This Week in Science

Editor summaries of this week's papers.
Science 13 November 2009: 915.
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Editorial:
On Becoming a Scientist

Bruce Alberts
Science 13 November 2009: 916.
Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Podcast Interview »|  

Editors' Choice

Highlights of the recent literature.
Science 13 November 2009: 917.
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Science Podcast

Science 13 November 2009: 1008.
The show includes climate change predictions, creating hermaphroditic worms, and more. Summary »|   Full Text »|   Transcript »|  

New Products

Science 13 November 2009: 1008.
A weekly roundup of information on newly offered instrumentation, apparatus, and laboratory materials of potential interest to researchers. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

News of the Week

Diplomacy
U.S. Takes Steps to Use Science To Improve Ties to Muslim World

Robert Koenig
Science 13 November 2009: 920-921.
In a surprise announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week named three prominent scientists as special envoys to assess the potential for scientific partnerships with Muslim-majority countries. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Philanthropy
Wellcome Trust to Shift From Projects to People

Jocelyn Kaiser
Science 13 November 2009: 921.
This week, Wellcome Trust officials announced that they are phasing out their biomedical research grants for U.K. scientists, which consists of 3-year to 5-year awards focused on a specific problem, and instead will put that money into a new program called Investigator Awards. The awards will be bigger, more flexible, and longer—up to 7 years. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Pandemic Influenza
Europe Reconsiders H1N1 Flu Shots for Children

Martin Enserink
Science 13 November 2009: 922.
As the H1N1 flu outbreak gathers speed and more vaccine becomes available, some European countries are now telling families that healthy children—or at least infants—are candidates for vaccination after all. The change of mind did not reassure a jittery public. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Russia
Restructuring Physics Labs Brings Delight and Despair

Andrey Allakhverdov and Vladimir Pokrovsky
Science 13 November 2009: 923.
Four of Russia's most prominent physics labs are to be merged into a new national research center. But a different reform aimed at separating basic and applied research at one of the institutes has researchers up in arms. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

ScienceInsider
From the Science Policy Blog

Science 13 November 2009: 923.
This week, ScienceInsider explored why academic biomedical scientists report that they are receiving less corporate support for their research now than in the 1990s and reported on the Dutch House of Representatives' rejection of a motion asking the government to sever all ties with virologist Albert Osterhaus, who had been accused of conflicts of interest in his role as a health adviser, among other stories. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Climate Change
No Sign Yet of Himalayan Meltdown, Indian Report Finds

Pallava Bagla
Science 13 November 2009: 924-925.
Himalayan glaciers are beating a rapid retreat in the face of global warming, according to a flurry of recent reports by BBC and other mass media. But the picture is more complex—and poses scientific puzzles, according to a review of satellite and ground measurements released by India's Ministry of Environment and Forests earlier this week. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Climate Change
Could Glacier Research Help Thaw Himalayan Standoff?

Pallava Bagla
Science 13 November 2009: 925.
Because of lingering tensions over a swath of the Himalayas that is claimed by both China and India, a diplomatic initiative to get Chinese and Indian scientists working together on glaciers has quietly been put on ice. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

ScienceNOW.org
From Science's Online Daily News Site

Science 13 November 2009: 925.
ScienceNOW reported this week on expert criticism of a nanoparticle study, additional support for a human role in China's devastating Wenchuan earthquake, and the findings that prosthetic limbs offer no advantage to sprinters and babies cry in their native language, among other stories. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Random Samples

Science 13 November 2009: 919.
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News Focus

Climate Change
Amid Worrisome Signs of Warming, 'Climate Fatigue' Sets In

Richard A. Kerr
Science 13 November 2009: 926-928.
As scientists debate whether climate is changing faster than anticipated, some worry that a drumbeat of dire warnings may be helping to erode U.S. public concerns about global warming. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Podcast Interview »|  

Cell Biology
Internal Affairs

Mitch Leslie
Science 13 November 2009: 929-931.
Newly discovered cytoplasmic defenses called inflammasomes sound the alarm when pathogens penetrate our cells. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Fusion
ITER Blueprints Near Completion, But Financial Hurdles Lie Ahead

