This Week in Science

Editor summaries of this week's papers.
Science 31 October 2008: 645.
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Editorial:
Science and China's Modernization

Wen Jiabao
Science 31 October 2008: 649.
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Editors' Choice

Highlights of the recent literature.
Science 31 October 2008: 651.
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Science Podcast

Science 31 October 2008: 761.
Summary: The 31 October 2008 show includes how the bacterium Wolbachia protects insects from virus-induced death, academic freedom in China, and more. Full Text »|   Transcript »|  

NEW PRODUCTS

Science 31 October 2008: 761.
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News of the Week

U.S. ELECTION: Scientists Plant Grass-Roots Effort for Obama in Final Days of Contest

Eli Kintisch
Science 31 October 2008: 658-659.
Summary: Since September, more than three dozen scientists have placed articles or letters supporting presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama in 50-plus newspapers in 20 states. Political analysts say Obama has captured the lion's share of visible support among scientists. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

SELF-EXPERIMENTATION: Eat, Drink, and Be Wary: A Sugar's Sour Side

Jon Cohen
Science 31 October 2008: 659-661.
Summary: A new study being reported online this week strongly ties a sialic acid called Neu5Gc, made by chimpanzees and many other mammals but not humans, to a human disease and ingestion of red meat. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

EVOLUTION: Two Sets of Cave Bear DNA Uncover the Bear Facts

Michael Balter
Science 31 October 2008: 662.
Summary: A paper published online this week helps untangle bear phylogeny by presenting the mitochondrial genome of the extinct cave bear, Ursus spelaeus. Another paper, published last July, also reported the complete mitochondrial DNA of the cave bear as well as that of the extinct American short-faced bear, Arctodus simus. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

BIOETHICS: U.K. Approves New Embryo Law

Gretchen Vogel
Science 31 October 2008: 663.
Summary: With the enthusiastic support of the scientific community, the British House of Commons has overwhelmingly approved a wide-ranging bill that expands the country's rules governing work with human embryos. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

ScienceScope

Science 31 October 2008: 661.
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Random Samples

Science 31 October 2008: 655.
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Newsmakers

Science 31 October 2008: 657.
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News Focus

SCIENCE IN CHINA: You Say You Want a Revolution

Hao Xin
Science 31 October 2008: 664-666.
Summary: Thirty years ago, Deng Xiaoping opened China to the world and brought scientists in from the cold. As researchers celebrate, some warn that the community still has major problems that need to be solved. Full Text »|   PDF »|   Podcast Interview »|  Available in Chinese »|  

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH: More Than Skin Deep

Lauren Cahoon
Science 31 October 2008: 667-669.
Summary: Scientists still don't know what causes scleroderma, a complex disease often marked by toughening skin and widespread internal fibrosis, but they're developing potential treatments nonetheless. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH: Paul Klee, a Tragic Metamorphosis

Lauren Cahoon
Science 31 October 2008: 669.
Summary: Art experts believe scleroderma had a major impact on modern artist Paul Klee, as his later works shifted from vibrant to darker colors and emphasized themes such as mortality and suffering. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY 68TH ANNUAL MEETING: Skulls Show Dinos Blew Their Horns

Erik Stokstad
Science 31 October 2008: 670.
Summary: At the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting, a group presented the most sophisticated evidence yet that the nasal passages within the crests of lambeosaurs were used for vocalizing, not smelling. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY 68TH ANNUAL MEETING: Two Legs Good

Elizabeth Culotta
Science 31 October 2008: 670-671.
Summary: At the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting, researchers presented a single bone, the thighbone of an ancient australopithecine from Galili, Ethiopia, that may add an interesting piece to the puzzle of how our famed ancestor "Lucy's" two-legged gait evolved. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY 68TH ANNUAL MEETING: Snapshots From the Meeting

Erik Stokstad
Science 31 October 2008: 671.
Summary: Snapshots from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting include the earliest tree-climber, a dinosaur-cruncher, and evidence that dinosaurs were struck down in their prime and that dinosaurs of at least one species were picky eaters as children. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Letters

 Informed Consent in Social Science

Pierre Couture; and John A. List
Science 31 October 2008: 672.
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 Viewing NASA's Mars Budget with Resignation

Alan Stern
Science 31 October 2008: 672-673.
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 Food Insecurity's Dirty Secret

Rattan Lal
Science 31 October 2008: 673-674.
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 Corrections and Clarifications

Science 31 October 2008: 674-675.
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Books et al.

