Falconer Feeds

The week in science: Endangered ecosystems listed, GM patents protected, and wild poliovirus detected in Somalia.

Nature 497 292 doi: 10.1038/497292a

If programmes to bolster STEM education are effective, they distort the labour market; if they aren’t, they’re a waste of money, argues Colin Macilwain.

Nature 497 289 doi: 10.1038/497289a

In two critical reports released at the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna, Sweden on May 15th, scientists helped inform an international body of senior government officials about changing conditions in the Arctic, and potential responses to those changes.

Researchers have developed species distribution models of the six dominant Hawaiian coral species around the main Hawaiian Islands, including two species currently under consideration as threatened or endangered.

For the first time in a national showcase setting, a group of National Science Foundation (NSF) grantees--who are funded through the Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) program--presented to industry representatives various technologies they believe are ready for commercialization.

On May 14 in Baltimore, Md., 10 investigators, whose research support came from the NSF Engineering Directorate's AIR Technology Translation program, introduced a system that uses ionic liquids to ...
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This is an NSF News item.

Breakthrough sets up showdown with induced adult lines.

Nature 497 295 doi: 10.1038/497295a

An international team of scientists reveals that a unique strain of potato blight they call HERB-1 triggered the Irish potato famine of the mid-19th century.

The earliest known cave paintings fuel arguments about whether Neanderthals were the mental equals of modern humans.

Nature 497 302 doi: 10.1038/497302a

Viruses in mucus may be important line of defense against disease

Researchers uncover evolutionary explanation for lack of "lefties"

Study of penguin look-alike reveals advantages to being a ground-based bird

Woody plant matter is almost completely digested by bacteria living in the Amazon River. This tough stuff plays a major part in fueling the river's breath. The finding has implications for global carbon models, and for the ecology of the Amazon and the world's other rivers. Until recently, people believed much of the rainforest's carbon floated down the Amazon River and ended up deep in the ocean.

Ecuador has successfully eradicated invasive pigs and goats from most of the Galapagos archipelago. Now it is taking on the rats.

Nature 497 306 doi: 10.1038/497306a

Energy profiles of diving seabirds reveal they sacrifice flying efficiency to swim better, edging towards flightlessness    

But response from science advocates is lukewarm.

Nature News doi: 10.1038/nature.2013.12993

Search is on for signs of microbial activity isolated in Earth's crust.

Nature News doi: 10.1038/nature.2013.12995

According to NOAA scientists, April 2013 was also the 37th consecutive April and 338th consecutive month (more than 28 years) with a global temperature above the 20th-century average.

A new study sheds light on how the brain and inner ear developed in dinosaurs. Using high-resolution CT scanning and 3D computer imaging, it was possible to reconstruct and visualise the brain and inner ear of Dysalotosaurus lettowvorbecki -- a small, plant-eating dinosaur, which lived 150 million years ago, in what is now Tanzania.

Genomic analyses suggest that patterns of genetic diversity which indicate population movement may not be as ancient as previously believed, but may be attributable to recent events.

Newer shots are safer, but not as effective as older ones