Daniel Clery
Science 13 November 2009: 932-933.
As staff put finishing touches to the fusion project's final design, member governments mull over the latest cost estimates and prepare to raid piggybanks. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Letters

 Protecting the Herd from H1N1

Joseph N. S. Eisenberg, Allison E. Aiello, Ian H. Spicknall, Arnold S. Monto, and Arthur Reingold
Science 13 November 2009: 934.
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 Protecting the Herd from H1N1—Response

Jan Medlock and Alison P. Galvani
Science 13 November 2009: 934.
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 Repurposing for Neglected Diseases

Silvia Reni Bortolin Uliana and Marcello André Barcinski
Science 13 November 2009: 935.
Full Text »|   PDF »|  

 Repurposing for Neglected Diseases—Response

Mark S. Boguski, Kenneth D. Mandl, and Vikas P. Sukhatme
Science 13 November 2009: 935.
Full Text »|   PDF »|  

 A SMART Plan for New Investigators

Debomoy K. Lahiri
Science 13 November 2009: 935-936.
Full Text »|   PDF »|  

 Corrections and Clarifications

Science 13 November 2009: 936.
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Books et al.

Theater: History of Science
Newton in Three Dimensions

Rebecca Stott and Hannah Morrish
Science 13 November 2009: 937.
Constructed from Newton's own words, Baxter's play brings to life the complexity and controversy of its subject's character. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Books Received

Science 13 November 2009: 937.
A listing of books received at Science during the week ended 06 November 2009. Summary »|  

Policy Forum

Public Health
Pandemic H1N1 and the 2009 Hajj

Shahul H. Ebrahim, Ziad A. Memish, Timothy M. Uyeki, Tawfik A. M. Khoja, Nina Marano, and Scott J. N. McNabb
Science 13 November 2009: 938-940.
Published online 29 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1183210] (in Science Express Policy Forum)
It will take vigilance, commitment, and action by all global stakeholders to reduce the potential impact of pandemic influenza during the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Flu Prevention Advice »|  Podcast Interview »|  

Climate Change
Bridging the Montreal-Kyoto Gap

Jeff Cohen, Alex Rau, and Kristian Brüning
Science 13 November 2009: 940-941.
Published online 5 November 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1176958] (in Science Express Policy Forum)
Using carbon markets to eliminate substances that deplete stratospheric ozone could pay huge dividends in combating global warming. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Perspectives

Materials Science
Viewing the Seeds of Crystallization

J. Murray Gibson
Science 13 November 2009: 942-943.
Electron microscopy is providing glimpses of the complex structural processes that precede crystal nucleation. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Computer Science
Reflections on Cybersecurity

William A. Wulf and Anita K. Jones
Science 13 November 2009: 943-944.
The lack of security in cyberspace may be addressed by learning from the strengths of the Internet. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Developmental Biology
Strategies to Get Arrested

Akira Ogawa and Ralf J. Sommer
Science 13 November 2009: 944-945.
Two gene families in the worm control survival strategies in response to stressful environmental conditions. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Ocean Science
Photosynthesis in the Open Ocean

Jonathan P. Zehr and Raphael M. Kudela
Science 13 November 2009: 945-946.
A little-understood electron flow pathway helps cyanobacteria to adapt to high-light, low-nutrient ocean environments. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Retrospective
Ruth L. Kirschstein (1926–2009)

Howard K. Schachman and Marvin Cassman
Science 13 November 2009: 947.
The leadership, political skills, and commitment of the first woman director at the U.S. National Institutes of Health are unrivaled. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Viewpoint

How Telomeres Solve the End-Protection Problem

Titia de Lange
Science 13 November 2009: 948-952.
Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Interactive Figure »|  Audio Interview »|  

Brevia

Widespread Occurrence of Self-Cleaving Ribozymes

Chiu-Ho T. Webb, Nathan J. Riccitelli, Dana J. Ruminski, and Andrej Lupták
Science 13 November 2009: 953.
Once thought to be an oddity, small catalytic RNAs have been found in a wide range of organisms. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Research Article

Starvation Protects Germline Stem Cells and Extends Reproductive Longevity in C. elegans

Giana Angelo and Marc R. Van Gilst
Science 13 November 2009: 954-958.
Published online 27 August 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1178343] (in Science Express Research Articles)
During starvation, germline stem cells are saved for regeneration when food is restored. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Reports