POLITICAL SCIENCE: Why Rich States Aren't Republican

Terry Nichols Clark and Christopher Graziul
Science 31 October 2008: 676-677.
Summary: Beginning with the paradox that while rich states have tilted toward the Democratic Party, rich voters still tend to favor the Republicans, the authors explore voting patterns in recent U.S. elections and their implications for American politics. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

POLITICAL SCIENCE: Can We Trust the Machines?

Walter R. Mebane Jr.
Science 31 October 2008: 677-678.
Summary: Rejecting claims that new voting technologies foster tampering and fraud, Alvarez and Hall argue that with careful implementation computer-based solutions provide the best approach to voting. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

BROWSINGS

Science 31 October 2008: 677.
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POLITICAL SCIENCE: On Counterproductive Changes

Michael Johnston
Science 31 October 2008: 678-679.
Summary: In this consideration of detrimental effects of election reform, Schaffer discusses both what has gone wrong in the past and what can be done to head off potential problems in future changes. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

POLITICAL SCIENCE: The Power of Cross Pressures

David A. M. Peterson
Science 31 October 2008: 679.
Summary: Hillygus and Shields explore survey data, experimental results, campaign ads, archives, and interview responses to discuss why wedge issues are used, who they persuade, and how they may affect political equality and democratic governance. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

POLITICAL SCIENCE: A Better Way to Choose?

Iain McLean
Science 31 October 2008: 680-681.
Summary: Brams uses social choice and game theory to argue for procedures that allow voters to better express their preferences and disputants to divide goods more fairly. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

POLITICAL SCIENCE: Elective Inequality

Robert Grafstein
Science 31 October 2008: 681.
Summary: Bartels explores the political causes and consequences of the growing economic inequality in the United States. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Books Received

Science 31 October 2008: 681.
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Education Forum

PHYSICS: PhET: Simulations That Enhance Learning

Carl E. Wieman, Wendy K. Adams, and Katherine K. Perkins
Science 31 October 2008: 682-683.
Summary: A library of interactive computer simulations aids physics instruction worldwide. Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH: Genomics Education Partnership

D. Lopatto, C. Alvarez, D. Barnard, C. Chandrasekaran, H.-M. Chung, C. Du, T. Eckdahl, A. L. Goodman, C. Hauser, C. J. Jones, O. R. Kopp, G. A. Kuleck, G. McNeil, R. Morris, J. L. Myka, A. Nagengast, P. J. Overvoorde, J. L. Poet, K. Reed, G. Regisford, D. Revie, A. Rosenwald, K. Saville, M. Shaw, G. R. Skuse, C. Smith, M. Smith, M. Spratt, J. Stamm, J. S. Thompson, B. A. Wilson, C. Witkowski, J. Youngblom, W. Leung, C. D. Shaffer, J. Buhler, E. Mardis, and S. C. R. Elgin
Science 31 October 2008: 684-685.
Summary: The Genomics Education Partnership offers an inclusive model for undergraduate research experiences, with students pooling their work to contribute to international databases. Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Perspectives

GEOPHYSICS: Assessing Ground Shaking

Daniel R. H. O'Connell
Science 31 October 2008: 686-687.
Summary: Monitoring and modeling the complex interaction of seismic waves with soils is critical for mitigating earthquake risks. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

CLIMATE CHANGE: Whither Hurricane Activity?

Gabriel A. Vecchi, Kyle L. Swanson, and Brian J. Soden
Science 31 October 2008: 687-689.
Summary: Alternative interpretations of the relationship between sea surface temperature and hurricane activity imply vastly different future Atlantic hurricane activity. Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

MATERIALS SCIENCE: Nanoscale Polymer Processing

Christopher L. Soles and Yifu Ding
Science 31 October 2008: 689-690.
Summary: The established rules for fabricating plastics now require a rethink as feature sizes of the products head toward the nanoscale. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

ECOLOGY: Physiology and Climate Change

Hans O. Pörtner and Anthony P. Farrell
Science 31 October 2008: 690-692.
Summary: Studies of physiological mechanisms are needed to predict climate effects on ecosystems at species and community levels. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

CANCER: Aneuploidy Advantages?

