news
Send us a link
The Science News That Shaped 2021: Nature's Picks
From Omicron to a Mars helicopter to an Alzheimer's firestorm, our news editors choose the defining moments in science and research this year.
Gagging Scientists in Florida and Missouri to Hide COVID-19 Data
Political leaders in Florida and Missouri are opting to censor scientists and bury COVID-19 data rather than use that data to protect people in their states. In Florida, state officials pressured researchers at the University of Florida to destroy COVID-19 data and prevented them from accessing stat
Explained: What Causes a Tornado?
Tornadoes can be destructive and hard to predict. We know why they form and that climate change can play a part - but we can't always see them coming. Here's why.
Nasa's Solar Probe 'touches' Sun for First Time, Dives into Unexplored Atmosphere
The Parker probe is exploring the corona to help scientists better understand solar outbursts that can interfere with life on Earth
NASA Is on the Cusp of a New Era
Jennifer Heldmann laughed when I pointed out that she used the word "unprecedented" five times in a recent paper.
Horizon Europe: Bigger and More Complex Than Ever
First impressions of Horizon Europe are in, as the research world gets to grips with the €95.5B research programme.
What Sci-Hub's Latest Court Battle Means for Research
Delhi court will scrutinize whether the pirate paper website falls foul of India's copyright law. The verdict could have implications for academic publishers further afield.
The UN Must Get on with Appointing Its New Science Board
The decision to appoint a board of advisors is welcome - and urgent, given the twin challenges of COVID and climate change.
Research Funders Invest in 'publish, then Review' Model for Science Publishing
Research Funders Invest in 'publish, then Review' Model for Science Publishing
New investment from eLife's funder-partners reflects their commitment to transforming research communication.
Israel Joins Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme
On 6 December 2021, the agreement associating Israel to Horizon Europe entered into force.
US to Push 'Democracy-Affirming Technology' with Prizes and Research Projects
US to Push 'Democracy-Affirming Technology' with Prizes and Research Projects
The US is set to fund prizes, challenges and research projects to create so-called "democracy affirming technologies" that allow open societies to reap the benefits of innovation without sacrificing privacy or accountability.
What Can We Learn from One Million Open Access Articles?
Springer Nature has published 1,000,000 open access articles. Steven Inchcoombe discusses what they've learned during this process, and what it means for the future of open access.
Call for Additional €4B Investment in European Research Infrastructures
Call for Additional €4B Investment in European Research Infrastructures
Europe needs to build eleven new international research labs at a cost of €4.16 billion, according to the latest roadmap from the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), published on 7 Dec., as the European Commission called for a review of funding sources for the shared facilities.
COVID: EU Now Also Backs Mix-and-match Vaccines
Various studies show people have better immune responses and produce more antibodies with a combination of the AstraZeneca, BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
Northern Lights Photographer of the Year - in Pictures
The travel photography blog Capture the Atlas has published its annual northern lights photographer of the year collection with stunning images from 25 photographers. Coinciding with the northern lights season at the end of the year, it aims to share the beauty of this natural phenomenon
YouTube Is Serving Up Climate Misinformation. This Top Scientist Says Google Should Ban It
YouTube Is Serving Up Climate Misinformation. This Top Scientist Says Google Should Ban It
Should YouTube treat climate misinformation the same way it treats Covid-19 misinformation? A top U.S. climate expert says yes.
What Germany's New Government Means for Research and Innovation
The research and higher education plans of the new german government include a new national technology transfer agency, better living support for students, and more job security for early career academics.
How Bad is Omicron? What Scientists Know So Far
COVID researchers are working at breakneck speed to learn about the variant's transmissibility, severity and ability to evade vaccines.
Omicron is Supercharging the COVID Vaccine Booster Debate
The data are growing that booster jabs enhance protection - but their durability, impact and ability to quash the new variant are unknown.
ELife, PREreview and Partners Develop Course to Involve More African Researchers in Peer Review
ELife, PREreview and Partners Develop Course to Involve More African Researchers in Peer Review
The training course adds to ongoing efforts to promote greater diversity in scholarly review.
What Humanity Should Eat to Stay Healthy and Save the Planet
What we eat needs to be nutritious and sustainable. Researchers are trying to figure out what that looks like around the world.
Lessons from a Career Serving the Public
There are so many paths for using your expertise, energy, and passion to make this world a better place -- my reflections on 17 years as executive director of UCS, and a lifetime of public service.
Building the Social and Technical Infrastructures to Transform Research Data Sharing One Plenary at a Time
Building the Social and Technical Infrastructures to Transform Research Data Sharing One Plenary at a Time
Twice a year, members of the Research Data Alliance come together for a plenary meeting that brings together active working groups, interest groups, and communities of practice. Phill Jones virtually attended the 18th plenary from the comfort and (COVID) safety of his home office. These are some of his observations about research infrastructure, data standards and persistent identifiers.