Global Observations of the Interstellar Interaction from the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)

D. J. McComas, F. Allegrini, P. Bochsler, M. Bzowski, E. R. Christian, G. B. Crew, R. DeMajistre, H. Fahr, H. Fichtner, P. C. Frisch, H. O. Funsten, S. A. Fuselier, G. Gloeckler, M. Gruntman, J. Heerikhuisen, V. Izmodenov, P. Janzen, P. Knappenberger, S. Krimigis, H. Kucharek, M. Lee, G. Livadiotis, S. Livi, R. J. MacDowall, D. Mitchell, E. Möbius, T. Moore, N. V. Pogorelov, D. Reisenfeld, E. Roelof, L. Saul, N. A. Schwadron, P. W. Valek, R. Vanderspek, P. Wurz, and G. P. Zank
Science 13 November 2009: 959-962.
Published online 15 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1180906] (in Science Express Reports)
Observations by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer have revealed surprising features in the interaction between the heliosphere and the interstellar medium. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Podcast Interview »|  

Width and Variation of the ENA Flux Ribbon Observed by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer

S. A. Fuselier, F. Allegrini, H. O. Funsten, A. G. Ghielmetti, D. Heirtzler, H. Kucharek, O. W. Lennartsson, D. J. McComas, E. Möbius, T. E. Moore, S. M. Petrinec, L. A. Saul, J. A. Scheer, N. Schwadron, and P. Wurz
Science 13 November 2009: 962-964.
Published online 15 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1180981] (in Science Express Reports)
Observations by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer have revealed surprising features in the interaction between the heliosphere and the interstellar medium. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Structures and Spectral Variations of the Outer Heliosphere in IBEX Energetic Neutral Atom Maps

H. O. Funsten, F. Allegrini, G. B. Crew, R. DeMajistre, P. C. Frisch, S. A. Fuselier, M. Gruntman, P. Janzen, D. J. McComas, E. Möbius, B. Randol, D. B. Reisenfeld, E. C. Roelof, and N. A. Schwadron
Science 13 November 2009: 964-966.
Published online 15 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1180927] (in Science Express Reports)
Observations by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer have revealed surprising features in the interaction between the heliosphere and the interstellar medium Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Comparison of Interstellar Boundary Explorer Observations with 3D Global Heliospheric Models

N. A. Schwadron, M. Bzowski, G. B. Crew, M. Gruntman, H. Fahr, H. Fichtner, P. C. Frisch, H. O. Funsten, S. Fuselier, J. Heerikhuisen, V. Izmodenov, H. Kucharek, M. Lee, G. Livadiotis, D. J. McComas, E. Moebius, T. Moore, J. Mukherjee, N.V. Pogorelov, C. Prested, D. Reisenfeld, E. Roelof, and G.P. Zank
Science 13 November 2009: 966-968.
Published online 15 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1180986] (in Science Express Reports)
Observations by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer have revealed surprising features in the interaction between the heliosphere and the interstellar medium. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Direct Observations of Interstellar H, He, and O by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer

E. Möbius, P. Bochsler, M. Bzowski, G. B. Crew, H. O. Funsten, S. A. Fuselier, A. Ghielmetti, D. Heirtzler, V. V. Izmodenov, M. Kubiak, H. Kucharek, M. A. Lee, T. Leonard, D. J. McComas, L. Petersen, L. Saul, J. A. Scheer, N. Schwadron, M. Witte, and P. Wurz
Science 13 November 2009: 969-971.
Published online 15 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1180971] (in Science Express Reports)
Detection of H, He, and O flowing into the heliosphere from the interstellar medium tells us about our local interstellar environment. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|  

Imaging the Interaction of the Heliosphere with the Interstellar Medium from Saturn with Cassini

S. M. Krimigis, D. G. Mitchell, E. C. Roelof, K. C. Hsieh, and D. J. McComas
Science 13 November 2009: 971-973.
Published online 15 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1181079] (in Science Express Reports)
Observations by Cassini show that some of the features revealed by IBEX extend to high energies. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Observation of Half-Quantum Vortices in an Exciton-Polariton Condensate