Eva Hernando
Science 31 October 2008: 692-693.
Summary: The gain or loss of specific chromosomes can determine whether a cell becomes tumorigenic. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

NEUROSCIENCE: A New Glance at Glia

Andreas Reichenbach and Thomas Pannicke
Science 31 October 2008: 693-694.
Summary: Glial cells assist sensory neurons to perceive and respond to stimuli by improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Full Text »|   PDF »|  

RETROSPECTIVE: George E. Palade (1912-2008)

Randy W. Schekman
Science 31 October 2008: 695.
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Association Affairs

AAAS News and Notes

Science 31 October 2008: 696.
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AAAS 2008 Annual Meeting Program

Science 31 October 2008: 762-771.
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Review

Structural Insights into a Circadian Oscillator

Carl Hirschie Johnson, Martin Egli, and Phoebe L. Stewart
Science 31 October 2008: 697-701.
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Brevia

Wolbachia and Virus Protection in Insects

Lauren M. Hedges, Jeremy C. Brownlie, Scott L. O'Neill, and Karyn N. Johnson
Science 31 October 2008: 702.
An endosymbiotic bacterium survives and spreads in populations of Drosophila because it protects its insect hosts from death caused by certain RNA viruses. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  Podcast Interview »|  

Research Articles

Aneuploidy Affects Proliferation and Spontaneous Immortalization in Mammalian Cells

Bret R. Williams, Vineet R. Prabhu, Karen E. Hunter, Christina M. Glazier, Charles A. Whittaker, David E. Housman, and Angelika Amon
Science 31 October 2008: 703-709.
Mouse cell lines carrying extra copies of one of four chromosomes all show less cell proliferation and higher gene expression, but vary in how fast they become cancer-like cells. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Structure and Molecular Mechanism of a Nucleobase–Cation–Symport-1 Family Transporter

Simone Weyand, Tatsuro Shimamura, Shunsuke Yajima, Shun'ichi Suzuki, Osman Mirza, Kuakarun Krusong, Elisabeth P. Carpenter, Nicholas G. Rutherford, Jonathan M. Hadden, John O'Reilly, Pikyee Ma, Massoud Saidijam, Simon G. Patching, Ryan J. Hope, Halina T. Norbertczak, Peter C. J. Roach, So Iwata, Peter J. F. Henderson, and Alexander D. Cameron
Science 31 October 2008: 709-713.
Published online 16 October 2008 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1164440] (in Science Express Research Articles)
The structure of a membrane transporter in an open state suggests that in- and out-facing cavities reciprocally open and close coordinated by two transmembrane segments. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Reports

Magnetism on the Angrite Parent Body and the Early Differentiation of Planetesimals

Benjamin P. Weiss, James S. Berdahl, Linda Elkins-Tanton, Sabine Stanley, Eduardo A. Lima, and Laurent Carporzen
Science 31 October 2008: 713-716.
A type of primitive meteorite from the earliest small bodies in the solar system preserves remnant magnetism, implying that these planetesimals had a convecting metallic core. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

The Role of Impulse on the Initiation of Particle Movement Under Turbulent Flow Conditions

Panayiotis Diplas, Clint L. Dancey, Ahmet O. Celik, Manousos Valyrakis, Krista Greer, and Tanju Akar
Science 31 October 2008: 717-720.
Entrainment of sediment grains from, say, a stream bed, by turbulent flow depends not just on the magnitude of the applied fluid forces but also on their duration. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Molecular Confinement Accelerates Deformation of Entangled Polymers During Squeeze Flow

Harry D. Rowland, William P. King, John B. Pethica, and Graham L. W. Cross
Science 31 October 2008: 720-724.
Published online 2 October 2008 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1157945] (in Science Express Reports)
When polymers are squeezed at nanometer scales, the longest chains unexpectedly flow more easily, even though in theory they should be the most entangled. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Peptides Enhance Magnesium Signature in Calcite: Insights into Origins of Vital Effects

A. E. Stephenson, J. J. DeYoreo, L. Wu, K. J. Wu, J. Hoyer, and P. M. Dove
Science 31 October 2008: 724-727.
A simple hydrophilic peptide helps to regulate the magnesium content of calcite in marine organisms, explaining a complication in using this as an ocean thermometer. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Trampoline Effect in Extreme Ground Motion

