Researcher’s death shocks Japan
Yoshiki Sasai, one of Japan’s top stem cell researchers, died this morning (August 5) in an apparent suicide. He was 52. Read more
Space sex gecko experiment is safe — for now
Phew. Five experimental geckos that were feared lost in space have phoned home, restoring hopes that research into their zero-gravity sex lives can go on. Read more
Imperial College animal research chief steps down
The official responsible for animal research at Imperial College London (ICL) has stepped down following criticism of aspects of the university’s work with animals. Read more
Researcher reassigned in wake of disease centre’s anthrax scare
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta has taken its first disciplinary steps in response to a laboratory mix-up that potentially exposed dozens of employees to anthrax earlier this month. Read more
Public opinion key to harnessing synthetic biology
Synthetic biology, heralded by some as the next biotechnology revolution, could be seriously undermined if the public is not informed about its potential benefits early on, according to an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report today. Read more
WHO postpones decision on destruction of smallpox stocks — again
The stalemate continues over the question of when to destroy the last stocks of the virus that causes smallpox, a killer disease that was eradicated in 1980. One of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) two advisory committees on smallpox supports their destruction, while the other opposes this. Last weekend, health ministers of the WHO’s 194 member states again postponed a decision, and decided to set up a third WHO smallpox advisory committee in a bid to broker a consensus. Read more
Uproar as anti-GM activists acquitted in France
French scientists are up in arms over the recent court acquittal of 54 anti-GMO activists who destroyed 70 experimental transgenic grapevines in eastern France in August 2010. Read more
US bee losses drop but not enough
America’s beekeepers lost nearly a quarter of their colonies over the last winter — a dramatic improvement on previous years but still worse than what farmers consider sustainable rates. Read more
Acid-bath stem-cell scientist apologizes and appeals
Haruko Obokata, the Japanese scientist at the centre of a controversy over studies purporting to turn mature cells to stem cells simply by bathing them in acid or subjecting them to mechanical stress, today apologized for her errors in the work. Read more
Ancient hominin Little Foot older than thought
Little Foot, the world’s most complete hominin fossil, dates back much further than the widely thought 2.2 million years, and should help scientists narrow down the identity of the first human ancestor, according to new research published today in the Journal of Human Evolution*. The findings were announced at simultaneous press conferences in Paris and Johannesburg. Read more
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Experiments reveal that crabs and lobsters feel pain
US research ethics agency upholds decision on informed consent
Chemistry credit disputes under the spotlight
Chemistry credit disputes under the spotlight
Contamination created controversial ‘acid-induced’ stem cells