Press releases

Newsworthy papers include Braincase modification during the fish-to-tetrapod transition, Neuropsychiatric disorders, Cleaner fish twosomes make better valets, Stem cell polarity linked to ageing?, Bottoms up!, Anomalously hot Archaean mantle spawned enigmatic rocks, Diatom sequence reveals dynamic history and finally Fish swim to the beat

In Nature China this week - Researchers in Beijing have identified the gene controlling the self-renewal of intestinal stem cells and more.

As part of its participation in the awareness campaign on the global issue of climate change, the U.P. College of Law conducted an experts dialogue to enlighten people about climate change in general and to update them on the steps the local and international leaders are doing to prevent its damaging effects to people and the environment.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Hair follicle stem cells identified, Susceptibility to male-pattern baldness, Peatland carbon loss, Seeking promiscuity, New risk factors for basal cell carcinoma

Rikidozan was proclaimed the "hero of the Japanese race." However, he was actually born on the Korean Peninsula to Korean parents. Today he would be called a "Korean resident of Japan." This led me to think about the relationship between sport, race, and nationality.

Chemical biology is a study that uses chemistry to explore life phenomena. This article reports on what is happening at the forefront of chemical genetics and chemical genomics, which are currently hot topics for both basic and applied research.

The fourth RCAI-JSI International Symposium on Immunology 2008 took place on June 26-27 in Yokohama. This annual symposium is jointly organized by the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology (RCAI) and the Japanese Society for Immunology (JSI).

RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology is an internationally recognized research institute. They are seeking Team Leaders (approximately 2) who meet the requirements.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced whenever fossil fuels are burned. RIKEN chemists have developed a catalyst that should allow carbon dioxide to be used as a versatile synthetic chemical.

Researchers in Japan have developed a design concept for a device that allows imaging at scales previously impossible for optical instruments.

Researchers in Japan have identified part of the mechanism responsible for preventing prolonged—and potentially dangerous—activation of immune cells called T lymphocytes .

Molecular geneticists in Japan and China have identified a previously unknown gene associated with susceptibility to osteoarthritis, a common disease affecting knee and hip joints through abnormal wearing of the cushioning cartilage.

This book describes the many research and development activities and the birth of products that have penetrated local and international markets and contributed to the country’s economic growth.

Since 2000, Malaysian-manufactured exports performance has been declining mainly due to the downturn of the global electronic industry and the rise of China's economy. The competitiveness of Malaysian manufactured exports can be improved by examining the pattern of revealed comparative advantage.

This paper examines how recent increases in offshoring by Japanese firms relates to the changes in the composition of export, the structure of national production, and the international distribution of manufacturing value-added in Japan, China, East Asian countries, the US and Europe

China has been accused of exchange rate manipulation that has caused large U.S. trade deficits, which have reduced U.S. welfare by increasing unemployment and reducing wages.

This paper argues that declining transaction costs in exporting on the one hand and the structural and institutional barriers to importing and consumption on the other hand are the main causes for China's rising current account surplus.

This paper examines U.S. goods trade with China, focusing on the performance of exports. The authors present evidence that the United States underperforms as an exporter relative to a peer group of high-income European countries and Japan.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Pluripotent cells from human testis, Stabilizing the roof of the world, Insight into an early star-forming galaxy, Protein linked to antibody production, Opening the door to thermo-spintronics and The key to sound distortion

In Nature China this week - Researchers have found evidence that a magma plume under South China contributed to the break-up of the supercontinent Rodinia and more.

The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia announces the publication of 4 new books inlcuding A dictionary of Malaysian timbers, An in-depth look at enrichment planting, Nature's choice to wellness: antioxidant vegetables/ulam, Activities in wetlands and Birds of FRIM

A fragment of the Pacific tectonic plate beneath Tokyo may be the source of recurring large earthquakes. Other newsworthy papers include Crick hypothesis vindicated, Silicon solar cells bent on success, The genetic origins of cleft lip, Linking schizophrenia to neuronal changes, Magnetization switching using only spin and more.

Repetition is essential for acquisition and retention of new information and skills. Researchers uncover a mechanism by which the brain regulates restructuring of neuronal connections during the processes of learning and memory-building

An international team of scientists including Koji Yamanaka and colleagues at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, have found that damage to brain cells other than motor neurons is critical to the onset of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Mapping of electron distribution in highly unusual hypervalent atom will advance our understanding of rare carbon compounds

Each moment that we are awake, our senses are bombarded with stimuli. Focusing our attention on the few stimuli that are important allows us to filter out the ones irrelevant to the task at hand. RIKEN researchers have found that attention does in fact modulate primary cortical responses to both auditory and visual stimuli.

Japanese researchers provide the first large-scale identification of protein control sites from the model plant Arabidopsis

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, IDRC would like to document the impact IDRC-supported research have had in people's lives. They would like to hear from you. Deadline: December 15, 2008

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Biopsy sample sheds light on HIV-1 evolution, Magnetic imaging and sensing using diamond spins, The glaciation threshold, An earlier dawn for microRNAs, Measuring the magnetic field of a distant galaxy, Knock-out blow for Chlamydia and Evolution in action

Avatars can walk down a virtual red carpet this week at a film premiere in Second Life. On Thursday Nature Video, will screen two documentaries on the future of physics in Second Nature, NPG’s island in the virtual world.