Shin Aoi, Takashi Kunugi, and Hiroyuki Fujiwara
Science 31 October 2008: 727-730.
Upward ground acceleration in a recent earthquake in Japan reached about four times that of gravity, as if the upper soil layer were bouncing on a trampoline in the ground below. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Tracing the Origin and Fate of NO_x in the Arctic Atmosphere Using Stable Isotopes in Nitrate

Samuel Morin, Joël Savarino, Markus M. Frey, Nicolas Yan, Slimane Bekki, Jan W. Bottenheim, and Jean M. F. Martins
Science 31 October 2008: 730-732.
Measurements of N and O isotopes show that nitrate in the high Arctic is produced when spring sunlight oxidizes pollutants brought from lower latitudes since the past summer. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Ages for the Middle Stone Age of Southern Africa: Implications for Human Behavior and Dispersal

Zenobia Jacobs, Richard G. Roberts, Rex F. Galbraith, Hilary J. Deacon, Rainer Grün, Alex Mackay, Peter Mitchell, Ralf Vogelsang, and Lyn Wadley
Science 31 October 2008: 733-735.
Dating of the first use of symbols and jewelry in South Africa shows that the emergence of modern human behavior was not influenced by just environmental factors. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Energy Uptake and Allocation During Ontogeny

Chen Hou, Wenyun Zuo, Melanie E. Moses, William H. Woodruff, James H. Brown, and Geoffrey B. West
Science 31 October 2008: 736-739.
A model of how developing animals assimilate food and allocate and store energy for maintenance, growth, and activity accurately predicts data from mammals and birds. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Experimental Evidence for Spatial Self-Organization and Its Emergent Effects in Mussel Bed Ecosystems

Johan van de Koppel, Joanna C. Gascoigne, Guy Theraulaz, Max Rietkerk, Wolf M. Mooij, and Peter M. J. Herman
Science 31 October 2008: 739-742.
Interactions among individual mussels result in large-scale spatial patterns in mussel beds that are beneficial to the population—by promoting secondary production, for example. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Natal Homing and Connectivity in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Populations

Jay R. Rooker, David H. Secor, Gregorio De Metrio, Ryan Schloesser, Barbara A. Block, and John D. Neilson
Science 31 October 2008: 742-744.
Published online 2 October 2008 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1161473] (in Science Express Reports)
Isotopes in the ear bones of tuna reveal that two populations—from the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean—mingle in the Atlantic as adolescents but return home to breed. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  Podcast Interview »|  

Glia Are Essential for Sensory Organ Function in C. elegans

Taulant Bacaj, Maya Tevlin, Yun Lu, and Shai Shaham
Science 31 October 2008: 744-747.
Nonneural glial cells are required for the normal operation of the main sensory organ of a nematode, influencing neuronal shape and function, as well as behavior. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

HARP Is an ATP-Driven Annealing Helicase

Timur Yusufzai and James T. Kadonaga
Science 31 October 2008: 748-750.
The gene deleted in a complex genetic disease is a reverse helicase, a motor-like enzyme that uses adenosine triphosphate to zip up separated strands of DNA. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Polycomb Proteins Targeted by a Short Repeat RNA to the Mouse X Chromosome

Jing Zhao, Bryan K. Sun, Jennifer A. Erwin, Ji-Joon Song, and Jeannie T. Lee
Science 31 October 2008: 750-756.
A small RNA cleaved from a larger precursor recruits silencing proteins to the X chromosome to inactivate it in female mammals, which have an extra copy. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Deletion of Trpm7 Disrupts Embryonic Development and Thymopoiesis Without Altering Mg²⁺ Homeostasis

Jie Jin, Bimal N. Desai, Betsy Navarro, Adriana Donovan, Nancy C. Andrews, and David E. Clapham
Science 31 October 2008: 756-760.
A cation channel that conducts both Ca₂₊ and Mg₂₊ is unexpectedly required for normal mouse development, specifically for proper maturation of the thymus and T cells. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Technical Comments

Comment on "Differential Rescue of Light- and Food-Entrainable Circadian Rhythms"

Ralph E. Mistlberger, Shin Yamazaki, Julie S. Pendergast, Glenn J. Landry, Toru Takumi, and Wataru Nakamura
Science 31 October 2008: 675.
Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Response to Comment on "Differential Rescue of Light- and Food-Entrainable Circadian Rhythms"

Patrick M. Fuller, Jun Lu, and Clifford B. Saper
Science 31 October 2008: 675.
Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|