without using the tumour-causing gene c-Myc. Elimination of c-Myc is considered a critical step in making these so-called ‘reprogrammed’ cells safe for clinical applications in patients.

Mutant mice that hop like rabbits are helping scientists to identify proteins that mediate the nervous system

A reversible reaction cycle is demonstrated for a single molecule sitting on a platinum surface

In Nature China this week - The scorpion toxin makes a fungal insecticide a lot more deadly and Computer simulations reveal how a bat uses its nostrils to emit sounds

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature including - Malaria: Molecular insight into clinical severity, Metabolism: New compounds offer promise for diabetes treatment, Cell biology: Architecture of the cell, Genomics: Rearranging genomes, Materials: Keeping an eye on guest behaviour, And finally... A new role for p53

The 1997 Asian financial crisis has helped to further regional financial and monetary cooperation. The purpose of this paper is to examine these efforts, their recent developments, and to predict the prospects of such cooperation.

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature research journals including Neural crest stem cells on tap, Mutation identified in neurodegenerative disorder, Immune delivery service and Normal cells lead tumour cell invasion

A new technique that works at normal pressures shows molecular interactions at liquid interfaces

The uptake and transport of ammonium in plants depends on a small set of highly specialized genes