Press releases

TWAS awarded its first-ever Regional Prizes for Public Understanding of Science. Each prize carries a US$3,000 cash award. It is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving public understanding and appreciation of science.

TWAS, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, has announced the election of 45 new members. The election took place at the Academy’s 18th General Meeting, held in Trieste, Italy on 13 November.

The political impact of climate change in Australia and the United States is the focus of a collection of News Features in Nature this week.

The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has published series of nine Working Papers on the state of Compensation for Environmental Services in three continents – Africa, Asia and Latin America.

As states encroach on Internet governance around the world, IDRC is supporting a major new initiative that will investigate the impacts of Internet censorship in Asia.

A method of reprogramming rhesus macaque adult fibroblasts into embryonic stem cells using somatic cell nuclear transfer is presented in Nature this week.

IDRC was one of the earliest development agencies to embrace information and communication technologies (ICTs) as powerful tools for reducing poverty, for combating HIV/AIDS, and for fostering good governance.

In Nature China this week, scientists in China have isolated a protein from peanut seeds that has antifungal, antibacterial and anticancer activities while scientists in Hong Kong have demonstrated the possibility of a three-dimensional cloaking device for sound.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Testing time, A new virulence mechanism for MRSA, Genetic mutation in familial aortic aneurysm, Regulating immune suppression, Stalling chemotherapy damage, Controlling protein stability in parasites

Since 2004, China has amended its treatment of foreign investments to attract higher-quality foreign investment and upgrade processing exports in order to transform itself from a world sweatshop to a global manufacturing center. The policies appear to have the intended effects.

Manila – A new international research initiative, linking the private and public sectors for the first time and launched today at the 2007 Asian Seed Congress, aims to boost the research and development of hybrid rice for the tropics.

Researchers have revealed how two closely related proteins trigger opposing effects in developing roots

Japanese researchers have identified a subset of cells they believe may induce the formation of a network of follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in the spleen and lymph nodes.

The University of the Philippines Asian Center in collaboration with The UP Vargas Museum, The Japan Foundation, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc. cordially invites you to the Philippine nikkeijin 2007

The new programme quietly introduced by the British government last week affects people from all countries outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Atmospheric science: Detecting ozone intrusions, Planetary science: Saturn’s radio clock, Development: How the body builds an asymmetric aorta, Quantum physics: The perfect couple and finally…Be not afraid

ASEAN is considering an East Asian Free Trade Agreement. Can ASEAN remain in the driver's seat of regional integration and be an effective hub? The FTA proliferation also has important consequences and effects for East Asia and the world trading system.

ALEPPO, Syria: A low-cost technology developed by scientists at ICARDA to treat high level of magnesium in soil by using calcium has demonstrated the potential to double the crop yield in magnesium-rich soils in Central Asia.

In Nature China this week - People at risk of cardiovascular disease can improve the condition of their blood vessels and carotid arteries by consuming soy products and scientists have validated an improved technique for detecting the early stages of kidney disease in Chinese patients

Summaries of newsworthy papers include In vivo folding lights up, RNA interference insecticides, Genetic variants associated with rheumatoid arthritis and Genes for Transplants

The properties of electrons on the surface of an unusual metal will supply clues—and puzzles—to theorists

Immunologists reveal the switch between two components in the signal pathways for two types of immune response

On November 2, 2007, it was announced that the Japanese government will award the Medal with Purple Ribbon to Professor Satoshi Kawata for his considerable contributions to the development of science and technology. Professor Kawata is Chief Scientist of the Nanophotonics Laboratory.

The Tokyo University of Science and the National Chemical Laboratory of India (NCL) signed an academic exchange agreement. NCL produces India's largest number of PhDs in the industrial chemistry field and submits the most domestic and overseas patent applications in India.

On September 3, 2007, the Tokyo University of Science and the University of Modena e Reggio Emilia of Italy signed an academic exchange agreement. Dr. Shin Takeuchi, President of TUS, visited the University of Modena e Reggio Emilia to take part in a signing ceremony for the agreement.

The Tokyo University of Science and Korea University signed an academic exchange agreement. Established in 1905 and located in Seoul, Korea University is the Republic of Korea's top private university. It ranks only behind Seoul National University in terms of prestige.

On October 1, 2007, the Tokyo University of Science and the School of Mechanical and Power Engineering of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, signed an academic exchange agreement. The university has produced many leading figures in China's political, financial, and academic circles, including President Jiang Zemin.

The Tokyo University of Science and the University of Jaén of Spain signed an academic exchange agreement. This marks the first time University of Jaén has entered into an academic exchange agreement with a Japanese university.

The Tokyo University of Science and the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (Technical University) of Russia signed an academic exchange agreement. Established in 1930, this institute (university) is Russia's largest power engineering university and science center.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Fires affect carbon balance in boreal forest, Breaking the silence, Stars spiral into life, Dance for your supper, Time taken to first base, The workhorse picks up speed and Caribbean reefs struggling to recover from ecological sucker punches