K. G. Lagoudakis, T. Ostatnicky, A. V. Kavokin, Y. G. Rubo, R. André, and B. Deveaud-Plédran
Science 13 November 2009: 974-976.
Evidence is presented for the existence of half-quantum vortices in exciton-polariton condensates. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

A Strain-Driven Morphotropic Phase Boundary in BiFeO₃

R. J. Zeches, M. D. Rossell, J. X. Zhang, A. J. Hatt, Q. He, C.-H. Yang, A. Kumar, C. H. Wang, A. Melville, C. Adamo, G. Sheng, Y.-H. Chu, J. F. Ihlefeld, R. Erni, C. Ederer, V. Gopalan, L. Q. Chen, D. G. Schlom, N. A. Spaldin, L. W. Martin, and R. Ramesh
Science 13 November 2009: 977-980.
Growth of epitaxial films of BiFeO₃ on various substrates may provide a route toward making lead-free ferroelectric devices. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Observation of the Role of Subcritical Nuclei in Crystallization of a Glassy Solid

Bong-Sub Lee, Geoffrey W. Burr, Robert M. Shelby, Simone Raoux, Charles T. Rettner, Stephanie N. Bogle, Kristof Darmawikarta, Stephen G. Bishop, and John R. Abelson
Science 13 November 2009: 980-984.
Fluctuation transmission electron microscopy images nanoscale nuclei and their influence on subsequent crystallization. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Partitioning Recent Greenland Mass Loss

Michiel van den Broeke, Jonathan Bamber, Janneke Ettema, Eric Rignot, Ernst Schrama, Willem Jan van de Berg, Erik van Meijgaard, Isabella Velicogna, and Bert Wouters
Science 13 November 2009: 984-986.
The major components of decay contributing to mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet can be quantified. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

CD4⁺ Regulatory T Cells Control T_H17 Responses in a Stat3-Dependent Manner

Ashutosh Chaudhry, Dipayan Rudra, Piper Treuting, Robert M. Samstein, Yuqiong Liang, Arnold Kas, and Alexander Y. Rudensky
Science 13 November 2009: 986-991.
Published online 1 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1172702] (in Science Express Reports)
Suppressor T cells regulate different classes of immune responses through induction of specific transcription factors. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

A Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Protein Functions in Prophase I Arrest and Prometaphase Progression

Hayden Homer, Liming Gui, and John Carroll
Science 13 November 2009: 991-994.
A protein vital for correct segregation of chromosomes in mitosis is also needed to complete meiosis in mouse oocytes. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Two Chemoreceptors Mediate Developmental Effects of Dauer Pheromone in C. elegans

Kyuhyung Kim, Koji Sato, Mayumi Shibuya, Danna M. Zeiger, Rebecca A. Butcher, Justin R. Ragains, Jon Clardy, Kazushige Touhara, and Piali Sengupta
Science 13 November 2009: 994-998.
Published online 1 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1176331] (in Science Express Reports)
Chemical signals that determine alternative nematode developmental programs act via two G protein–coupled receptors. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Sexual Conflict Resolved by Invasion of a Novel Sex Determiner in Lake Malawi Cichlid Fishes

Reade B. Roberts, Jennifer R. Ser, and Thomas D. Kocher
Science 13 November 2009: 998-1001.
Published online 1 October 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1174705] (in Science Express Reports)
A color phenotype that is advantageous to females is linked to a sex-determining gene locus in cichlids. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  

Mutations in Two Independent Pathways Are Sufficient to Create Hermaphroditic Nematodes

Chris Baldi, Soochin Cho, and Ronald E. Ellis
Science 13 November 2009: 1002-1005.
Female nematode worms can be turned into hermaphrodites through the modification of two genes. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|  Podcast Interview »|  

Amyloid-β Dynamics Are Regulated by Orexin and the Sleep-Wake Cycle

Jae-Eun Kang, Miranda M. Lim, Randall J. Bateman, James J. Lee, Liam P. Smyth, John R. Cirrito, Nobuhiro Fujiki, Seiji Nishino, and David M. Holtzman
Science 13 November 2009: 1005-1007.
Published online 24 September 2009 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1180962] (in Science Express Reports)
Sleep patterns can influence amyloid plaque formation in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Abstract »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|   Supporting Online Material »|